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Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal has spent more than 40 years exploring the roots and branches of the blues. Grounded in the acoustic pre-war blues sound but drawn to the eclectic sounds of world music, he revitalized a dying tradition and prepared the way for a new generation of blues men and women. While many African Americans shunned older musical styles during the 1960s, Mahal immersed himself in the roots of his past. "I was interested in the music because I felt something [got] lost in that transition of blacks trying to assimilate into society." He had no intention of repeating what had come before, however, and drew deeply from the wells of the ethnic music of Africa, South America, and the Caribbean.

Taj Mahal was born Henry Saint Claire Fredericks in New York City in 1942. His father, who had emigrated from the Caribbean, wrote arrangements for Benny Goodman and played piano. His mother, Mildred Shields, had taught school in South Carolina. "Even though I have Southern and Caribbean roots, my background also crossed with indigenous European and African influences," Mahal told Down Beat. "My parents introduced me to gospel, spiritual singing, to Ella, Sarah, Mahalia Jackson, Ray Charles." Mahal also listened to music from around the world on his father's short-wave radio, and developed a love for blues artists like Leadbelly and Lightnin' Hopkins, and early rock-n-rollers like Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley.

Mahal's family moved when he was a young boy and he grew up in Massachusetts. Growing up in Springfield, Mass., Mahal was a rarity--"a young African American who immersed himself in the study of his cultural heritage. At age 11 he witnessed the death of his father in a farming accident, but he found solace in music. When his mother remarried, he discovered his stepfather's guitar in the basement and learned to play it with a broken comb. He also took lessons from Lynnwood Perry and absorbed the radio sounds of jazz players like Illinois Jacquet and Ben Webster. Although he is primarily known as a guitarist, Mahal mastered an arsenal of instruments including piano, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica.

Mahal studied agriculture and animal husbandry at the University of Massachusetts. A dream inspired him to change his name from Fredericks, and he formed Taj Mahal and the Elektras in the early 1960s. He was lucky enough to have his ideas coincide with the '60s and the resurgence of the blues. He attended the Newport Folk Festival in the early 1960s to witness the folk and blues revival first hand. The opportunity to watch traditional blues players perform and meet the artists in person reinforced his decision to play acoustic guitar.

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7
Multiple Reviews

Taj Mahal: The Blues Is Eternal

Read "Taj Mahal: The Blues Is Eternal" reviewed by Doug Collette


Over the course of his fifty-plus years of active musicology, Taj Mahal has explored all manner of roots music, but he always returns to his main influences in the blues. His delving into reggae and Caribbean styles has not only illuminated the links connecting the genres, but also increasingly honed a feel for sharp musicianship that was ever-so-incisive to begin with on his eponymous debut album in 1968 for Columbia Records. A pair of successive albums from the man born ...

4
Album Review

Taj Mahal: Savoy

Read "Savoy" reviewed by Steve Yip


Folk/blues practitioner Taj Mahal's Savoy is to be savored. As one of the custodians of the blues, Mahal has long been a legend in his own time. This collection traverses a cultural-musical continuum in an indispensable residency in the annals of Black American music. The namesake of this album--the Savoy on Lenox Avenue in Harlem--was known as The World's Finest Ballroom and Home Of Happy Feet. In the pre-Civil Rights era, the North claimed formal equality, but segregation ...

4
Album Review

Taj Mahal: Savoy

Read "Savoy" reviewed by Dave Linn


Savoy, from Taj Mahal, is the latest entrant in the crowded field of pop music artists trying their hand at the fertile songbook of old big-band, swing-era standards. Unlike most, Mahal's roots show he's well suited to the task. He was born in Harlem in 1942. He grew up in a musical family, and his parents were both involved in the arts. His father was a jazz pianist and arranger, working with Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, and Fletcher Henderson among ...

11
Album Review

Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal: Get on Board: The Songs Of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee

Read "Get on Board: The Songs Of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski


There is an African proverb that says “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." The intimacy and the dynamics of the duet setting have long appealed to virtuoso guitarist Ry Cooder. During his expansive six decade career, he has released several adventurous duets and collaborative albums with luminaries such as guitarist Ali Farka Toure, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt or Manuel Galban, to name but a few. Get on Board is ...

245
Live Review

The Taj Mahal Trio at Higher Ground

Read "The Taj Mahal Trio at Higher Ground" reviewed by Doug Collette


The Taj Mahal Trio Higher Ground South Burlington, Vermont June 18, 2009

Given the pre-show buzz in the ballroom, it is quite likely Taj Mahal had the Higher Ground crowd in the palm of his hand before he even ambled onstage on June 18th. He didn't take their loyalty for granted, however, or just go through the motions--he only made it look that easy.

More a stylist than an innovator, Taj Mahal has nevertheless ...

363
Album Review

Taj Mahal: Maestro

Read "Maestro" reviewed by Woodrow Wilkins


With a forty-year track record of recording the blues, Taj Mahal has earned the label of maestro. Now, he celebrates four decades with an album that uses that word as its theme.Born Henry St. Clair Fredricks in 1942, Mahal has mixed a variety of cultural influences in making his music. Although primarily a vocalist, he also plays a variety of instruments, including guitar, banjo and harmonica. The two-time Grammy winner has performed with or opened for Otis Redding, ...

270
Album Review

Taj Mahal: Maestro

Read "Maestro" reviewed by Doug Collette


Maestro is the perfect title for this Taj Mahal album. No matter who the star cameo is on a given track--and there is a famous name on almost every one--it's quite clear that the source of direction (not to mention the original inspiration) comes from Mahal himself. Not surprisingly, the best moments arise in his role as a bandleader.

His own Phantom Blues Band accompanies him on a salty take on “Scratch My Back," the steady ...

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3

Festival

Taj Mahal To Headline On Opening Night June 21 At Rochester International Jazz Festival

Taj Mahal To Headline On Opening Night June 21 At Rochester International Jazz Festival

Source: Dalmath Associates Inc.

The CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival is proud to present legendary blues guitarist, Taj Mahal, on the Festival's opening night Friday, June 21, at 8 a.m. at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. The Festival's 21st Edition will be held June 21 to 29 at 20 indoor and outdoor venues in downtown Rochester, New York. Tickets for Taj Mahal are $93 / $83 / $63 / $43 plus service charges and go on sale Friday, February 16 at 10 a.m. only ...

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Event

Interschool Orchestras Of New York Presents Its Gala Celebration: A Tribute To Howard Johnson on September 18th at Kaufman Music Center’s Merkin Hall

Interschool Orchestras Of New York Presents Its Gala Celebration:  A Tribute To Howard Johnson on September 18th at Kaufman Music Center’s Merkin Hall

Source: All About Jazz

InterSchool Orchestras of New York (ISO) is proud to announce its 2019-2020 gala celebration, A Tribute to Howard Johnson, at Kaufman Music Center’s Merkin Hall, September 18, 2019 at 7:30 pm. The special event will honor the musical legend, who, in his five-decade career, has played alongside luminaries in multiple genres and pioneered the voice of the tuba in jazz. The event will also feature the talents of two-time Grammy-winning musician Taj Mahal and students of ISO. All proceeds from ...

5

Performance / Tour

Tribute To Howard Johnson At Merkin Hall On September 18th Featuring Taj Mahal And More! Presented By The Interschool Orchestras Of New York!

Tribute To Howard Johnson At Merkin Hall On September 18th Featuring Taj Mahal And More! Presented By The Interschool Orchestras Of New York!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

InterSchool Orchestras of New York Presents Its Gala Celebration: A TRIBUTE TO HOWARD JOHNSON Featuring Taj Mahal, Gravity, The Levon Helm Horns, the Beartones, and Students of InterSchool Orchestras of New York InterSchool Orchestras of New York (ISO) is proud to announce its 2019-2020 gala celebration, A Tribute to Howard Johnson, at Kaufman Music Center's Merkin Hall, September 18, 2019 at 7:30 pm. The special event will honor the musical legend, who, in his five-decade career, has played alongside luminaries ...

31

Event

Robert Johnson Tribute: Roots, Taj Mahal, Keb' MO', Todd Rundgren

Robert Johnson Tribute: Roots, Taj Mahal, Keb' MO', Todd Rundgren

Source: JamBase

ALL-STAR ROBERT JOHNSON CENTENNIAL TRIBUTE CONCERT CONFIRMED FOR MARCH 6 AT THE APOLLO THEATER Producers announced today the first artists confirmed to play a special March 6 tribute concert at NY's historic Apollo Theater, celebrating the centennial of legendary bluesman Robert Johnson. The initial, star-studded lineup includes The Roots, Shemekia Copeland, Bettye LaVette, Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo,' Sam Moore and Todd Rundgren, with more to be announced soon. Net proceeds from the concert, co-produced by Steve Berkowitz, Michael Dorf, Joe ...

82

Recording

Taj Mahal, Me'shell Ndegeocello, Others - 30th Annual John Lennon Tribute (2011)

Taj Mahal, Me'shell Ndegeocello, Others - 30th Annual John Lennon Tribute (2011)

Source: Something Else!

Taj Mahal, recording as part of the 30th annual John Lennon Tribute at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, finds the chest-bursting peril, the nakedly emotional plea, inside “Come Together"—giving it such a thunderously heartfelt makeover that you'd swear this old Beatles tune had been a blues shout first. And that's just one of what becomes a stirring series of remakes on this Lennon memorial project, to be issued today. Shelby Lynne ("Mother"), Me'shell Ndegeocello ("God"), Alejandro Escovedo ("Help!) ...

96

Event

Flaming Lips and Taj Mahal Added to Tibet House US Benefit

Flaming Lips and Taj Mahal Added to Tibet House US Benefit

Source: JamBase

MARCH 3, 2011 AT CARNEGIE HALL IN NEW YORK; TICKETS ON SALE NOW Tibet House US is thrilled to announce that The Flaming Lips and Taj Mahal have joined the bill of their 21st Annual Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall on March 3, 2011. The Flaming Lips and Taj Mahal will join an esteemed line-up of artists curated by artistic director Philip Glass. The bill to date includes Michael Stipe, The Roots, Patti Smith with Jesse Smith and Michael Campbell, ...

197

Performance / Tour

Bontaj Roulet: Bonnie Raitt & Taj Mahal @ Berkeley Greek

Bontaj Roulet: Bonnie Raitt & Taj Mahal @ Berkeley Greek

Source: All About Jazz

This summer, “Alone & Together", Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal two leading lights of modern blues are joining forces for their first-ever tour together.

The “BonTaj Roulet" tour a coast-to-coast, 30-date outing in August and Friday September 11th at the University of California Berkeley Greek Theater.

The show will feature Bonnie and Taj on stage alone and together. Bonnie, backed by her always-dazzling group, and Taj, with the six-piece, Grammy-winning Phantom Blues Band, will play full sets separately, ...

125

Recording

Taj Mahal, Dave Hidalgo Unite on "American Horizon" with Los Cenzontles

Taj Mahal, Dave Hidalgo Unite on "American Horizon" with Los Cenzontles

Source: conqueroo

Legendary Bluesman and Los Lobos co-frontman join Bay Area roots group to craft an album of labor, love and the American Dream

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Blues legend Taj Mahal and master guitarist/multi-instrumentalist David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) have collaborated with Mexican-American roots group Los Cenzontles (pronounced los senn-sont-less) to tell a timely story of hope, struggle and gratitude of the American worker. Traversing traditional Mexican, blues, cumbia and psychedelic rock styles, they create a distinctive, fresh and exciting sound. The November ...

110

Festival

Taj Mahal to Perform at 2008 Telluride Festival of the Arts

Taj Mahal to Perform at 2008 Telluride Festival of the Arts

Source: All About Jazz

Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association, sponsors and organizers of the Telluride Festival of the Arts announced a surprise addition to this year's festival schedule - a special one-night performance by Taj Mahal and the Trio Band on Friday, August 15, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. on Sunset Plaza in Mountain Village, Colo. The performance will be free and open to the public. Composer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and two-time Grammy winner Taj Mahal is one of the most prominent and influential figures in ...

140

Festival

Taj Mahal, Eddie Floyd Added to Long Beach Blues Festival Lineup, August 31

Taj Mahal, Eddie Floyd Added to Long Beach Blues Festival Lineup, August 31

Source: All About Jazz

Chuck Berry remains the Saturday headliner, and festival also features Pinetop Perkins, John Mayall, Charlie Musselwhite, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Roy Rogers, Ana Popovic and more.

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Blues and world music legend Taj Mahal and Booker T. Jones will co-headline the Sunday, August 31 show of the Long Beach Blues Festival. In addition, Stax soul veteran Eddie Floyd has been added to the Sunday roster. The festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, August 30-31 in its ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Savoy

Stony Plain Records
2023

buy

Get on Board: The...

Nonesuch Records
2022

buy

Then & Now

Postcards
2022

buy

Maestro

Heads Up International
2008

buy

The Essential Taj...

Private Music
2005

buy

River Of Love

Private Music
2001

buy

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