1990 – 2000
1990
Brer Rabbit and The Wonderful Tar Baby
Danny Glover narrates all time favorite children’s story, with Taj Mahal.
Live at Ronnie Scotts – Recorded live in 1988 London, England
John Reed producer
Taj Mahal vocals, guitar, electric piano
Wayne Henderson keyboards
Kester Smith percussion
Carey Williams background vocals
Ozzy Williams drums
Ward Allen bass
Hot Spot (Soundtrack)
Taj Mahal joins Miles Davis, Earl Palmer, Tim Drummond, and Roy Rogers on song “Empty Bank.”
1991
Mule Bone - Grammavision Records
Music composed by Taj Mahal. Lyrics by Langston Hughes. Mule Bone was a collaborative effort between Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes. Based on Ms. Hurrston’s short story Bone of Contention.
Taj Mahal keyboards, bass, guitars, harmonica, and banjo
Mike Sena and Mark Singer drums
Kim Jordon additional keyboards, synthesizers and percussion
Abdul Wali additional guitars
Calvin “fuzzy” Samuels electric and acoustic bass
Kester Smith additional drums and percussion
Like Never Before - Private Music
Appropriately titled Like Never Before opens up new trails with fresh original songs as well as some ol’ favorites like “Cakewalk into Town” & “Giant Step.“
Daryl Hall, John Oates, and Sheryl Crow join together for background vocals on “Don’t Call Us.” Howard Johnson, Dr. John and Hiram Bullock on a saucy version of “Cakewalk into Town” and Pointer Sisters on “Love Up.”
VH1 Artist of the Month - Along with recorded segments with Taj Mahal introducing new video’s; Taj’s video “Don’t Call Us” on rotation for the month of September 1991.
Black Entertainment Television - Taj Mahal special guest appearance promoting new album.
1992
Zebrahead - Taj composed original musical score.
This is a Romeo and Juliet type tale based in Detroit, Michigan. Two young men, Zack, a white teen accused of “acting black” and Dee, an African American teen, defy racial lines and form a strong friendship.
Smilin; Island of Song - Taj Mahal & Cedella Marley-Booker
Join the Grandmother of Reggae Music on a musical journey through Jamaica, the island home of her beloved son Bob Marley. Taj lends his own unique blend of vocals and guitar to the rich Caribbean flavor.
Rising Sons: Featuring Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder - Sony records
Rising Sons was originally recorded between 1965 and 1966. In June of 1992, Taj added new vocals to three instrumental tracks, “Dust My Broom,” “Last Fair Deal Gone Down,” and “Baby What You Want Me to Do.”
Taj’s Blues - A “Best Of” Taj’s work stretching back to the beginning.
1993
World Music - Sony Records
Dancing The Blues - Private Music
First CD Taj records with members of The Phantom Blues Band.
From Fats Domino to Louis Jordan with Etta James on the classic “Mockingbird” along with a “slamming” band including Texacali Horns, Tony Braunagel, Chuck Domanico, Mick Weaver, Johnny Lee Schell, & Bill Payne & Ritchie Hayward from Little Feat. Taj wanted people to know that the “Blues” can have a beat that makes ya wanta move your feet!
Performs at the First Inaugural Address Ceremony for President Bill Clinton.
1995
Performs at the White House Dinner Party
Mumtaz Mahal - Water Lily Acoustics
Taj Mahal vocals, guitar
N. Ravikiran chitra vna
V.M. Bhatt mahan vna
1996
An Evening of Acoustic Music - Tradition and Moderne
“Here are a number of acoustic selections I am sure you will enjoy coming from my 1993 tour. Surprise is that Howard Johnson shows up to play tuba and penny whistle!” – Taj
Phantom Blues - Private Music
Taj Mahal, Larry Fulcher, Johnny Lee Schell, Mick Weaver, Jon Cleary, Joe Sublett, Darrell Leonard. Special guests include Eric Clapton and Bonnie Raitt.
Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored
Directed by Tim Reid
Cast: Taj Mahal, Isaac Hayes, Phylicia Rashad, Bernie Casey, Damon Hines
This film relates the story of a tightly connected Afro-American community informally called Colored Town where the inhabitants live and depend on each other in a world where racist oppression is everywhere, as told by a boy called Cliff who spent his childhood there.
1997
Follow the Drinking Gourd
Based on the traditional American folksong, this compelling tale recounts the daring adventures of one family’s escape from slavery via the Underground Railroad. Narration by Morgan Freeman. Music by Taj Mahal.
Rosewood
Film directed by John Singleton. Starring cast: John Voight, Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle. Cameo appearance: Taj Mahal.
Señor Blues - Private Music
Grammy Award Winner!
Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band create a masterpiece of inspired cover tunes and originals that weave a musical tapestry of chiming guitars, raucous piano, Memphis/New Orleans horn charts, Caribbean grooves, jazzy soul, percussive polyrhythms, and Taj’s blackstrap-molasses-over-buckwheat-cakes vocals. Señor Blues is world music in its most democratic sense. - Vibe Magazine, 6/24/97
1998
Receives 1st Grammy Award for Señor Blues - Best Contemporary Blues
Hula Blues - Tradition and Moderne
This first CD with the Hula Blues band was a life long dream of Taj’s to perform, record Hawaiian music.
Taj Mahal vocals, acoustic/electric guitar
Pancho Graham acoustic bass, background vocals
Kester Smith drums
Pat Crocket liliu ukulele, background vocals
Micheal Barretto baritone ukulele, background vocals
Wayne Jacintho tenor ukulele, background vocals
Fred Lunt hawaiian steel guitar
Carlos Andrade tenor ukulele, slack key guitar, background vocals
Rudy Costa tenor saxophone, curved soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, kalimba, piccolo flute, clarinet, background vocals
Taj Mahal & The Hula Blues Band perform in movie
6 Days and 7 Nights starring Harrison Ford and Ann Heche.
Outside Ozona
Directed by J.S. Cardone
Taj’s character - DJ Dix Mayal
Starring cast: Robert Forester, Kevin Pollack, Sherilyn Fenn, David Paymer, and Meat Loaf to name a few.
1998
Scrapple - Directed by Christopher Hanson
An outstanding soundtrack that features the considerable talent of Taj Mahal, Bob Weir and Jorma Kaukonen, to name a few.
Shakin a Tail Feather - Music for Little People
A wonderful children’s compilation CD including Taj Mahal, Linda Tillery, and Eric Bibb.
In Progress & In Motion: 1965-1998 - Sony Records
Three CD box set spanning thirty three years of Taj’s musical biography, 14 previously unreleased versions of some of his classic tunes: “Fishing Blues,” “Sweet Home Chicago” (Pointer Sisters back-ground vocals) & “M’Banjo” just for starters. Plus vintage photos and excerpts from an interview with Taj done by David Ritz and Louise “Diji” Howard.
1999
Blue Light Boogie - Best of Private Music
Daryl Hall, John Oates, Sheryl Crow, James Brown, John Popper, Hiram Bullock
Kulanjan with Toumanie Diabaté
The connections between the blues and West African music are well known, however, Kulanjan express this truth through it’s own unique rhythm, sound and spirit.
2000
Best Of Taj Mahal - Sony Records
Remastered - Remixed - First time on CD
Songcatcher - Directed by Maggie Greenwald
Taj plays the role of Dexter Speaks, a source of folk music from generations before.
Blues Brothers 2000
Cameo appearance as Tow Truck driver
Shoutin’ In Key
Recorded Live at The Mint in Los Angeles, CA.
Shoutin’ In Key netted Taj and the Phantom Blues Band their second Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.
Billboard Charts
1996 Phantom Blues - Top Blues Albums No. 3
1997 Phantom Blues - Top Blues Albums No. 9
1997 Senor Blues - Top Blues Albums No. 4
1998 In Progress… - Top Blues Albums No. 12
1998 Sacred Island - Top Blues Albums No. 5
1999 Blue Light Boogie - Top Blues Albums No. 10
1999 Kulanjan - Top World Music Albums No. 7
2000 The Best Of Taj Mahal - Top Blues Albums No. 15
2000 Shoutin’ In Key - Top Blues Albums No. 12
Taj Appears In
1990 Brer Rabbit [anim]
Composer (Music Score)
1991 Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey [movie]
Actor: Gatekeeper
1991 Jazz at Ronnie’s [doc]
Performer
1992 Zebrahead [movie]
Composer of musical score
1996 Once Upon a Time…When We Were Colored [movie]
Actor
1996 The Rolling Stones: Rock and Roll Circus [musical]
Performer
1997 Rose Wood [movie]
Composer of musical score
1997 Fame: L.A. [TV]
Actor
1998 6 Days and 7 Nights [movie]
Lead singer of band at hotel
1998 Outside Ozona [movie]
Actor / Composer of musical score
2000 Songcatcher [movie]