As the Wunderkind Continues to Tour with Blues Legend Keb’ Mo’
Video Features Cameo Appearance by Keb’ Mo’
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(NASHVILLE, Tenn. – May 30, 2019) Following the highly praised release of Spectacular Class, the “70-year-old bluesman in a 20-year-old body,” Jontavious Willis, reveals his music video for “The World Is In A Tangle,” exclusively through his Facebook page. Watch the music video here.
In the clip for “The World Is In A Tangle,” a song filled with questions about the direction our world is going in, Willis portrays the freedom of living the simple life. Despite the fear of “get[ting] the blues when you turn on the T.V.”, the band sits amongst each other in the middle of a worry-free jam session yielding feel-good solos from the mandolin, banjo, and acoustic guitar. Referred to as “Mr. Banjo Man” in the video, iconic Blues and Americana artist, Keb’ Mo’ (and producer of Willis’ Spectacular Class), makes a cameo to support the care-free groove.
In regards to the song, Willis suggests that we all need to be a little nicer to each other and ourselves, “It starts on a micro level of fixing ourselves before we can fix the world.”
Willis got his much-needed break through the living legend Taj Mahal, who described him as the “Wonderboy” and “the Wunderkind.” His style of playing the instruments and his voice touches the very roots of country blues. He brings back the true soul of the music, harvesting him the reputation as an old soul from his fans.
Every generation or so, a young bluesman burst onto the scene and sends a jolt through the blues community. Jontavious Willis accomplished this with the release of Spectacular Class in April, receiving praise throughout the blues community. Through original lyrics written by Willis himself, the gifted musician delivers a timeless album that features dynamic vocals and all types of blues: Delta, Piedmont, Texas, and Gospel. His stand-out fingerpicking, flat-picking, and slide prowess are also on display.
GRAMMY award-winning artists Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ played an active role in producing Spectacular Class with Taj Mahal credited as Executive Producer and Keb’ Mo’ as the Producer. In addition to its digital release, the album will also be available on CD and vinyl.
Hailing from Greenville, Georgia, Willis grew up singing Gospel music at the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church with his grandfather. Since an early age, he had the talent and passion for the music and the ability to sharpen his skills fast. At the age of 14, he came across a YouTube video of Muddy Waters playing “Hoochie Coochie Man” and was instantly hooked on the blues.
Spectacular Class is the follow-up release to his debut album, Blue Metamorphosis, which was released in 2016 and garnered him rave reviews from such notable magazines as Living Blues and Blues & Rhythm. In 2018, the album earned recognition by the Blues Foundation through their International Blues Challenge, where he was honored with the Best Self-Produced CD Award.
Willis currently appears as the opening act for Keb’ Mo’s 2019 solo tour. To view a list of upcoming tour dates, visit http://jontaviouswillis.com/schedule/.
For more information, please visitwww.JontaviousWillis.com and follow Jontavious on Facebook and Instagram.
Tour dates:* w/ Keb’ Mo’
| 6/1/2019 | New York Guitar Festival | New York | NY |
| 6/7/2019 | Franklin Theatre* | Franklin | TN |
| 6/8/2019 | Franklin Theatre* | Franklin | TN |
| 6/9/2019 | Franklin Theatre* | Franklin | TN |
| 6/13/2019 | The Birchmere* | Alexandria | VA |
| 6/14/2019 | Cabot Theatre* | Beverly | MA |
| 6/15/2019 | W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival | Henderson | KY |
| 6/16/2019 | Lebanon Opera House* | Lebanon | NH |
| 6/17/2019 | Sony Hall* | New York | NY |
| 6/19/2019 | The Space at Westbury* | Westbury | NY |
| 6/20/2019 | Palace Theatre* | Greensburg | PA |
| 6/22/2019 | Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua* | Bayfield | WI |
| 6/23/2019 | Music In The Zoo | Apple Valley | MN |
| 8/14/2019 | Abilene Bar and Lounge | Rochester | NY |
| 8/15/2019 | Beachland Ballroom & Tavern | Cleveland | OH |
| 8/16/2019 | Funk N Waffles Downtown | Syracuse | NY |
| 8/17/2019 | Chenango Blues Festival | Norwich | NY |
| 8/18/2019 | The Front Porch | Charlottesville | VA |
| 8/29/2019 | Blues to Bop Festival | Lugano, Switzerland | |
| 9/12/2019 | The Pabst Theatre* | Milwaukee | WI |
| 9/13/2019 | Northshore Center for the Performing Arts* | Skokie | IL |
| 9/14/2019 | Michigan Theatre* | Ann Arbor | MI |
| 9/15/2019 | Memorial Hall* | Cincinnati | OH |
