Taj Mahal Trio

The Taj Mahal Trio reaffirmed my belief that good musicians get still better over time. The Taj Mahal Trio paid tribute to American folk music and went far beyond the show Taj gave back in the late 1960s, when I first saw him in Los Angeles. Back then, Taj came to the stag with Jessie Davis and mesmerized the audience with a fireworks show of electric blues. Today, Taj, with Kester Smith on the drums and Bill Rich on the bass, play selections that cover the whole spectrum of African American folk music. Taj pickout country blues on a metal dobo, softened the mood by switching to a nylon strung acoustic, pumped up the show with Chicago styled blues played on an arch topped electric and wove in bluegrass feelings while playing his bango. What a show.

One word describes this concert....AWESOME! Three guys, sounding like ten, playing some amazing music. Taj expertly plays 4 different guitars, the banjo, ukelele, piano & organ, plus he sings. The Trio played for 2 hours, continuously. I've waited years to see this band, and I was not disappointed.

Taj opened the show and it was great to see him play. Really liked the mix of songs and instruments he ran through. Nothing like some good happy music te relax to. They played for an hour as part of a show with John Hiatt and really made the show. If you like his style of music by all means go see a show!

Would have been better if John was the headliner instead of the opening act. He has so many decades worth of great music, to only play an hour was disappointing (but expected unfortunately). Was tired didn't stick around for Taj Mahal. Great comfortable seats, enough space between the seat and the row in front to not be jammed when late arrivals walked in

The talent was exceptional!. My only complaint was the sound volume. Way too loud and on the lower end of painful. Fans of Taj Mahal Trio and John Hiatt & The Combo are of "a certain age" and can no longer take audio assault. Like the lady in front of me, who put cotton in her ears, I didn't want to jeopardize my faculties any more than they already have been. I searched my purse to find paper to stuff in my ears. Had I not been at your facility before with a good volume experience, I wouldn't return.

Taj Majal plays a broad range of music from blues to bluegrass and even included an Irish folk music piece. He was very entertaining.

Montalvo is a wonderful venue which offers the opportunity to see many artists in a casual outdoor setting who otherwise would be in a huge music hall/concert. This was no exception. John Hiatt was great. The setting was intimate enough to hear his amazing lyrics and experience the joy and showmanship that he brings to the stage. Taj, likewise, was great. Both are national treasures in American music, both getting up there in years, like a good portion of their audiences, and to have access to a venue like this is pretty sublime!

We've not seen Hiatt before but Taj many, many times over years and years. Hiatt had a great band and put on a great show with classic tunes of his own and Little Village as well. We enjoyed his great sense of humor AND the fact that he is in support of World Vision as a source to support a world needs and contribution. Taj, hmmmm what to say. After years and years, he puts on a great show every time. This particular show was mellower than others we've seen but great just the same. I'd like to see him pick up that big 'ol Gibson electric. That guitar and the way he plays it are heaven on earth. We will go see both again. We had a great time!!

The howard theatre is gorgeous. The staff is great, very helpful, and discreet while music is playing. Taj Mahal ! What else is needed. The man is an icon!!!

Enjoyable show, great music, great performance. Overall very pleasant evening.

Taj spent the better part of the show seated on a stool but that didn't effect the energy level of the show one little bit. He's still got the finger pickin chops and his voice is one of the most expressive blues voices around. Great, great show. I'll go see him play whenever he comes around. Went with some folks who didn't know who Taj Mahal was. They were blown away!

Very good show, liked Swamp Cabbage as the opening act. Taj Mahal proved to be the legend he is. The trio format gave his old favorites a new spin and the drummer, especially, created a soulful pocket that he played in all night. The only thing I didn't like was how the vocal mic was set--hard to hear his voice clearly for most of the night, took a little of the edge off.

TRUE BLUES WAS NOT A CONCERT...IT WAS A FESTIVAL AND A CELEBRATION IT WAS RECORDED AND I RECOMEND THAT EVERYONE BUY THE DVD AND SHARE THE SHOW WITH A FRIEND. COREY HARRIS WAS HIS QUIET SMILING SOULFOUL SUPERTALENTED SELF. HIS VOICE FEELS EVERY NOTE. GUY, WTIH HIS FUNNY SEXUAL INUENDOS, KEPT US SMILING. SHEMEKA'S SINGING WITH COREY WAS A BLUES DUET FOR THE AGES. AND THE BEAT WENT ON ......UNITL THEY ALL CAME OUT WITH TAJ TO SLAM DUNK THE CLOSING GOODBYES

What a great venue for a great show. First time to the Howard, I'm going back this weekend, now that I've seen how cool it is. It was great to see the top world accoustic blues players all on one stage. Have never seen Shamekia Copeland, she's a keeper. Would have liked to have seen more of Phil Wiggins. The women at our table loved Guy Davis. Only complaint was the sound was a little spotty when a performer first came on. Sugget they bring in top blues players from around the world at least once a month. They belong at the Howard

Taj was delightful. He was in great spirts especially for having two shows in one night. The venue is awesome and very intimate. So great to see Taj after all these years!

Once again, a whole lot of fun. I first saw Taj when I was a youngster. It was at an outdoor concert at University of Rhode Island. He was the only head liner that bothered to show up for a drizzle-ly outdoor concert. That dedication to the music and a show full of joyous music was amazing fun. Now, 37 years later, this man still puts joy into the music. Wandering the grounds prior to the show, we could hear him practice. To hear a man with 40+ years in the business sing with such apparent joy, how wonderful is that. To hear that joy translated into an amazing show in an intimate venue, even better. He longer dances with the tuba like I saw him do 37 years ago but his performances continue to embody a full joy in his music and in life.

Truly the blues personified by one of the masters.

Taj Mahal was incredible and it was a great venue for them. Very enjoyable show, great music and great muscians.

Taj Mahal was wonderful as usual. However, the heavy bass and drums obscured the guitar line. Way too much amplification. His quieter pieces (e.g., country blues) deserve a more intimate venue.

A true blues master at work. Would have been nice to hear some more of the old Delta stuff & too bad the bridge on the banjo went to hell. All in all great show & venue.

Old time Blues Master, Commanding Stage Presence, GREAT SHOW

Taj Mahal has become a master of his genre, blues, folk and a musical historian in his performance. He traced the blues from Mississippi back to Mali, encountering Appalachian root music, rhythm and blues, along the way. He has never sounded better, more soulful and more true. It was a privilege to hear him.