Era: 2001 – present
2001
Taj Mahal and The Phantom Blues Band
Receive 2nd Grammy Music Award “Shoutin’ In Key”
Best Contemporary Blues Album
The 43rd Grammy Awards were held on February 21, 2001
2001 Music Credits
- Big Bill Morganfield – Ramblin’ Mind: Guitar, Vocals
- Maria Muldaur – Richland Woman Blues: Guitar, Vocals
- Jimmy Smith – Dot Com Blues: Guitar, Vocals
- Various Artists – Monster Blues: Dobro, Harmonic Vocals
- Ellen McIlwaine – Spontaneous Combustion: Vocals
2002
Cameo performance in movie “Divine Secrets”
Taj Mahal receives “The United States Congressional Recognition Award” for a lifetime of contribution to the World’s History of Music.
2002 Music Credits
- Ellen McIlwaine – Spontaneous Combustion: Vocals
- The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. 3: Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals
- Original Soundtrack – Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya SisterHood: Vocals
- Various Artists – Bob Dylan: This Ain’t No Tribute…: Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals
- Various Artists – Hey Bo Diddley: A Tribute!: Guitar, Vocals
- Various Artists – This Land Is Your Land: Songs of Woody Guthrie: Vocals
- Various Artists – Salute to the Delta Blues Masters: Vocals, Producer, National Steel Guitar
- Various Artists – Red Hot + Riot: Guitar (Electric), Vocals
- Various Artists – Getting Through It: Musician, songwriter
2003
Hanapepe Dream(Taj Mahal & the Hula Blues) released on 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”.
Personnel: 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
2003 Music Credits
- Various Artists – Friends in the Can- Canned Heat: Guitar, Vocals
- Various Artists – Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Nitty Gritty Dirt Ban: Vocals
- Phantom Blues Band – Phantom Blues Band: Harmonica
- Texicali Horns – Texicali Horns: Vocals
- Various Artists – American Blues: Vocals and guitar
2004
Martin Scorsese Presents Taj Mahal released on 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 released on Tradition and Moderne
Recorded live, December 2002, at “Yoshi’s” The World Famous Japanese Restaurant and Jazz Club. (Oakland, California)
“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.
2004 Music Credits
- Peep and the Big Wide World – Peep Theme Song: Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
2005
Mkutano released on Tradition and Moderne
Mkutano is the most recent in musical explorations for The Taj Mahal Trio.
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.
Essential Taj Mahal released on Sony Records
2 disc set of Taj’s 40 yrs of recording. Includes singles “Satisfied and Tickled Too” and “Happy to be Just Like I am” first time on cd.
2005 Music Credits
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Long Walk to Freedom: Vocals and Electric Guitar
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. – Amherst, Mass.
Taj Mahal /Phantom Blues Band Live @ 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.
2007 Music Credits
- Various Artists (Fats Domino Tribute) – Going Home: Vocal
- Various Artists – Harlem Experiment: Vocals
2008
September 25th 2008 – 40th Anniversary tour begins
September 30th 2008 – Release of new cd Maestro “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 16th 2008
Release of LP of Maestro
December 3rd 2008
Taj receives Grammy Nomination for Maestro For best Contemporary Blues Album for Maestro, his Heads Up International/Kan-Du Records debut album released worldwide in September 2008.
2009
May 6th 2009
Taj Mahal inducted to The Blues Music Hall of Fame
July 30th 2009
Taj Mahal and Bonnie Riatt perform live on the Today Show
August 6th 2009 Launch of BONTAJ Tour
BONTAJ ROULET! LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!
Taj and Bonnie kick off national tour “Bontaj Roulet” in Williamsport PA.
August 11th 2009
BONTAJ live on Late Late Night with Craig Ferguson!
Dec. 17th, 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 5th 2010 Taj Mahal
produced and adds vocals, guitar and banjo on Vusi Mahlasela’s new cd “Say Africa”
April 10th, 2010
Taj Mahal, Eric Clapton and Wynton Marsalls -Play the Blues. NYC. NY
May 13th 2010
Taj Mahal performs live with The Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Falon.
June 25th 2010
Taj Mahal joins “star studded” line up on Lee Ritenour’s latest project “6 String Theory” Released on CD.
Nov 12th 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. Beacon Theatre in New York City
2011
May 22nd 2011
Taj Mahal received Honorary degree in the Humanities at Wofford College Spartanburg, SC
May. 31st, 2010
Taj Mahal joins forces with Playing For Change: SONGS AROUND THE WORLD! GIMMIE SHELTER Release date May 31st, 2011.
Sept.13th 201
MARSALIS AND CLAPTON PLAY THE BLUES – LIVE FROM JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER Released on CD And CD/DVD
WITH SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE BY TAJ MAHAL!
Nov. 15th 2011 Released on CD
30TH ANNUAL JOHN LENNON TRIBUTE: LIVE FROM THE BEACON THEATRE NYC ALBUM Taj Mahal performs “Come Together”
Dec. 10th, 2011
CHIMES OF FREEDOM
THE SONGS OF BOB DYLAN HONORING 50 YEARS OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Chimes of Freedom
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 25th 2012
Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band record tracks for Wyland Planet Blues Project
April 17th 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 17th 2012
Taj Mahal celebrates 70th Birthday
August 21st 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 5th, 2012
Hidden Treasure album selected by Rollingstone Magazine as best reissue of 2012
2013
Feb. 5th 2013
Release of Taj Mahal The Complete Columbia Albums Collection box set.
Feb. 19th 2013
Taj Mahal special guest on Tavis Talks with Tavis Smily
April 12th 2013
Taj Mahal performs with over 30 other legendary guitarist at the Eric Clapton Guitar Festival 2013
April 20th 2013
The Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal and The Natch’l Blues released on on vinyl for Record Store Day 2013, celebrated at independent record stores worldwide on Saturday, April 20, 2013.
May 28th 2013
Taj Mahal performs with The Rolling Stones in Chicago, Ill.
June 4th 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 31st 2013
Taj Mahal Trio begins tour in Russia
August 4th 2013 Sete, France.
Taj Mahal Trio with Basseko Kouyate’s Ngoni Band
August 6th 2013
Taj Mahal joins Hugh Laurie on Vicksburg Blues from Hugh’s latest project “Didn’t It Rain”
Sept. 24th 2013
Taj Mahal joins Sammy Hagar & Friends CD singing “Winding Down”
October 4th 2013
Taj Mahal Trio World Blues Tour Begins
October 9th 2013
Grammy Museum Special Event: An Evening with Taj Mahal
2014
Jan. 10 2014
Taj Mahal special guest “All My Friends” Tribute concert for Gregg Allman
May 1st Jazz @ Lincoln Center
Love, Loss and Laughter hosted by Billy Crystal
May 4th 2014
Recording with The Blind Boys of Alabama
June 13th 2014
Super Jam
June 17th 2014
Playing for Change #3 released album with Taj performing “Reggae Got Soul”
July 30th 2014
Taj Mahal records and performs with Van Morrison
July 31st 2014
Taj Mahal Trio and John Hiatt and the Combo begin Summer Tour
August 18th 2014
Taj Mahal Trio performs at The Peach Festival in honor of Allman Brothers Band’s illustrious 45-year career.
Sept. 5th 2014
Taj Mahal performs at Interlocking Music Festival
Sept. 17th 2014
Taj Mahal was awarded Americana Music Lifetime Achievement Award for Best in performance.