For those not in the know, Taj Mahal can rightfully be called a living legend for his contributions to popular music. With a voice as instantly recognizable as Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, or Dr John, Taj Mahal has throughout his career pushed the envelope of American music forward by incorporating sounds from the Caribbean, Africa, traditional blues and jazz.

With this brand new album, Savoy (out April 28th, 2023 via Stony Plain Records), Taj takes a new direction in his musical journey, exploring classics from the American songbook with his good friend and acclaimed record producer John Simon, whose resume includes producing classic albums by The Band, Janis Joplin, Leonard Cohen, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Simon & Garfunkel, Gordon Lightfoot, Mama Cass Elliot, David Sanborn, and Michael Franks.

1. Stompin’ at the Savoy
2. I’m Just a Lucky So-And-So
3. Gee Baby Ain’t I Good to You
4. Summertime
5. Mood Indigo
6. Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby
7. Do Nothin’ Till You Hear from Me
8. Sweet Georgia Brown
9. Baby, It’s Cold Outside
10. Lady Be Good
11. Baby Won’t You Please Come Home
12. Caldonia
13. Killer Joe
14. One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)

This beautifully crafted, and lushly exuberant new recording opens on the finger-snapping, foot-tapping Stompin’ at the Savoy and the smooth groove within I’m Just a Lucky So-And-So and they are followed by the low slung, majestically-ornate Gee Baby Ain’t I Good to You, the upbeat Summertime, the laid back Mood Indigo, and they we are brought a simply, goosebumps-inducing rendition of Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby and the gripping Do Nothin’ Till You Hear from Me.

This magnificent realization of a musical collaboration they had been planning for decades, continues lovingly onward with more finger-snapping vibes within Sweet Georgia Brown and the luxurious Baby, It’s Cold Outside, and they are in turn backed by the rhythmic Lady Be Good, the smoothly cultured away of Baby Won’t You Please Come Home, the album rounding out on the tub-thumping Caldonia, the mid-tempo, harmonica-driven, balladry swing of Killer Joe, coming to a close on the impassioned ballad One for My Baby (And One More for the Road).

Recording Savoy is the realization of a musical collaboration they had been discussing for decades, finally locking in the studio time in Oakland to make it happen in August 2022.

Recorded with a tight four-piece rhythm section and the top horn players and backup vocalists from San Francisco and Miami, the album is a loving throwback to the sounds of the swing jazz big band era, covers 14 standards composed by the likes of Duke Ellington, Louis Jordan, George Gershwin and Louis Armstrong.

Official Purchase Link