No compromise with Mahal's music
By Gerald M. Gay
ggay@azstarnet.com
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.16.2008
Taj Mahal has never been the type of artist to create music any other way but his own.
"I never played any song I did not want or like," Mahal, 66, said in a phone interview last month. "They might have asked me to play it, but they knew what the answer was."
Aside from a traditional American roots repertoire on albums ranging from 1968's "The Natch'l Blues" to 1997's "Señor Blues," Mahal has worked on some unique projects over the years.
In 1998, he released the traditional Hawaiian-tinged work "Sacred Island," featuring the Hula Blues Band. He followed it up with "Kulanjan," a recording that found him working with famed Malian kora player Toumani Diabate.
Mahal will perform in Tucson Tuesday night for the first time since 2006. He's touring in support of his new album, "Maestro," released last month on Heads Up International.
"Maestro" was created to celebrate Mahal's 40 years in the recording industry and pairs him with an eclectic mix of musicians, including Ben Harper, Los Lobos, Angelique Kidjo and Ziggy Marley, among others.
What did you hope to accomplish with "Maestro?" "Good music. That is what I'm still doing. In case you are a little confused about what good music sounds like, here it is. In case you think I've gotten old and lost my grip, try again in another 25 years."
"I did not want it to sound like any of these other guest-artist records I've heard before that I don't care for. They are really smarmy, too damn contrived. I don't think you are going to find any contrived stuff on this record."
Ben Harper wrote the funky track "Dust Me Down" for "Maestro." You've known Harper since he was a kid. Did you imagine you would end up collaborating with him?
"He definitely had the potential to do something, even back then. I knew his grandparents. We wanted to see him get out and make his own way and he did. I gave him his first professional gig."
How did the song come about?
"We talked about the record. I was saying that I was going to pick some songs and that he should go into the catalog and find what he liked. He told me, 'I'll do that if that is what you want to do. But I'd like to get the band, you and me, go into the studio and do something."
Your daughter Deva Mahal co-wrote the track "Never Let You Go." How did she end up contributing?
"Deva writes so well and is an incredible singer, good guitar player, keyboard player and composer. I asked her, "Hey, how about helping your dad out here?' Every word I am singing on that song, she wrote. I was really thrilled."
Are you satisfied with how the album turned out?
"Yeah. I wanted the album to feel like you could roll back the rug and play some groovy music if you wanted to — that you could move the furniture around the house and dance to this."
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