Keb’ Mo’, Good To Be Review

Keb’ Mo’ (Kevin Roosevelt Moore) is a blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter who is a five-time Grammy Award winner. The moniker “Keb Mo” was coined by his original drummer, Quentin Dennard, and picked up by his record label as a “street talk” abbreviation of his given name. His music has been described as “a living link to the seminal Delta blues that traveled up the Mississippi River and across the expanse of America.” Mo’s albums reflect a modern blues style influences of folk, rock, jazz, pop, and country. Mo’ has been calling Nashville for many years now. However, the California native is originally from Compton, California. was always home. With his latest, Good To Be, Mo’ manages to connect the two seamlessly. Mo’ is now combining his Nashville and Compton experiences into his latest project called Good To Be…

Good To Be is thirteen songs that weave together a heartwarming tapestry of styles and sounds of Mo’s music. The sonic evolution of the project was conceived in Nashville and in the Compton house Mo’ grew up in California. The album has a variety of collaborators, including country legend Vince Gill, famed producer Tom Hambridge (B.B. King, Buddy Guy), Darius Rucker, Kristin Chenoweth, and Old Crow Medicine Show. The music has a theme of appreciating what you’ve got, where you come from, and who you get to share it with. “I believe that music has the power to heal,” says Mo’, “and I wanted this album to make people feel good. I wanted it to bring joy and make them maybe think about where they come from and the journeys that brought them to where they are.” “Good To Be (Home Again” has a beautiful mix of acoustic guitar, organ, and percussion that organically frames Mo’ as he sings the positive lyrics. After hearing a few selections, you will notice that this project leans heavier into the Americana-Roots sounds than Mo’s previous works. That is not surprising considering the guest artist. Old Crow Medicine Show and Mo’ deliverer a stirring blues meets bluegrass selection with “The Medicine Man.” The mix of fiddle, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, and acoustic guitar accentuates the solid vocal harmonies and unison singing. This selection is undoubtedly one of the many highlights. Another one is “Good Strong Woman,” which features Darius Rucker. Rucker and Mo’ actually have a lot in common vocally, and together they create a beautiful sound. An Americana version of “Lean On Me” is well placed within the set and shows Mo’s strong vocal skills. Overall, Good To Be… is another testament to Mo’s crafty guitar skills and smooth, inviting vocal style that successfully dissolves boundaries and unites through his gift of song. That’s the short of it!

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