2001 – Present
2001
Taj Mahal and The Phantom Blues Band receive 2nd Grammy Music Award, Best Contemporary Blues Album, for Shoutin’ In Key.
The 43rd Grammy Awards were held on February 21, 2001.
2002
Cameo performance in movie “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”
Taj Mahal receives “The United States Congressional Recognition Award” for a lifetime of contribution to the World’s History of Music.
2003
Hanapepe Dream - Tone Cool Records
All-acoustic string band sound features Taj’s signature slack-key blend of the blues and Pacific-Caribbean-Island music.
The American release of Hanapepe Dream offers bonus video footage including live performances of “The Calypsonians” and “The New Hula Blues.”
Taj Mahal vocals, acoustic/electric guitar
Pancho Graham acoustic bass, background vocals
Kester Smith drums
Pat Crocket liliu ukulele, background vocals
Michael Barretto baritone ukulele, background vocals
Wayne Jacintho tenor ukulele, background vocals
Fred Lunt hawaiian steel guitar
Rudy Costa tenor saxophone, curved soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, kalimba, piccolo flute, clarinet, background vocals
2004
Martin Scorsese Presents Taj Mahal - Sony Records
Like Lightin’ Hopkins, Howlin’ Wolf, or Muddy Waters, Taj Mahal is a bluesman of his own time. His three-decade recording career has produced works of humor, passion, pathos, and surprise. This collection contains some of the many high points of his career. ~ Dave Ritz
Live Catch - Tradition and Moderne
Recorded live, December 2002, at “Yoshi’s” The World Famous Japanese Restaurant and Jazz Club. Live Catch places you “front row and center” with The Taj Mahal Trio. Featuring Kester Smith on drums, Bill Rich on bass and Taj Mahal– vocals, guitar, and banjo.
2005
Mkutano - Tradition and Moderne
Mkutano is the most recent in musical explorations for The Taj Mahal Trio. Taj Mahal (vocals, guitar, banjo), Bill Rich (electric bass) and Kester Smith (drums) join together in culture and sound with the first and foremost Taarab orchestra of Zanzibar – The Culture Musical Club of Zanzibar.
The Essential Taj Mahal - Sony Records
Two disc set of Taj’s 40 years of recording.
2006
On February 8, 2006, Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts declares Taj Mahal “The Official Blues Musician” of the Commonwealth of Springfield, MA.
By Chapter 19 of the Acts of 2006.
March 2006 - Taj Mahal and his late sister Carol Fredericks receive the “James W. Dodge Memorial Foreign Language Advocacy Award.”
May 28, 2006 - The University of Massachusetts Amherst Awards Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree to Taj Mahal.
Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band Live in St. Lucia - A magical performance captured Live on DVD in the tropical paradise of St. Lucia. Accompanied by longtime collaborators The Phantom Blues Band, the depth and breadth of Taj Mahal’s talent, knowledge, and skill are in full bloom.
2007
The Taj Mahal Trio European Summer Tour – 36 shows in 8 countries!
The Taj Mahal Trio performs at The Summer of Love – 40th Anniversary Concert in San Francisco.
Taj Mahal is special guest at The 40th Anniversary Tribute Event in Macon, GA.
The Taj Mahal Trio performs at the B.B. King Tribute and Benefit for Homeless Children – San Diego, CA
The Taj Mahal Trio performs at The Heal the Ocean Benefit in Santa Barbara, CA. Jack Johnson attended the event and joined Taj Mahal Trio on stage.
2008
September 25, 2008 - 40th Anniversary tour begins
September 30, 2008 - Release of Maestro CD
“The first Taj Mahal studio album in five years is also his best in decades,” declared the Chicago Sun-Times.
And in a four-star review, DownBeat called Maestro “a fitting and fun tribute to the wide swath of ideas Mahal has contributed not only to contemporary blues, but to pop music in general.” And there’s been plenty more praise, from all corners: “He’s celebrating forty years in the business and he knows how to keep things moving.” - The New York Times
October 16, 2008 - Maestro LP Release
December 3, 2008 - Taj receives Grammy Nomination for Maestro for Best Contemporary Blues Album. His Heads Up International/Kan-Du Records debut album released worldwide in September 2008.
2009
May 6, 2009 - Taj Mahal inducted to The Blues Music Hall of Fame.
July 30, 2009 - Taj Mahal and Bonnie Riatt perform live on the Today Show.
August 6, 2009 - Launch of BONTAJ Tour
Taj and Bonnie kick off national tour “Bontaj Roulet” in Williamsport, PA.
August 11, 2009 - BONTAJ live on Late Late Night with Craig Ferguson!
December 17, 2009 - “BLUES WITH A FEELING,” FEATURED ON THE PEOPLE SPEAK SOUNDTRACK! The accompanying soundtrack to the long awaited documentary feature film THE PEOPLE SPEAK has been released to coincide with the premier of the film on the History Channel. Based on acclaimed historian Howard Zinn’s best-selling books.
2010
January 5, 2010 - Taj Mahal produced and adds vocals, guitar and banjo on Vusi Mahlasela’s new CD Say Africa
April 10, 2010 - Taj Mahal, Eric Clapton and Wynton Marsalls - Play the Blues, NYC.
May 13, 2010 - Taj Mahal performs live with The Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
June 25, 2010 - Taj Mahal joins “star studded” line up on Lee Ritenour’s latest project 6 String Theory.
Nov 12, 2010 - John Lennon’s 70th Birthday Celebration. Taj Mahal joins an all-star benefit concert in honor of the former Beatle scheduled November 12th, with a lineup that includes Jackson Browne, Patti Smith and Cyndi Lauper at the Beacon Theatre in NYC.
2011
May 22, 2011 - Taj Mahal receives Honorary degree in the Humanities at Wofford College Spartanburg, SC.
May 31, 2011 - Taj Mahal joins forces with Playing For Change: SONGS AROUND THE WORLD! GIMMIE SHELTER.
September 13, 2011 - Marsalis and Clapton Play The Blues - Live From Jazz at Lincoln Center with Special Guest Appearance by Taj Mahal!
November 15, 2011 - 30th Annual John Lennon Tribute: Live From The Beacon Theatre NYC. Taj Mahal performs “Come Together.”
December 10, 2011 - Chimes of Freedom
The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International. Along with the Phantom Blues Band, Taj has recorded “Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream” for the collection, which will support Amnesty’s life-saving human rights work.
2012
April 25, 2012 - Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band record tracks for Wyland Planet Blues Project.
April 17, 2012 - On April 17th, Jack Johnson is releasing a new live album entitled Jack Johnson and Friends – Best of Kokua Festival. Taj Mahal is featured on the album performing “Further On Down The Road” at the 2010 edition of the festival.
May 17, 2012 - Taj Mahal celebrates 70th Birthday
August 21, 2012 - Release of Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal 1969-1973
Featuring twelve previously unreleased studio tracks and an entire full-length live concert performance from Taj Mahal’s April 18, 1970 show at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The new two-disc set is the next component to the ultimate Taj Mahal fan collection.
December 5, 2012 - Hidden Treasures album selected by Rolling Stone Magazine as best reissue of 2012.
2013
February 5, 2013 - Release of Taj Mahal The Complete Columbia Albums Collection box set.
February 19, 2013 - Taj Mahal special guest on Tavis Talks with Tavis Smiley.
April 12, 2013 - Taj Mahal performs with over 30 other legendary guitarist at the Eric Clapton Guitar Festival.
April 20, 2013 - The Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal and The Natch’l Blues released on vinyl for Record Store Day, celebrated at independent record stores worldwide.
May 28, 2013 - Taj Mahal performs with The Rolling Stones in Chicago,IL.
June 4, 2013 - Ghost Brothers of Darkland County is released. Features performances by John Mellencamp, Kris Kristofferson, Neko Case, Elvis Costello, Taj Mahal and many more.
July 31, 2013 - Taj Mahal Trio begins tour in Russia.
August 4, 2013 - Sete, France. Taj Mahal Trio with Basseko Kouyate’s Ngoni Band.
August 6, 2013 - Taj Mahal joins Hugh Laurie on Vicksburg Blues from Hugh’s latest project Didn’t It Rain.
September 24, 2013 - Taj Mahal joins Sammy Hagar & Friends CD singing “Winding Down.”
October 4, 2013 - Taj Mahal Trio World Blues Tour Begins.
October 9, 2013 - Grammy Museum Special Event: An Evening with Taj Mahal
2014
January 10, 2014 - Taj Mahal special guest “All My Friends” Tribute concert for Gregg Allman.
May 1, 2014 - Jazz at Lincoln Center - Love, Loss and Laughter hosted by Billy Crystal.
May 4, 2014 - Recording with The Blind Boys of Alabama.
June 13, 2014 - Super Jam
June 17, 2014 - Playing for Change #3 released album with Taj performing “Reggae Got Soul.”
July 30, 2014 - Taj Mahal records and performs with Van Morrison.
July 31, 2014 - Taj Mahal Trio and John Hiatt and the Combo begin Summer Tour.
August 18, 2014 - Taj Mahal Trio performs at The Peach Festival in honor of Allman Brothers Band’s illustrious 45-year career.
September 5, 2014 - Taj Mahal performs at Interlocking Music Festival.
September 17, 2014 - Taj Mahal was awarded Americana Music Lifetime Achievement Award for Best in performance.
2015
February 6, 2015 – Release date for ‘Taj Mahal & The Hula Blues Band: Live From Kauai’
March 23, 2015 – ‘Duets: Re-working the Catalogue’ - Studio album by Van Morrison is released and features Taj Mahal on "How Can a Poor Boy?"
March 28, 2016 - Taj Mahal is backed by the ‘Playing For Change’ Band perform Live in Byron Bay Blues Festival
April 25, 2015 - Taj Mahal had 92 concerts in 2015, including an unforgettable night at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater with John Scofield
Nov 24, 2015 – Release of Taj Mahal - ‘Queen Bee’ –“ Bloody Sunday Sessions” to celebrate Live for Live Music – Video was made in 2014 on Dauphine Street in the French Quarter in New Orleans, LA
2016
February 6, 2015 – Release date for ‘Taj Mahal & The Hula Blues Band: Live From Kauai’
Jan 19, 2016 - Concludes the American Epic Event with a performance at Sundance Film Festival 2016, as well as Q&A with Jack White.
April 26, 2016 – Releases “Live In San Francisco 1966” on Westmill label.
May 14, 2016 - Austin City Limits has enlists Taj Mahal ,Willie Nelson, Mavis Staples, Rodney Crowell, Gary Clark Jr. and to perform at its third annual ACL Hall of Fame Inductions and Celebration ceremony for 2016 inductees — B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt and Kris Kristofferson.
Wed July 13, 2016 – Taj Mahal Trio performs 109 concerts in 2016, with a legendary set in Spain at the Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival.
December 16, 2016 - Taj Mahal releases ‘Labor of Love’ featuring Etta Baker, Neal Patman and other artists.
2017
May 5, 2017 - Release of TajMo’ record on the Concord label. The album has some guest appearances by Bonnie Raitt, Joe Walsh, Sheila E. and Lizz Right and has six original compositions and five covers, from artists like John Mayer and The Who.
May 10, 2017 –‘ TajMo’ – wins Album of the Year and Contemporary Blues Album honors at this all-star ceremony that The Blues Foundation Taj Mahal also was named the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year and best Acoustic Artist.
Aug 13, 2017 - Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo' Band create an historic night of music when they perform in NYC’s Central Park and welcome Jontavious Willis and Dante Ross.
June 2017 - Mahal appeared in the award-winning documentary film ‘The American Epic Sessions’, directed by Bernard MacMahon recording Charley Patton’s ‘High Water on Everywhere’ on the first electrical sound system from the 1920s. Mahal appeared throughout the accompanying documentary series “American Epic” commenting on the 1920s rural recording artists who had a profound influence on American Music and on him personally.
Sep 19, 2017 - The Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo' Band Live played 63 concerts together including their set in Spain at Jazz San Javier 2017.
2018
January 28, 2018 – TajMo’ wins ‘Best Contemporary Blues Album’
December 31, 2018 – Taj Mahal plays solo acoustic in Kaua’i Hawai’i at “Rising Up To Paradise” concert.
October 2018 - Taj Mahal, a graduate of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture in 1963, visited the campus for the school’s 100th Anniversary.
‘Giant Step’ turns 50 !!!
2019
July 20, 2019 - Keb’ Mo’ and others celebrate the 50th anniversary of Taj Mahal’s “Giant Step” at the Egg in Albany, NY
October 2019 – Head out on tour with the Experience Hendrix Tour with Joe Satriani, Billy Cox, Jonny Lang and more
November 29, 2019 – Taj Mahal’s live recording ‘Ten Songs For You’ becomes available on G records.
2020
--Most everyone was ‘Gone fishin’ during Worldwide Covid 19 Pandemic --
May 11, 2020 – Release of The Underground Pipeline – Gainesville, FL Broadcast 1978 on Second Line Records
December 4, 2020 – Taj Mahal Live – Live American Radio Broadcast AKA Johnny Too Bad – Live American Radio Broadcast AKA Taj Mahal – Ultrasonic Blues – The Full WLIR New York Broadcast 1974 AKA Live at Ultrasonic Studios
2021
September 18, 2021 – Taj Mahal Trio turns into the Taj Mahal Quartet, adding Hawaiian steel guitar player Bobby Ingano at the Telluride Blues and Brews Festival
October 2-3, 2021 – Two nights at the Hollywood Bowl w/ Van Morrison
November 19, 2021 – The first concerts of the Taj Mahal Sextet featuring Rob Ickes (dobro) and Trey Hensley (acoustic and vocals) at the annual Jazz Alley residency in Seattle
2022
March 4, 2022 - The Taj Mahal Sextet starts their first and only tour in Spring 2021
April 22, 2022 – ‘Get On Board’ is released, featuring Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder. Joachim Cooder.
May 6, 2022 - Taj Mahal wins for Traditional Blues Male Artist in Memphis at the Blues Music Awards
May 17, 2022 – Taj turns 80 years w/ online birthday wishes from his longtime friends/ iconic artist like the Rolling Stones, Bob Weir, Ry Cooder and many more.
June 9-10, 2022 – The only two performance of ‘Get on Board’ with Ry Cooder and his Joachim at San Francisco’s ‘Great American Music Hall’
August 25, 2022 – The Taj Mahal Sextet records ‘Swingin Live at the Church in Tulsa’
Sept 14, 2022 – Taj and friends appear at AmericanaFest in Nashville.
December 2-5, 2022 –Taj Mahal joins Don Was and many others at the Fox Theater Oakland and Orpheum Theatre in LA for the Last Waltz tour.
December 9, 2022 – Taj Mahal and Allison Russell perform at the Smithsonian “Roots to Pop’ event
2023
Feb 5, 2023 – Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder win Best Traditional Blues Album for GET ON BOARD: The Songs of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, with Joachim Cooder
Feb 23, 2023 - Playing for Change features ‘Queen Bee’ featuring Roseanne Cash, Ben Harper and many more.
March 27, 2023 – NYU features Taj Mahal as their 2023 Artist in Residency, along with Layla McCalla.
April 1, 2023 – Taj Mahal appears at the Apollo Theater in Harlem for the annual Jazz Foundation Gala with Steve Jordan, Robert Cray, Ray Parker Jr. and others.
April 28, 2023 – ‘Savoy’ is released on Stony Plain Records
April 29, 2023 – New Orleans Jazz Fest with special guest Rickie Lee Jones
May 13, 2023 - Taj Mahal, Joan Baez, Chris Isaak and others join Sammy Hagar at the Fillmore for the annual Acoustic 4-A-Cure event.
June 1, 2023– Taj Mahal launches his tour with Los Lobos and NMAS
July 25, 2023 – Grammy museum honors Taj Mahal and discusses Savoy album.
August 3-7, 2023 – The Savoy album is performed by Taj Mahal and his bay area Savoy Ballroom band featuring John Simon Orchestra, Maria Muldaur & more
September 23-24, 2023 – Taj Mahal plays solo and with Keb’ Mo’ at Crypo Arena as they join scores of iconic performers at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival.
2024
January 14, 2024 – Longtime bandmate and friend, drummer Kester Smith passes on.
March 8, 2023 – Lighting Rod records releases ‘Swingin Live at the Church in Tulsa’ featuring the Taj Mahal Sextet.
May 9, 2024 - The Blues Foundation unveils the Art Hologram Interactive Exhibit, narrated by Blues Hall of Fame inductee Taj Mahal
July 27-29, 2023 – Taj Mahal performs at Newport Folk Festival along with Rhiannon Giddens, as well as talks with longtime friend Joan Baez and visits the legendary Newport Blues House.