Legendary roots star Taj Mahal announced the release of Swingin’ Live at the Church in Tulsa, released on March 8 2024 via Lightning Rod Records.
His latest project is a set recorded live at the Tulsa studio best known as the home base of the late, great Leon Russell, a huge influence and personal friend of Taj. The album was recorded in front of a live audience and features “The Taj Mahal Sextet,” which includes Taj’s long-time quartet—bassist Bill Rich, drummer Kester Smith, and guitarist/Hawaiian lap steel player Bobby Ingano—augmented by dobro player Rob Ickes and guitarist and vocalist Trey Hensley.
The album continues his legacy of confounding genre where he has pioneered an eclectic roots music sounds that draws on Blues, Soul, reggae, Latin, R&B, Cajun, Caribbean, gospel, West African, jazz, calypso, Hawaiian slack-key, and countless other musical styles which he weaves throughout an astonishing body of work. The set ranges from some of the songs he is best known for—“Corinna,” “Queen Bee”—to the instrumental “Twilight in Hawaii” (representing his long association with the Aloha State’s musical traditions, especially through his Hula Blues Band) to a glorious closing jam on T-Bone Walker’s “Mean Old World” that stretches beyond the ten-minute mark.