Blues legend Taj Mahal played at the Tralf on Friday night to a delighted crowd, bringing his unique style to center stage. Although he is nearing 70 years old, Mr. Mahal has not lost any fiestiness over the years, and has perhaps gained some. The content and style of many of the songs he chose to play were surprisingly sexy, and one can see how Taj Mahal probably broke a lot of hearts over the years, with his growly voice and deft guitar playing. He was easily able to connect with the audience, most of whom had presumably been fans since his debut, Taj Mahal, dropped in 1968. Additionally, a hallmark of any good Blues show is of course, storytelling, which he did mainly through the songs themselves by introducing certain songs' original composers. For example, he paid tribute to Robert Johnson, whose 100th birthday happened this year.
What's most notable about Taj Mahal as a performer, beyond his undeniable stage presence, is his depth of knowledge about music in general, not limited to the Blues. This is mainly due to the fact that he studied ethnomusicology at the University of Massachusetts before becoming a musican himself. As a result, his technical ability on a diverse range of styles really sets him apart. Mahal made a deserved name for himself incorporating a much more world music sound into traditional Blues. He is passionate about music and instuments from Africa and the Caribbean; any place where African-Americans have cultural roots. Typically in the past, his shows have included a large number of musicians, sometimes including horns and extra guitars. Although it was only Taj Mahal Trio on Friday, the spirit and energy of a bigger group shone through, especially on "Zanzibar," the song that probably best showcased his world influence.
Overall, Friday's performance was short and sweet. It was a complete set that covered an array of songs from throughout his career, yet it did not drag on or lapse into monotony. Taj Mahal is a wonderful performer and should definitely be added to any music fan's list of priorities.
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