By Rosalind Cummings-Yeates
BLUES REVIEWED
Keb Mo
Oklahoma
After the triumph of his Grammy-win-
ning album collaboration with Taj Mahal,
TajMo (Concorde) last year, Keb Mo barely
stops to catch his breath as he offers up his
first solo album in five years, Oklahoma
(Concorde). Keb is always reliable for giving
a contemporary spin to country blues, and
ignited the genre during the ‘80s.
Mississippi bluesman Grady Champion
honors Z.Z.’s legacy with a flavorful tribute
album, Steppin In: A Tribute to Z.Z. Hill
(Malaco Records). Marking 35 years since
Z.Z’s death, the album delivers a dozen of
the singer’s hits, with Grady calling up his
bawdy essence with convincing energy.
As an International Blues Challenge win-
ner who commands the Southern blues ci
Sterling D. Plumpp
this 10-track CD stays true to that, although
there are quite a few fresh twists on this
album. Opening with the uptempo groove
of “I Remember You,” he runs through
vivid memories of a red-dress woman danc-
ing and drinking a Margarita and “tearing
my heart apart/the moment you left.” The
title track, layered with hot lap steel guitar
riffs by Robert Randolph and dazzling vio-
lin by Andy Leftwich, is a standout with
catchy lyrics and a country-pop rhythm.
Summing up the state’s complex history,
Keb creates a breezy hit; “Oklahoma/cow-
boys and Choctaws, Oklahoma, Chickasaws
and outlaws.” Tackling pressing social and
political issues seems to be the theme for
Oklahoma, environmental issues and cli-
mate change, feminism and immigration are
all covered, some with more success than
others. Country icon Roseanne Cash guests
on “Put A Woman In Charge,” a call for men
to step down and let women steer the world
back into balance. It’s an admirable senti-
ment, and Roseanne's vocals are strong, but
she can’t save the tune from its cheesy lyrics:
“When the girls take over/it’s gonna be fan-
tastic/Hallelujah/ we’re going to feel the
magic.” Environmentalism gets better treat-
ment with a swamp boogie beat, clever vers-
es and the inimitable Taj Mahal lending
bluesy vocal accents and bass on “Don’t
Throw It Away.” The melancholy ballad
“This Is My Home” is also a highlight,
exploring immigrant tales with sweet har-
monies by Jaci Velasquez. “Ridin’ On A
Train” show off Keb’s slide guitar mastery
and “I Should’ve” serves up humorous rela-
tionship mistakes accompanied by his siz-
zling harp blasts. Oklahoma is a solid addi-
tion to Keb Mo’s extensive discography.
Grady Champion
Steppin In: A Tribute to Z.Z.Hill
Z.Z. Hill holds a special place in the hearts
of Southern blues fans. The singer poured
just enough soul into his blues tunes to cre-
ate a distinct soul-blues category, which re-
14 illinoisentertainer.com october 2019
cuit, Grady is perhaps one of the best candi-
dates to rekindle the beloved memory of
Z.Z. Hill. Groomed in his church choir in
rural Canton, Mississippi, Grady also
learned to play guitar and harmonica before
he decided to become a bluesman after a few
years as a rapper. Two decades later, he is
established enough to pull off a Z.Z Hill trib-
ute album seamlessly without losing him-
self.
Kicking off with the classic ‘Down Home
Blues”, Grady digs into the joyful rhythms
of the tune with just the right amount of grit.
“Someone Else Is Steppin In” is another
standard that Z.Z. originated but has been
covered by everyone from Denise LaSalle to
Magic Slim and Johnnie Taylor. Grady adds
a dash of drama with tortured crooning and
“Bump and Grind” jumps with his rollick-
ing harp playing. “Cheating In The Next
Room” has him blending perfectly with the
organ and harp. Steppin In is an excellent
album for Z.Z. fans and those unfamiliar
with his music. This CD will make you want
to hear more.
Sterling D. Plumpp
Receives Fuller Award
Chicago’s own blues poet, Sterling D.
Plumpp, was honored with the Chicago
Literary Hall of Fame’s Fuller Award for
Lifetime Achievement at a ceremony held at
the Poetry Foundation last month. Noted for
infusing his work with blues rhythms,
Sterling documents blues culture for the lit-
erary landscape. “I’m directly influenced by
blues performers and not record perfor-
mance. You know, I spent 50 years of my life
witnessing blues singers and that’s what I’m
trying to capture,“ he said. The event fea-
tured tributes from Billy Branch, who was a
student of Sterling’s at the University of
Illinois at Chicago, poet and museum con-
sultant Ronne Hartfield, and Pulitzer Prize-
winning poet Tyehimba Jess.