It amazes me that as talented as this man is, with as many releases that he's had, and the number of great artists he's worked with, that the name Forrest McDonald isn't a household name in the blues community.  Although he's not all that young, let's all hope - for the good of the music - that he doesn't have to pay another 20 - 30 years of dues before enjoying a more widespread recognition.  After all, this is the blues, and as the song goes........."It Be's That Way Sometimes".      

 

    To be exact, "Certified Blue" is Forrest's eleventh release on his own World Talent Records.  On this project, besides playing guitar and organ, Forrest steps in front of the microphone for the very first time.  That's right, after all these years, for the first time on a record, he actually sings a song.  There'll be more on that when I get to the song.  The rest of the ensemble on the disc are: Kaylon (Mrs.) McDonald on vocals; Lee Gammon on bass; Roddy Barnes on piano and organ; Rich Ianucci on organ; Terry Garland and Barry Richman on guitar; John McKnight and Roy Saydlowski on drums; John Lieberman on harp & vocals; "Little Ronnie" Owens on harp; and Chuck Williams on tenor & alto sax.

 

    On the opener, Forrest and Barry have a good time trading off guitar leads as Lee and John are maintaining the fierce pace with rippin' rhythm behind them.  All while Kaylon belts out about driving down 95 "Keeping The Blues Alive" - something we are all hoping gets achieved.  This is the first of nine McDonald originals.

 

    Just as mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce make the turkey better, the saxophone, harp and organ do the same thing for a blues song.  Chuck, Ronnie and Rich do just that on the swinging "Till The Morning Light", which is surely a fast dancer's delight.   

 

    "Rock & Roll Bye, Bye, Bye" is one of two tracks that feature Jon Liebman on both vocal and harp, and he's all over both of them.  Along with that, the groove that Lee, John and Rich are in on bass, drums and organ, make this one hell of a track.

 

     "You Keep Telling Me" is the kind of stuff that attracted me to Forrest way back in '99 when he released "Spirit Of the Blues".  That disc was full of straight up scorching guitar riffs, one track right after another, and that's what I'm hearing right now.  This is what I call the blues. 

 

    Although he won't give much competition to Darrell Nulisch as my all time favorite male blues vocalist, Forrest does a heck of a good job on "Double Back" - his debut as a singer.  As a matter of fact, part of the lyrics have Forrest singing "..........I'm just a guitar player..........".  Well Forrest, that's no longer true.

 

    The discs, and maybe the decades, best drum work can be heard right here on "Piney Brown".  I've got to tell you, John McKnight is about to take off on this one.  With Forrest and Jon chasing him on guitar and harp, this one's a total rush.

 

    The title track's been "Blewzz approved" which definitely means it's "Certified Blue".  All it takes for that to happen is burning blues guitar work, soulful and passionate vocals, great rhythm and some sharp harpin'....which are all right here.

 

    Other tracks on "Certified Blue" include: "Mess Around With Love", "Danced Our Last Dance", "Double Dipping Man", "Trying To Get By", "Gas Pump Blues Revisited", and "Chicken Scratch Boogie".      

 

    You can visit Forrest at www.forrestmcdonald.com.  Once you're impressed with what you read, pick up a few of his discs and be impressed with what you hear.  Of course you'll tell him the Blewzzman sent ya, right? 

 

Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro

Blues editor @ www.Mary4Music.com