TAJ MAHAL & THE PHANTOM BLUES BAND
Time (Resonatin’)
At 83 years old, Taj Mahal is still making music with his unmistakable, unrefined air of effortlessness. Nominally a bluesman, Taj Mahal creates music in a magical way that dissolves perceived barriers between roots reggae, soul and, of course, the blues.
The title track is actually the debut recording of a Bill Withers piece, and is the highlight of this enjoyable set, with its lazy acoustic guitar riff and ruminative vocals. David ‘Ziggy’ Marley makes a nice guest appearance on father Bob’s Talkin’ Blues, highlighting the impact of Jamaican music on Taj Mahal and his own importance to the development and understanding of reggae.
Elsewhere, the material is a little light and the playing a little too ragged to make much of a lasting impression. The man himself oozes style and substance, but the Phantom Blues Band, who provide the backing, could tighten up the screws to contrast with their frontman’s easygoing style.
words JOHN-PAUL DAVIES
