Volume CXXXIII, Number 18 March 1, 2002 f

Keb' Mo' still has jazz mojo
CONOR WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITER

Keb' Mo' combines elements of folk, blues, and world music on his albums The Door and Big Wide Grin. (keb-mo.com)

Since his self-titled solo effort in 1994, blues guitarist Keb' Mo' has become one of the blues world's brightest stars. He is a two-time Grammy award winner and has been nominated for two more for his work in 2001. His thick, bluesy album, The Door has been nominated as the year's Best Contemporary Blues Album, while his slightly less orthodox effort of the year, Big Wide Grin, has been nominated as the year's Best Musical Album for Children.

In an age where modern blues has become increasingly typecast by several of its most socially acceptable members, Keb' Mo' is unique in his devotion to traditional blues chord structures and sounds. At the same time, Mo' has grown more diversified as his music progresses, unabashedly challenging his limits as a solo bluesman. Big Wide Grin is an eclectic mix of folk, blues, and world music influences that includes songs such as Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi," and "America the Beautiful." At times, he becomes a folk troubadour similar to John McCutcheon, at others, he resembles children's artist Raffi.

Conversely, The Door evokes memories of Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker, and other prominent blues legends. It is thick, deep, and sure of its roots; intensely bluesy moments are offset by backwoods country/bluegrass banjo, tight, funky bass lines, and gospel choruses On both albums, Mo' provides thoughtful, emotional lyrics by way of his powerfully thick voice. He is alternately haunting and comical, unifying and independent. In the blues tradition, he takes strength from emotions, both painful and joyful.
What is more remarkable in this age of techno remixes and digital backup instruments is that Keb' Mo' has mastered several instruments. Mo' plays his unassumingly stunning guitar on all the tracks, as well as his harmonica whenever it appears on the album. Although Big Wide Grin includes many songs previously recorded by other artists, this is the exception, rather than the rule. Nearly all of the songs on his previous albums are his own compositions, usually offset by several Robert Johnson classics.

Keb' Mo' offers something for every musical listener. Though he is often consistently in the 12-bar blues chord progression, he can progress in a moment to a diverse, almost Caribbean rhythm with thick percussion and freeform chords. His voice conveys anguish, pain, hurt, loss, and regret well, but also provides hope, humor, faith, strength, and confidence. He sings lullabies, but makes racy promises to his woman as the night goes on. In many ways, Mo' is becoming the heir apparent to the reigning kings of blues, BB King and Buddy Guy.

I'd strongly recommend both albums, contingent upon the musical tastes of the listener. The Door is a blues masterpiece, a solid, creative testimony to Mo's talent. Big Wide Grin has a thinner feel, running the gamut from R&B to pop/rock to world music. The Door is aggressive and bruisingly emotional, while Grin is smooth, less cohesive, and diverse. Honestly, you can't go wrong.

I give The Door a perfect 4.0 Bears and Big Wide Grin 3.8 Bears.