Taj Mahal brings the blues to Missoula and Billings

Published: January 25, 2010

Two-time Grammy winner Taj Mahal, considered one of the most influential American blues and roots artists of the past half-century, heads to Billings and Missoula in February with his trio.   

Mahal has forged a four-decade career by gathering and distilling countless musical traditions from a range of geographical and cultural sources: the Mississippi Delta, the Appalachian backroads, the African continent, the Hawaiian Islands, Europe, the Caribbean and more.

His latest release, Maestro, includes guest artists Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Angelique Kidjo, Los Lobos, Ziggy Marley and others – many of whom have been directly influenced by Mahal’s music and guidance.

“With this record, as with all my records, I want people to roll back the rug and go for it,” says Mahal. “This record is just the beginning of another chapter, one that’s going to be open to more music and more ideas.”

“Even at the end of 40 years,” he adds, “in many ways my music is just getting started.” But in the end, as it was in the beginning, the music is always about the blues.

You can hear him:

Billings: 8 p.m. Feb. 24 at Shrine Auditorium (866-464-2626 or www.ticketswest.com)

Missoula: 8 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Wilma Theatre (888-MONTANA or www.griztix.com)