Customer Reviews

Maestro

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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This album celebrates 40 years in the record business for Taj. I bought his first album, which I still play and enjoy, and this new one is a wonderful record that is full of variety - blues, reggae, world music, acoustic, electric and includes guests like Los Lobos, Jack Johnson and Ben Harper. Apparently it's Taj's first release of new material for five years and he certainly sounds refreshed and raring to go.

We get off to a great start with Slim Harpo's "Scratch my back" done Stax style with the Phantom Blues Band, who also close the album in similar style with the Willie Dixon/Captain Beefheart song "Diddy Wah Diddy". Jack Johnson guests on Taj's own "Further on down the road" but doesn't really add a great deal, whereas Ben Harper and Ziggy Marley both hold their own on "Dust me down" and "Black man, brown man" respectively. Kora player Toumani Diabate and Angelique Kidjo guest on the exotic "Zanzibar" while "Slow drag" features Taj on banjo and sounds like an out take from one of his late 60s records. Los Lobos join Taj for a great, raw blues rendering of the Big Joe Turner/Elmore James classic "TV Mama". The New Orleans Social Club, including Ivan Neville and Henry Butler on keyboards, join Taj for a rocking version of Fats Domino's "Hello Josephine" (as featured on the Fats tribute CD "Goin' home") and on the slower blues "I can make you happy".

This record carries on from where his other recent records "Dancing the blues", "Phantom blues" and "Senor blues" left off but I think this is even better, with not just R&B updates but real blues and world music too. Taj I salute you, here's to the next 40 years.

Taj Mahal was my introduction to the blues with Statesboro Blues in 1965 - since then - irrespective of the genre, Taj's music has been authentic and enjoyable and this CD is no exception. What a joy to hear Further on Down the Road in its 2008 reincarnation and then go back to the 1960s version. And the guest artists sound INVOLVED!!
Taj is one of two musicians - the other being Bill Withers (who Joe Henry has threatened to bring out of retirement for a new CD) whose music is absolutely timeless.
Here's to the next 40 years!

Taj Mahal in his 40th year shows us why he is the Maestro of the blues, world music and our hearts. This CD rocks and you won't be able to sit still as you listen to it.

Each track shines brightly. The track TV Mama with Los Lobos is pure blues with David Hidalgo on slide guitar and Taj on vocals and harmonica. Hello Josephine with the New Orleans Social Club takes us to the Delta and man do we love it.

Taj is at home with everyone he is playing with here. And the love and respect is mutual in return.

I can't describe it all yet but what a cornucopia of music Taj and friends makes here. Harvest it.

My hat is off to Taj, the Maestro 40 years on!

Taj Mahal has all the qualities of a true American, nay, world master musician: vocal and instrumental technique, characteristic personal style, the curiosity of exploration, the fearlessness of experimentation, wisdom, and group leadship. Listening to this wide-ranging CD, I was struck with how many blues styles he captured, from country to urban, from the Deep South to the Caribbean to West Africa, at home on banjo, harmonica, and acoustic and electric guitars. With the great group Los Lobos and also the Phantom Blues Band and Ziggy Marley's Band as support, we take a grand tour of a great musical soul, the result of decades of learning. Having first heard Taj Mahal 40 years ago and enjoyed his works over the ensuing years, I regard this album as a classic must buy. How apt its title!

The title of this album is a perfect description for the multi-talented Taj Mahal. Through the years, he has played with pure integrity, virtuosity, taste, and great showmanship.

The CD contains a varied selection of tunes and styles ranging from hokum blues to Fats Domino to African music, all of which are capably handled by this gifted artist.

Taj's passionate, expressive singing is a joy to listen to. In addition, he plays acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar, banjo-frailing and picking-harmonica, and barrelhouse piano, all at the level of virtuosity (but not all on this CD). And he probably plays a few other instruments too.

Taj Mahal plays with feeling, authority, and he has fun while he plays. He knows and appreciates the history of American roots music. I especially enjoy the comment he makes on the promo video about "not selling out to the music industry."

I would encourage any listener who is new to blues or roots music to listen to Taj Mahal - his playing will educate and enlighten you.

Finally, he puts on of the best live shows in the business. What a great and inspiring musician. Hats off to Taj Mahal for all he has done to perpetuate good music, including making this fine album.

"Maestro" is most definitely, a Taj Mahal Classic! It also has a Star Studded lineup assisting Taj Mahal, But this Release still has that World /Eclectic/Country Folk Blues vibes that Taj is famous for plus the blues music styles that he covers in this album, sounds as authentic as some of the original styles. This is a great Blues/world music album worthy of awards!

Taj Mahal was dabbling in some Lite FM Keb Mo adult contemporary type stuff for a minute there. Can't say I begrudge him that, he's Taj Mahal after all. The man can do whatever he likes....

But holy cow, he's BACK in top form with super powerful BLUES singing and man does he blow the roof off!!! When he's on, as he is here, he's by far my favorite blues singer ever. Tons of energy, feeling, expression- old school blues shouting at its best. Don't sleep on it!

The new Taj Mahal CD "Maestro" is quite a treat. He covers a variety of styles with his inclusion of some stellar guest artists this time around: Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, Angelique Kidjo & Toumani Diabate,and The New Orleans Social Club on a couple of songs, "Hello Josephine" & "I Can Make You Happy". Los Lobos also appear on another two tracks, one of which was co-written by his daughter, Deva Mahal, who sings on the track entitled "Never Let You Go". It doesn't get much sweeter than this! The first 2 in particular should supply some crossover appeal with the young'uns. They are all a nice addition even though I would have loved this CD without them. Taj is in fine form here - he uses that "I'm gonna catch a fish" voice quite a bit - I love it when he does that!

This Cd highlights a lot of different styles of playing that Taj Mahal has done in his music over the years. The title of the album says it all. If you like blues music you will love this CD. "Slow Drag" is my favorite song on the album. That song alone is worth the price.

Taj Mahal's cd Maestro is the best! Very bluesy. His band is awesome. I actually don't get tired of listening to him in my car. Some songs are very easy listening. Sort of background music.