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Keb' Mo'

“I’m more interested in pleasing myself, and making records that make me feel proud and make me feel like I’ve done my best. And if other people like it, that’s gravy.” states Keb’ Mo’, assessing his new release Oklahoma.

Indeed, in his quarter-century as a recording artist, the charismatic singer/guitarist/ songwriter and five-time GRAMMY Award winner has consistently made music that reflects his own passions and interests. In the process, he’s earned a reputation for his ability to draw upon his bottomless roots-music expertise to make deeply expressive, highly personal music.

That’s the case throughout Oklahoma, whose expansive creative vistas reflect the eponymous state’s wide-open spaces. With noted musical veteran Colin Linden (The Band, Bruce Cockburn) heading up production duties, the album’s 10 tracks encompass Keb’ Mo’s diverse talents, with the artist delivering some of the most adventurous and personal work of his career.

“When you are in a certain part of your life, the concept of an album is woven into the process,” he says. “All of these songs stemmed from important issues and topics worldwide that really resonated with me during the time we were recording the project.”

The inspiration for the title track “Oklahoma” started with a visit to the state in 2013 for a benefit show with Kenny Wayne Shepard. Keb’ witnessed first-hand the aftermath of a destructive tornado. “I thought about what it must be like to live in Oklahoma and all the great people that have come from Oklahoma,” he recalls. With just a melody in his head for a song about Oklahoma and little personal connection to the state, the title track was almost never conceived. That is until the hands of fate led him to the meeting of, and songwriting session with Dara Tucker, an Oklahoma native. Together, they set about to portray the complicated depth of American history played out in her home state. Native American connection and tragedy, natural and man made disasters, incredible musicians and the Tulsa Sound, and western ruggedness and fortitude are all themes. Notable is the mention of Greenwood/Archer and Pine, known as “Black Wall Street” which was infamously destroyed in 1921 in one of the most devastating massacres in the history of US race relations.

Making a cameo appearance, Robert Randolph, masterfully adds a haunting air with his lap steel. “We chose to make the song sound light-hearted and ultimately about resilience,” Keb’ says. “Then Robert came in and added some musical flavor. The result was beautiful, and I thought it had to be on the record, and ultimately, what I chose to be the album’s title.”

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Radio & Podcasts

Keb Mo

Read "Keb Mo" reviewed by Joseph Vella


Tom sits down with talented bluesman, guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, actor and 5-time Grammy winner Keb' Mo'. Keb' shares his inspiring story from his beginnings in South Central Los Angeles to working his way into the famed A&M Studios to finding the blues to making it and beyond. ...

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Live Review

Keb' Mo' with Jontavious Willis at The Space at Westbury

Read "Keb' Mo' with Jontavious Willis at The Space at Westbury" reviewed by Mike Perciaccante


Keb' Mo' with Jontavious Willis The Space at Westbury The Solo Tour Westbury, NY June 19, 2019 Keb' Mo' was born Kevin Roosevelt Moore to parents who were from California and Texas and fans of both the blues and gospel music. Their influences are readily apparent in his music. The four-time Grammy Award winner currently lives in the musical hotbed of Nashville, TN and has been described as “a living link to the seminal ...

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Tell Me More

Keb' Mo': Blues Meets Jazz in BluesAmericana

Read "Keb' Mo': Blues Meets Jazz in BluesAmericana" reviewed by Belinda Ware


Jazz and Blues go hand in hand like mother and daughter, father and son. Blues is often associated with a style of music imbued and cultivated within musicians born and raised in the downhome South hanging out in nightclubs on Memphis' Beale Street, New Orleans and Tupelo waiting for a spot to perform. Kevin Moore hails originally from the city of Compton, a city that has served as home to Venus and Serena Williams, Kendrick Lamar, and George ...

6
Live Review

Keb' Mo' at Mesa Arts Center

Read "Keb' Mo' at Mesa Arts Center" reviewed by Patricia Myers


Keb' Mo' Mesa Arts Center Mesa, Arizona May 15, 2014 Roots-bluesman Keb' Mo' enthralled a full-house audience with his wide-ranging tribute to American blues, singing and playing acoustic, electric and slide guitars, banjo and harmonica. Varying his repertoire among old-fashioned country blues, soul and folk-style storytelling, the 62-year-old replicated the attitude and energy of his earlier years. Although touring to promote his new album, BLUESAmericana (Kind of Blue Music, 2014), he delivered plenty ...

5
Live Review

Keb' Mo' and Arizona Musicfest Orchestra: Scottsdale, AZ, February 22, 2013

Read "Keb' Mo' and Arizona Musicfest Orchestra: Scottsdale, AZ, February 22, 2013" reviewed by Patricia Myers


Keb' Mo' and Arizona Musicfest OrchestraArizona MusicfestPinnacle Presbyterian ChurchScottsdale, AZFeb. 22, 2013It was a bold step to book bluesman Keb' Mo' to perform with the Arizona Musicfest Orchestra, a performance that could have been constrained by the rigidity of orchestral charts. But Mo' and his trio stayed loose and true to his trademark style, sometimes appearing buoyed by having 52 side men and women under the baton of Robert Moody.During a ...

2
Album Review

Jimmy Smith: Dot Com Blues

Read "Dot Com Blues" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


He's known as one of the founding jazz fathers of Hammond B-3 organ funk, but Jimmy Smith has always played the blues. Born in December 1928 in a suburb west of Philadelphia, Smith has been performing since he was 12, at that time in a song and dance act with his father. After a stint in the navy, Smith took advantage of the GI Bill to study bass, piano and music theory upon his service discharge. During this period Smith ...

298
Album Review

Keb' Mo': The Door

Read "The Door" reviewed by Ed Kopp


Combining country blues with folksy pop is about as sensible as coating barbecue ribs in chocolate sauce, but Keb' Mo' fourth release The Door works amazingly well. To these ears, it's the best since his 1994 debut.Some blues purists grumble that Keb' Mo's sensitive blend of blues, folk and pop is watered down to please the masses. True, Keb' Mo' is wildly popular compared to most blues artists, and yes, his music is mellower and more radio-friendly than ...

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Event

Robert Johnson Tribute: Roots, Taj Mahal, Keb' MO', Todd Rundgren

Robert Johnson Tribute: Roots, Taj Mahal, Keb' MO', Todd Rundgren

Source: JamBase

ALL-STAR ROBERT JOHNSON CENTENNIAL TRIBUTE CONCERT CONFIRMED FOR MARCH 6 AT THE APOLLO THEATER Producers announced today the first artists confirmed to play a special March 6 tribute concert at NY's historic Apollo Theater, celebrating the centennial of legendary bluesman Robert Johnson. The initial, star-studded lineup includes The Roots, Shemekia Copeland, Bettye LaVette, Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo,' Sam Moore and Todd Rundgren, with more to be announced soon. Net proceeds from the concert, co-produced by Steve Berkowitz, Michael Dorf, Joe ...

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Recording

Keb Mo - The Reflection (2011)

Keb Mo - The Reflection (2011)

Source: Something Else!

Keb Mo isn't that kid playing the old blues on the old steel guitar anymore. Instead he often comes off on his new album The Reflection like a pillowy-smooth 1970s-era singer-songwriter—though guys like that, of course, never sounded this honey-smoked and warm. Leaving aside Keb Mo's earliest work, this shouldn't come a deep surprise. He has been following a lengthening career trail away from blues traditionalism all the way over into this soft-hearted, rootsy amalgam for some time. Keb Mo's ...

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Performance / Tour

Keb MO Announces New Album and Tour Dates

Keb MO Announces New Album and Tour Dates

Source: JamBase

NEW ALBUM THE REFLECTION OUT AUGUST 2; TOUR BEGINS AUGUST 4 IN BEAVER CREEK, COLORADO Keb' Mo' has announced tour dates to support his August 2 release of his highly-anticipated new album, The Reflection. The thirty-date tour includes stops at The Hollywood Bowl on August 10, BB Kings Club in New York on September 20 and the Ryman Auditorium on October 7. The Reflection is now available to pre-order on Amazon. Click here to purchase the first single, “The Whole ...

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Festival

Jeff Beck, Gladys Knight, Herbie Hancock, John Pizzarelli, Keb' MO' & Bernie Williams to Headline Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival 9th Edition June 11 - June 19

Jeff Beck, Gladys Knight, Herbie Hancock,  John Pizzarelli, Keb' MO' & Bernie Williams to Headline Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival  9th Edition June 11 - June 19

Source: Dalmath Associates Inc.

More than 1000 Musicians to Perform at 285 Concerts, in 17 Venues Rochester NY - March 30, 2010 - The Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival presented by M&T Bank today announced its largest lineup ever with more than 1000 artists performing at 285 concerts and a record number of international artists. Jeff Beck, Gladys Knight, Herbie Hancock, Keb' Mo', Bernie Williams and John Pizzarelli will headline the nine-day event that runs from Friday June 11 through Saturday June 19. After ...

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TV / Film

Chess Records Biopic Robert Randolph, Keb' MO'

Chess Records Biopic Robert Randolph, Keb' MO'

Source: JamBase

OPENS APRIL 9 IN NEW YORK CITY

Who Do You Love is the new film about Leonard and Phil Chess, legendary founders of Chess Records. The film opens in theaters beginning April 9 in NYC and stars Robert Randolph (as Bo Diddley), Keb' Mo', Raheem DeVaughn, Ryan Shaw and Alessandro Nivola (as Leonard Chess). Who Do You Love features authentic musical performances (all of the music was recorded and performed by the artists themselves) and a score full of Chess ...

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Performance / Tour

Keb' MO' to Release Indie Album, Embarks on U.S. Tour Dates

Keb' MO' to Release Indie Album, Embarks on U.S. Tour Dates

Source: conqueroo

KEB' MO' TO RELEASE INDIE ALBUM TITLED LIVE & MO', AS HE EMBARKS ON COAST-TO-COAST U.S. TOUR FROM OCTOBER 14 THROUGH NOVEMBER 23

Singer/songwriter/guitarist also receives airplay for Playing For Change single and voiced NAACP 2010 Census informational video. And would you believe he'll appear on Comedy Central's Sarah Silverman Program?

The fall months will prove a busy time for three-time Grammy Award winning bluesy singer/songwriter Keb' Mo', who will embark on a 31-date coast- to-coast American tour while releasing ...

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Moonlight, Mistletoe...

Snakefarm Records
2019

buy

TajMo

Tajmo Records, LLC. under exclusive License to Concord Music Group, Inc.
2018

buy

The Reflection

Yolabella International
2011

buy

Suitcase

SONY BMG ENTERTAINMENT
2006

buy

The Door

Sony Music
2000

buy

Dot Com Blues

Verve Music Group
2000

buy

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