Savoy
Stony Plain, 2023
9/10
The 3 time Grammy Winner and roots music legend Taj Mahal never disappoints, and this time around the songs are interpretations from the swing jazz big band era, and are illuminated in his accomplished vision.
“Stompin’ At The Savoy” begins the listen with a playful, retro spirit, where warm keys and bright brass align with Taj’s mix of talking and singing amid the soulful backing vocals, and “I’m Just A Lucky So And So” follows and puts a very warm glow on the Duke Ellington tune with dreamy flute from Kristen Strom.
Further along, the intimate demeanor of “Mood Indigo” showcases Taj’s gritty, powerful pipes that are complemented by soothing winds, while “Sweet Georgia Brown” emits violin acrobatics from Evan Price and drummer Leon Joyce’s fluent skills, not to mention Taj’s charming scatting for the album’s best.
Close to the end, “Baby Won’t You Please Come Home”, a hit for Bessie Smith in 1923, features Eric Jekabson on trumpet, which suits Taj’s romantic execution, and “One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)” exits with a very mature and cautious finish of sublime, dynamic and memorable musicianship.
Taj certainly preserves the timelessness of the originals while injecting his own inimitable brand of song craft, and with Danny Caron (guitar), Ruth Davies (bass), and John Simon (piano) and several supporting vocalists, this is yet another top notch body of work for the always exceptional Taj Mahal.
Travels well with: Sue Foley- Pinky’s Blues; The Duke Robillard Band- They Called It Rhythm & Blues