Today we return with the Taj Mahal Sextet with a song from the great Live Album “Swingin’ Live At The Church in Tulsa”.
For his new record, 81-year-old blues legend Taj Mahal went to the church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which was once converted into a studio by friend Leon Russell. He supplemented his own band with Rob Ickes on dobro and Trey Hensley on guitar, and recorded his new album as The Taj Mahal Sextet with the beautiful title Swingin’ Live At The Church In Tulsa.
And swinging does it! The ten songs cover his entire career and make it clear that although the blues was and remained his basis, he just as easily dared to make excursions into jazz, calypso, gospel and even country and Hawaii. Queen Bee, Betty And Dupree and Corrina are classics that receive sublime performances here, but this also applies to the covers Mean Old World and Sittin’ On Top Of The World.
Taj Mahal pushed the boundaries of the blues and therefore kept that genre alive. He’s a genius and Swingin’ Live At The Church In Tulsa is one of the very best live albums ever.
