Taj Mahal
Maestro
Heads Up Int’l #3164
Taj Mahal is a two time Grammy winning blues artist whose recording career dates back 40 years. Mahal’s music, while firmly rooted in the traditional blues forms of the American South, also includes influences from the Caribbean, Africa and the South Pacific. Over the years Mahal’s musical associations have included Ry Cooder, Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones.
Mahal opens the disc with a funky, horn driven take on Slim Harpo’s classic “Scratch My Back”. Mahal receives solid support from his band The Phantom Blues Band which includes Larry Fulcher (bass), Tony Braunagel (drums), Johnny Lee Schell (guitar), Mike Finnigan (keys), Joe Sublett (sax) and Darrell Leonard (trumpet). Los Lobos backs Mahal up on the Caribbean sounding “Never Let You Go”. Ben Harper makes an appearance on a riff driven blues/rock tune “Dust Me Down” while Jack Johnson guests on a laid back and soulful remake of “Further On Down The Road.” Los Lobos returns for the Elmore James’ influenced “TV Mama”. The New Orleans Social Club consisting of Ivan Neville, George Porter, Leo Nocentelli, Henry Butler and Raymond Weber back Mahal on two tunes, the Howling Wolf sounding “I Can Make You Happy” and evoke the classic Fats Domino sound on “Hello Josephine”. Taj and the Phantom Blues Band close the disc with a fun cover of the Willie Dixon/Bo Diddley tune “Diddy Wah Diddy”.
This disc was released to celebrate Taj Mahal’s 40 years of making records. The record succeeds in giving the listener an overview of the type of music Mahal has been making for the last 40 years, and the guests make valuable contributions to the music but never take the spotlight of Mahal which is where it belongs.
- Barry Gober -
Southwest Blues CD Review - July 2009
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