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Taj Mahal and Keb' Mo' join forces for TajMo // Photo by Bob Minkin

03/15/2017

TajMo: Taj Mahal and Keb' Mo' team up for new album

By SCOTT CUNNINGHAM // Release set for May 5, national tour planned

In my imagination, here's how I see this project coming about. Two guys, one named Henry, the other Kevin, sitting around on a front porch, plucking guitar strings.

One of them says, "Hey, that groove feels good. What'd ya do?"

The other one shows it to him and in a few seconds they are pickin' strings, thumping out a bass line, and humming the start of a melody.

"You know, we oughta lay that down sometime."

And a record of epic proportions is born.

The story may only be my imagination, but the album is very real. And epic.

I'm talking, of course, about Taj Mahal (Henry) and Keb' Mo' (Kevin) having paired up for a spring release of a joint album on the Concord label, titled simply "TajMo".

Both men are among the bluesiest cats around, with each having had major impacts on the genre. Both have won multiple Grammy awards and share an immense admiration for the other.

Although the two have long been friends, "TajMo" is their first full-fledged joint project. Recorded in Nashville's Stu Stu Studio, the album contains 11 songs, including six original compositions and covers from the likes of John Mayer and The Who.

The album also features some first-rate guest appearances from Bonnie Raitt, Joe Walsh, Sheila E., and Lizz Wright, among others.

Don't Leave Me Here, the first single from the album, is an ode to the south and can be heard in the lyric video below.

The two kick off the west coast leg of a national tour on May 30 in Fort Collins, CO. The only PacNW dates are June 18 in Seattle and June 20 in Sun River. An east coast run starts on Aug. 9 in Washington, D.C. and wraps up at the famed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Oct. 7. They will also appear together on the Legendary Blues Cruise in late October.

Pre-sale tickets are on sale now in select cities and go on sale to the general public Friday, Mar. 17. Tickets and more information are available at the official TajMo website.