Taj Mahal [Bluesfest]

(Blues)

Following Keb' Mo' as the second act of Ottawa Bluesfest was Taj Mahal. I am of course referring to the great Blues master, not the rapper of the same name (although it is strangely ironic, as indicated below). A talented musician, Taj Mahal can pluck the banjo and steel guitar like there is no tomorrow.

He is also greatly involved in the African-American grassroots blues movement, and has iterated publicly his disappointment regarding rap music in African-American culture circles. On this subject, he is quoted as saying, "Eighty-one percent of the kids listening to rap were not black kids. Once there was a tremendous amount of money involved in it . . . they totally moved it over to a material side. It just went off to a terrible direction."

Politics aside, it is very refreshing to hear such a pure and original banjo-plucking, guitar-picking, all-around awesome singer!