Taj Mahal
Taj's remarkable voice brought back many memories for those of us who have been listening to him for the past 30 years - a voice that ranges from the gruff and gritty Dr. John sounding to the smooth and smoky. The show started out on a low key and kept building momentum, gaining excitement and energy throughout the entire show. The only disappointment was he didn't play any solo acoustic numbers that a lot of us were looking forward to hearing. What he and his band did play though was festive.
Born Henry Saint Claire Fredricks, Taj Mahal grew up in Springfield, MA, the oldest of nine children. Both of his parents were musically inclined and a young Mahal idolized the Delta bluesmen like Son House, John Hurt and Sonny Terry. By 1956 a teenage Mahal was already performing in Boston coffeehouses. Along with guitarist Ry Cooder in 1965 he formed The Rising Sons and recorded his first solo album, "Taj Mahal" in 1968. Thirty six albums and 30 years later he is still delivering his insightful lyrics and varied music in a style that is completely unique to Taj Mahal.
@ The Cabooze, September 21,1997
Wearing a colorful Hawaiian shirt (where he has lived for the past 10 years - lucky guy) Taj Mahal took us on a musical adventure this night at the Cabooze. During the show he played guitar, cow bell, maracas & harmonica (in fact he plays over 20 instruments). He played a wide variety of musical styles - blues, folk, calypso, reggae, R&B, New Orleans jazz and roots music. He covered territory from the Caribbean to West Africa to the southern United States to urban inner cities serving up a musical gumbo that was filled with spice and excitement. He also did some funny clowning around on stage.
The Cabooze, Mpls
Photo © 1997 by Tom Asp
All rights reserved
From the R&B shouting on "I Need Your Loving," to the reggae flavored "Queen Bee" with his distinctive finger picking style, to a Caribbean blues love song called "Such A Cloudy Day" I think, to the doo wop stylings of "Ooh Poo Pah Doo," to the R&B sounds of the Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew classic "Let The Four Winds Blow," and so many more. His rendition of "Mr. Pitiful" sounded like Otis Redding had returned from the grave.
The Cabooze, Mpls
Photo © 1997 by Tom Asp
All rights reserved
E-mail Ray Stiles at: mnblues@aol.com
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Copyright © 1997 by Ray M. Stiles
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