Best bet: Keb’ Mo’ & Chick Corea

Doubleheader

By Diana Nollen

With nearly 20 Grammys between them, Keb' Mo' and Chick Corea will be knocking their hits out of the Corridor this weekend, with back-to-back concerts.

Contemporary bluesman Keb' Mo' will be sliding into home at 8 p.m. Saturday (4/10/10) at the Riverside Casino Event Center, 3184 Highway 22, Riverside. Tickets are $30 and $40 at the casino gift shop or http://http://tickets.riversidecasinoandresort.com

Legendary jazz pianist Chick Corea will be driving on down the line at 7:30 p.m. Sunday (4/11/10) at the Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City. Tickets are $39 and $49 at the Englert Box Office, (319) 688-2653, or www.iowatix.com

Raised as Kevin Moore in South Los Angeles, Keb' Mo's family roots run to the Deep South, just like his music. His Delta blues are infused with pop, rock, folk and jazz, creating a sound of his own. His thick, rich vocals are tinged with a bit of grit, equally at home in concert or contrast to his guitar work that's sometimes clean and smooth, but more often down and dirty.

It's no wonder he started racking up the awards with his debut album in 1994.

No matter how you like your jazz, Corea has played it. Avant-garde or straight-ahead, he's been covering new ground for 40 years while also dipping into symphonic and children's music realms, as well.

Armando Anthony Corea was born in Massachusetts in 1941 and started playing piano at age 4. His first big professional gig was with Cab Calloway. That's quite a way to launch a career. He began recording in the '60s, teaming up with Miles Davis, Stan Getz, then explored the realms of avant-garde, fusion and Latin rhythms.

The innovations continue. In recent years, he's joined forces with banjo blazer Bela Fleck for an album of duets and won a Grammy for 2009's “Five Peace Band Live.”

His path is constantly evolving, bringing an action-packed year of touring around the globe. Then he'll kick off 2011 with Wynton Marsalis leading the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra through a gala performance of Corea's compositions. We hear champagne corks popping already.