2001 – Present
2001
Taj Mahal and The Phantom Blues Band receive 2nd Grammy Music Award, Best Contemporary Blues Album, for Shoutin’ In Key.
The 43rd Grammy Awards were held on February 21, 2001.
2002
Cameo performance in movie “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”
Taj Mahal receives “The United States Congressional Recognition Award” for a lifetime of contribution to the World’s History of Music.
2003
Hanapepe Dream - Tone Cool Records
All-acoustic string band sound features Taj’s signature slack-key blend of the blues and Pacific-Caribbean-Island music.
The American release of Hanapepe Dream offers bonus video footage including live performances of “The Calypsonians” and “The New Hula Blues.”
Taj Mahal vocals, acoustic/electric guitar
Pancho Graham acoustic bass, background vocals
Kester Smith drums
Pat Crocket liliu ukulele, background vocals
Michael Barretto baritone ukulele, background vocals
Wayne Jacintho tenor ukulele, background vocals
Fred Lunt hawaiian steel guitar
Rudy Costa tenor saxophone, curved soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, kalimba, piccolo flute, clarinet, background vocals
2004
Martin Scorsese Presents Taj Mahal - Sony Records
Like Lightin’ Hopkins, Howlin’ Wolf, or Muddy Waters, Taj Mahal is a bluesman of his own time. His three-decade recording career has produced works of humor, passion, pathos, and surprise. This collection contains some of the many high points of his career. ~ Dave Ritz
Live Catch - Tradition and Moderne
Recorded live, December 2002, at “Yoshi’s” The World Famous Japanese Restaurant and Jazz Club. Live Catch places you “front row and center” with The Taj Mahal Trio. Featuring Kester Smith on drums, Bill Rich on bass and Taj Mahal– vocals, guitar, and banjo.
2005
Mkutano - Tradition and Moderne
Mkutano is the most recent in musical explorations for The Taj Mahal Trio. Taj Mahal (vocals, guitar, banjo), Bill Rich (electric bass) and Kester Smith (drums) join together in culture and sound with the first and foremost Taarab orchestra of Zanzibar – The Culture Musical Club of Zanzibar.
The Essential Taj Mahal - Sony Records
Two disc set of Taj’s 40 years of recording.
2006
On February 8, 2006, Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts declares Taj Mahal “The Official Blues Musician” of the Commonwealth of Springfield, MA.
By Chapter 19 of the Acts of 2006.
March 2006 - Taj Mahal and his late sister Carol Fredericks receive the “James W. Dodge Memorial Foreign Language Advocacy Award.”
May 28, 2006 - The University of Massachusetts Amherst Awards Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree to Taj Mahal.
Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band Live in St. Lucia - A magical performance captured Live on DVD in the tropical paradise of St. Lucia. Accompanied by longtime collaborators The Phantom Blues Band, the depth and breadth of Taj Mahal’s talent, knowledge, and skill are in full bloom.
2007
The Taj Mahal Trio European Summer Tour – 36 shows in 8 countries!
The Taj Mahal Trio performs at The Summer of Love – 40th Anniversary Concert in San Francisco.
Taj Mahal is special guest at The 40th Anniversary Tribute Event in Macon, GA.
The Taj Mahal Trio performs at the B.B. King Tribute and Benefit for Homeless Children – San Diego, CA
The Taj Mahal Trio performs at The Heal the Ocean Benefit in Santa Barbara, CA. Jack Johnson attended the event and joined Taj Mahal Trio on stage.
2008
September 25, 2008 - 40th Anniversary tour begins
September 30, 2008 - Release of Maestro CD
“The first Taj Mahal studio album in five years is also his best in decades,” declared the Chicago Sun-Times.
And in a four-star review, DownBeat called Maestro “a fitting and fun tribute to the wide swath of ideas Mahal has contributed not only to contemporary blues, but to pop music in general.” And there’s been plenty more praise, from all corners: “He’s celebrating forty years in the business and he knows how to keep things moving.” - The New York Times
October 16, 2008 - Maestro LP Release
December 3, 2008 - Taj receives Grammy Nomination for Maestro for Best Contemporary Blues Album. His Heads Up International/Kan-Du Records debut album released worldwide in September 2008.
2009
May 6, 2009 - Taj Mahal inducted to The Blues Music Hall of Fame.
July 30, 2009 - Taj Mahal and Bonnie Riatt perform live on the Today Show.
August 6, 2009 - Launch of BONTAJ Tour
Taj and Bonnie kick off national tour “Bontaj Roulet” in Williamsport, PA.
August 11, 2009 - BONTAJ live on Late Late Night with Craig Ferguson!
December 17, 2009 - “BLUES WITH A FEELING,” FEATURED ON THE PEOPLE SPEAK SOUNDTRACK! The accompanying soundtrack to the long awaited documentary feature film THE PEOPLE SPEAK has been released to coincide with the premier of the film on the History Channel. Based on acclaimed historian Howard Zinn’s best-selling books.
2010
January 5, 2010 - Taj Mahal produced and adds vocals, guitar and banjo on Vusi Mahlasela’s new CD Say Africa
April 10, 2010 - Taj Mahal, Eric Clapton and Wynton Marsalls - Play the Blues, NYC.
May 13, 2010 - Taj Mahal performs live with The Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
June 25, 2010 - Taj Mahal joins “star studded” line up on Lee Ritenour’s latest project 6 String Theory.
Nov 12, 2010 - John Lennon’s 70th Birthday Celebration. Taj Mahal joins an all-star benefit concert in honor of the former Beatle scheduled November 12th, with a lineup that includes Jackson Browne, Patti Smith and Cyndi Lauper at the Beacon Theatre in NYC.
2011
May 22, 2011 - Taj Mahal receives Honorary degree in the Humanities at Wofford College Spartanburg, SC.
May 31, 2011 - Taj Mahal joins forces with Playing For Change: SONGS AROUND THE WORLD! GIMMIE SHELTER.
September 13, 2011 - Marsalis and Clapton Play The Blues - Live From Jazz at Lincoln Center with Special Guest Appearance by Taj Mahal!
November 15, 2011 - 30th Annual John Lennon Tribute: Live From The Beacon Theatre NYC. Taj Mahal performs “Come Together.”
December 10, 2011 - Chimes of Freedom
The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International. Along with the Phantom Blues Band, Taj has recorded “Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream” for the collection, which will support Amnesty’s life-saving human rights work.
2012
April 25, 2012 - Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band record tracks for Wyland Planet Blues Project.
April 17, 2012 - On April 17th, Jack Johnson is releasing a new live album entitled Jack Johnson and Friends – Best of Kokua Festival. Taj Mahal is featured on the album performing “Further On Down The Road” at the 2010 edition of the festival.
May 17, 2012 - Taj Mahal celebrates 70th Birthday
August 21, 2012 - Release of Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal 1969-1973
Featuring twelve previously unreleased studio tracks and an entire full-length live concert performance from Taj Mahal’s April 18, 1970 show at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The new two-disc set is the next component to the ultimate Taj Mahal fan collection.
December 5, 2012 - Hidden Treasures album selected by Rolling Stone Magazine as best reissue of 2012.
2013
February 5, 2013 - Release of Taj Mahal The Complete Columbia Albums Collection box set.
February 19, 2013 - Taj Mahal special guest on Tavis Talks with Tavis Smiley.
April 12, 2013 - Taj Mahal performs with over 30 other legendary guitarist at the Eric Clapton Guitar Festival.
April 20, 2013 - The Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal and The Natch’l Blues released on vinyl for Record Store Day, celebrated at independent record stores worldwide.
May 28, 2013 - Taj Mahal performs with The Rolling Stones in Chicago,IL.
June 4, 2013 - Ghost Brothers of Darkland County is released. Features performances by John Mellencamp, Kris Kristofferson, Neko Case, Elvis Costello, Taj Mahal and many more.
July 31, 2013 - Taj Mahal Trio begins tour in Russia.
August 4, 2013 - Sete, France. Taj Mahal Trio with Basseko Kouyate’s Ngoni Band.
August 6, 2013 - Taj Mahal joins Hugh Laurie on Vicksburg Blues from Hugh’s latest project Didn’t It Rain.
September 24, 2013 - Taj Mahal joins Sammy Hagar & Friends CD singing “Winding Down.”
October 4, 2013 - Taj Mahal Trio World Blues Tour Begins.
October 9, 2013 - Grammy Museum Special Event: An Evening with Taj Mahal
2014
January 10, 2014 - Taj Mahal special guest “All My Friends” Tribute concert for Gregg Allman.
May 1, 2014 - Jazz at Lincoln Center - Love, Loss and Laughter hosted by Billy Crystal.
May 4, 2014 - Recording with The Blind Boys of Alabama.
June 13, 2014 - Super Jam
June 17, 2014 - Playing for Change #3 released album with Taj performing “Reggae Got Soul.”
July 30, 2014 - Taj Mahal records and performs with Van Morrison.
July 31, 2014 - Taj Mahal Trio and John Hiatt and the Combo begin Summer Tour.
August 18, 2014 - Taj Mahal Trio performs at The Peach Festival in honor of Allman Brothers Band’s illustrious 45-year career.
September 5, 2014 - Taj Mahal performs at Interlocking Music Festival.
September 17, 2014 - Taj Mahal was awarded Americana Music Lifetime Achievement Award for Best in performance.