Taj Mahal & Keb Mo Tajmo

636

5 Stars

Audio CD (paid link)

Two more influential musicians you are hardly likely ever to find. Keb Mo (born Kevin Roosevelt Moore in 1951) was originally from the very core of the Delta Blues that ran up from the Mississippi. He is a five-time Grammy Award winner. During his career, he has influenced folk music, blues, jazz, pop and country. He also has a healthy film career, plus dabbling in politics, aligning himself with the Vote For Change Movement.

Taj Mahal is certainly one of the most respected figures in any walk of life. He is also a Grammy Award Winner plus a Lifetime Achievement Award. A multi-instrumentalist, perhaps best known for playing the guitar, his wonderful harmonica playing and gruff vocals. Taj Mahal is also closely associated with the Rolling Stones, having played with and recorded with them over the years.

Their combined CVs would impress anybody.

*Two fine gentleman take to the stage. Ladies and gentlemen I give you Taj Mahal and Keb Mo.*

So when these two combined to record an album and tour together, those who know their beans and rice paid attention. Released in 2017 when Keb Mo was in his mid-sixties and Taj Mahal in his mid-seventies, there was no sign of advancing years as they plugged in and went down’n’dirty. The sparks flying would create an epic forest fire.

The album won the Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy for 2017.

The album has six original songs, plus five cover versions with songs from such contemporary artists as John Mayer and Pete Townshend. Of course, with these two in the studio, many people wanted to come in and lay some licks down, including Bonnie Raitt, Joe Walsh, Lizz Wright, and Sheila E., giving the music an extra-fine sheen.

*A knowing look between these fine musicians is all it takes. Born of long friendship and mutual respect.*

But it’s really just the power of the two central players that really fire things up. The whole album has such a groove going through it, you cannot stop yourself from playing the album from one end to another.

The album’s opening song, ‘Don’t Leave Me Here,’ gives you all you want to know about what’s going on here. But there are many other highlights such as ‘Diving Duck Blues,’ ‘Ain’t Nobody Talking,’ ‘Waiting On The World To Change.’ Oh they are all great—get the album and explore it yourself.

Two fine musicians and human beings. The music will leave you fully uplifted.

These two have ridden the tides of popularity over the years, but class always will out.