Metro Pulse/Music/Taj Mahal Trio

Comment
on this story

What:
Taj Mahal Trio

When:
Wednesday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m.

Where:
Bijou Theater

Cost:
$30

Taj Mahal rides positive vibes into Knoxville

by John Sewell

When anyone thinks of blues music, heck, they think of the good old, three-chord, 12-bar thang that is essentially the foundation of every form of American popular music: jazz, country, pop, rock 'n' roll, you name it. And in the pantheon of blues musicians, you don't get too far down the totem pole before the name of Taj Mahal comes into the picture.

"Blues is supposed to be at the center of what I do, but it all comes down to the music," says Mahal. "As I see it, the blues is kind of like the underground well at your grandma's house: you can't see the water, but when you work at the pump, well, there it is.

"Basically, I see myself as a composer," Mahal continues. "I mean, people like to lump what I do into the blues category because that just boils it down to one word. And I guess that's OK with me."

With over half a century of experience as a journeyman musician under his belt, Taj Mahal's rich and varied musical history has won him legions of fans worldwide. A whirlwind of creativity, the musician has served up a varied cornucopia of sound in his career.

These days, Mahal has filtered his music back down to its purest essence. While he's employed large bands in the past, today he's bringing his music to the public in the trio format.

"Well, the trio takes me everywhere I want to go musically," says Mahal. "A lot of people were disappointed because I hadn't been playing the guitar quite as much when I was using a larger group. So I felt like it was time to get that [guitar playing] back at the center of what I'm doing."

Large in stature, everything is big about the man who chose the moniker Taj Mahal. Asked how he came about the name, Mahal laughs and goes into what is surely an oft-repeated spiel.

"Oh, I had a bunch of dreams in the 1940's that had to do with Mahatma Gandhi, and also with Asian music: people that had traditional dancing and drumming cultures. I don't know, a lot of artists have very big, influential kinds of names. Those kind of names work because they make people think. So I figured that, since I wanted to make a big name for myself, I'd make it the biggest name of all.

"A lot of people ask me if my mama calls me Taj," Mahal continues, laughing more. "Well, it took her a while to call me that, but these days she does."

Needless to say, the tradition of blues and Americana music is centered in the cultural bayous of the South. Now a Californian, Mahal spent his formative years in South Carolina, an experience which indelibly marked his creative path.

"I have such vivid memories about being down there [in South Carolina], and what I remember is how good I felt. I grew up with collard greens growing in the yard, okra and corn, homegrown tomatoes, headcheese, fatback.... I'm still connected to my Southern roots by the food I eat.

"I have so much love for the South," Mahal continues. "I love the people, the humor, the whole laid-backness of the South. It's shaped me and my music in every way."

Asked if there is a basic message behind his music, Mahal has a lot to say. "From my vantage point," says the master musician, "my music talks about individuals being responsible for their own happiness.... A lot of people think that blues music is gonna bring you down. Well, my music will never do that.

"I try to exude positivity and help people settle down into the honest truths of day-to-day life," Mahal says. "You are responsible for your own joy, and you'd better find a way to make that joy happen, for your own good. That's the gist of what I'm trying to communicate through my music.

"No matter how bad it gets, there's always a silver lining. Sometimes I write songs about sad situations, and I try to make them funny. By seeing the humor, people can figure out a way to cope with their troubles on their own."

A veritable explosion of good-naturedness, Mahal exudes positivity in his every utterance. Like the grand castle he copped his name from, Mahal is a humongous and beatific presence.

"Just tell everyone to constantly perform random acts of kindness, and I mean every single day," says Mahal. "And be sure to let the folks in Knoxville that I know there ain't no corn growin' up on Rocky Top."