Keb Mo (Born 03/10/1951)

He writes much of his own material and this has allowed him to add a high quality contemporary feel to his recordings whilst at the same time playing homage to the past with occasional, fine reworkings of blues standards, including excellent versions of Robert Johnson material. Early on in his career, Moore's musical horizons were broadened even further playing with Papa John Creach and touring with him, often in support of artists as diverse as Jefferson Starship, Loggins and Messina and the Mahavishnu Orchestra; and in 1980 he cut an R&B based solo album (Rainmaker) for a subsidiary of Casablanca Records.

Following a period gigging around L.A and a time in Monk Higgins' band, he released what most consider to be his true debut album "Keb 'Mo" in 1994. An ambitious and sometimes edgy collection of mostly country blues tempered with a little soul and folk influence, his fine vocals and guitar playing ensure it's a debut to cherish.
The second album "Just Like You" dramatically expanded the borders of the delta blues, with support from the likes of Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt on the title track. Critical reaction was mixed, but you get the feeling that many looking for the next great revivalist were uncomfortable with Moore pulling away from the delta blues tradition and putting on record the music he had been playing live for the last fifteen years. For the rest of us, the album is a delight, a wonderful stew of blues, soul and gospel and an ever more evident, increasingly confident songwriting style. 'That's Not Love' and 'More Than One Way Home' have a lovely, relaxed feel which draw on influences far beyond those evident on the first album.

"Slow Down", 'Keb 'Mo's third release in 1998, expanded on these themes to even better effect. Again one review indicated how difficult it was for some to accept what critics consider to be a lack of authenticity, describing the album as "nice, smooth bluesy pop" - we can assume this isn't a compliment! And it's true it might irritate the blue purist but for those who admire well crafted material which won't be pigeon-holed it will be a delight. 'Muddy Water' and 'Henry' are excellent examples of soul drenched blues and there is ample evidence of his continuing skills with acoustic blues with a fine rendition of 'Love In Vain'. "The Door" is a fine follow-up, although the material is perhaps not quite as strong. More recent albums have often been a little patchy, although there is usually something to savour on each.

'Keb 'Mo will probably always irritate the purists (although who knows which way he'll go from release to release) but for the less blinkered he is a fine exponent of contemporary blues. Some might argue he's the sound of post Robert Cray blues and you'll certainly not find any guitar pyrotechnics. In the Primer's view, he's one of the finest contemporary bluesmen around, even if he isn't in the Eric Bibb or Corey Harris tradition that so many commentators seem to demand of him.