Keep It Simple

Personnel: Keb’ Mo’ (vocals, guitar, banjo, bouzouki, steel mandolin, bass, percussion); Robben Ford, Robert Cray (guitar, background vocals); John Porter (guitar); Paul Franklin (dobro); Jeff Paris (mandolin, harmonica, piano, organ, keyboards); Steve Bush (mandolin); Andrea Zonn (violin, background vocals); Greg Phillinganes (piano, electric piano); John Hobbs (Fender Rhodes piano, electric piano); Reggie McBride, Nathan East, Reggie McBride (bass); Ricky Lawson, Steve Ferrone, Chad Cromwell (drums); Munyungo Jackson (percussion); Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Alex Brown, Bobette Jamison-Harrison, Phillip Ingram, Shannon Curfman (background vocals).

Recorded at The Village Recorders and Stu Stu, West Los Angeles, California; House Of Blues Studio, Encino, California; Blackbird Studios, Nashville, Tennessee. For his fifth studio album, KEEP IT SIMPLE, Keb’ Mo’ adhered to the title’s advice and cut out any middleman by taking the production reins himself. As a result, the California native came away with a dozen songs that are perhaps the most personal of his career. Playing a combination of finger-picked and slide guitar, Mo’ lends a tasty, fat tone to these tales of intimate relationships (the Bonnie Raitt-flavored “One Friend,” featuring Shannon Curfman), simpler times (the harmonica-soaked, slow blues title cut) and pure unconditional love (the sprightly “Shave Yo’ Legs”). Even Keb’ Mo’s use of special guests comes off as organic and woven into the mix. “Riley B. King” features Robben Ford and Robert Cray dropping in unobtrusive guitar solos, and the perky “House in California” seamlessly works in mandolin accompaniment by Sam Bush and harmonies by married couple Vince Gill and Amy Grant. KEEP IT SIMPLE is the sound of a skilled singer-songwriter who has hit a peak by sticking to the essence of blues music.