Time

グラミー賞受賞歴を持つブルース界のレジェンド、タジ・マハールが2026年にリリースするアルバム『Time』。

長年のパートナーであるザ・ファントム・ブルース・バンドと共に、「時間」や「歴史」をテーマに制作した作品。ブルース、ソウル、レゲエ、アフロ・キューバンなど、彼の60年以上にわたるキャリアを象徴する多彩な音楽性が凝縮された内容で、深みのあるブルース・ルーツ・ミュージック作品となっている。

In 1998 and 2000, Taj Mahal & the Phantom Blues Band won back-to-back Grammys for Senor Blues and Shoutin’ in Key. While the PBB is a going concern that has been recording on their own since then, theyve continued to tour with Mahal since the 90s. Time is an unreleased "new" album drawn from sessions that took place in 2010. The band -- guitarist/co-producer Johnny Lee Schell, bassist/producer Larry Fulcher, drummer/producer Tony Braunagel, saxophonist Joe Sublett, and trumpeters Lester Lovitt and Darrell Leonard -- remains intact with the exception of keyboardist Mike Finnigan, who died in 2021. Pianist Jon Cleary and organist Mick Weaver are substituted. The lineup also includes backing vocalists Maxayn Lewis, Kudisan Kai, and Sir Harry Bowen. As is Mahals de rigueur, the ten-track set list offers covers, originals, and traditional songs. "Life of Love," co-written by Berkowitz and Gary Nicholson, is a soulful modern calypso celebrating shared experiences, food, and music among people of color. "Wild about My Lovin" is traditional; it was initially recorded by Jim Jackson in 1928. That version doesnt even resemble this one as Mahal and PBB lay down swinging, breezy reggae in a celebration of a woman and eros. The title cut is a premier of a nearly lost Bill Withers song demoed by the artist but never before recorded. Berkowitz -- who had worked with Withers -- brought the demo to Mahal, who loved it. Before they included it here, however, he sought permission from Withers widow Marcia Withers (the artist died in 2020), who gave him the go ahead after hearing it. The albums first single, it joins elegant folk to bluesy soul with gorgeous backing vocals, horns, and Mahals big, raspy, compassionate voice for the brokenhearted: "Time/Will tell you just when/You got all the hurt out/And change your heart, oh/Time will see you through. "You Put the Whammy On Me" was co-written by producer Braunagel, Mark Shark, and Josh Watson and its delivered here with a steamy, infectiously danceable Afro-Cuban groove. Bob Marleys "Talkin Blues" features guest Ziggy Marley melding reggae and deep soul that nonetheless bears Mahals indelible musical signature. Isaac Hayes and Otis Reddings raucous "Sweet Lorene" is a funky soul-blues stomp with strutting horns and swelling organ. Edward Boozier and Don Robey wrote "Ask Me Bout Nothing (But the Blues)" for Bobby Blue Bland in 1969; Mahal and PBB deliver it with swagger, tenderness, and grit, with glorious interplay between Cleary and Weaver. Mahal is fantastic in evoking loneliness and heartbreak. Charles Sheffields 1961 R&B hit "Its Your Voodoo Working" is chock-full of swinging horns, organ, and drums. Set-closer "Rowdy Blues" was first recorded in 1929 by Kid Bailey. Mahal melds the Delta tradition with swinging NOLA house party horns and piano. Time is a welcome studio reunion between Mahal and PBB, and a superb reworking of the original album while juxtaposing styles, sounds, and rhythms with joyful abandon. ~ Thom Jurek