Taj Mahal plays The Mahaiwe in Great Barrington
Composer and multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Taj Mahal plays The Mahaiwe in Great Barrington on Friday, November 7 at 8pm. A two-time Grammy winner and nine time Grammy nominee, Taj Mahal is one of the most influential American blues and roots artists of the past half-century.You could call him a singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, ethnomusicologist, world-class musical collaborator, musicians' advocate or world traveler. These titles are all accurate, yet none convey the warmth, humor, and soulfulness of Taj and his music. Tickets are $45 and are available through The Mahaiwe Box office (413.528.0100) and online: www.mahaiwe.org.
Raised in Springfield, MA, Taj can be considered a local– having studied at UMass, Amherst in the early 1960’s and returning faithfully to this area throughout the past four decades. In his long and distinguished career, Taj has forged an incredible reputation and following by gathering and distilling countless musical traditions from a range of geographical and cultural sources: the Mississippi Delta, the Appalachian backwoods, the Hawaiian Islands, Europe, and the Caribbean. What ties it all together is his insatiable interest in musical discovery.
A self-taught musician, Taj plays more than 20 instruments, including the National Steel and Dobro guitars, piano, harmonica and mandolin. "You have to sing your life if you expect your music to affect anyone,” says Taj Mahal. “What always comes through no matter what the vehicle or instrument is the sound of Taj himself - his voice. Warm and worn and with as many tales to tell as a country road, he delivers both life's pain and pleasure, but always measured with the joy of being. There is a sparkle to everything he does, no matter how down-and-dirty. His open sense of humor permeates everything. Taj Mahal's Music Is A Genre All Its Own.” The Seattle Times
For more information on Taj Mahal and other events at The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, please visit us at 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA. Phone The Mahaiwe Box Office at 413-528-0100 or visit us online at www.mahaiwe.org.
