A lot of blues artists have sustained and vital careers nuancing established material and recreating it in their own image.

Keb' Mo' is particularly good at interpreting and propelling old tunes into the present, but he's better at writing new material for a timeless genre. It's not hard to imagine the blues musicians of 2050 covering Mo's work in loving fashion.

It's in that spirit that 12-time Grammy nominee Mo' returns to the Garde Arts Center Friday. After all, his "Oklahoma" album, released in June, simultaneously landed on the Billboard Blues, Rock and Americana/Folk charts. With that energy, and given his rich catalog, the promise for the Garde show is enormous.

But that doesn't take into account an added holiday bonus. Mo' has just released his first-ever holiday album, "Moonlight, Mistletoe & You." It's a bountiful recording with thoughtful and spirited renditions of "Please Come Home for Christmas" and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm"; the truly memorable title track, co-written by Mo'; and the delightfully Scroogey "Christmas in Annoying."

Sounds like this show, billed as Keb' Mo's Jingle Bell Jamboree, will be a multi-faceted musical gift.

Keb' Mo', 8 p.m. Friday, Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London; $42-$158; (860) 444-7373.