artist info

One of the most prominent and influential figures in late 20th century blues and roots music Taj Mahal is a 2014 recipient of the Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award along side such luminaries as Jackson Brown, Loretta Lynn and Flaco Jimenez. Though his career began more than four decades ago with American blues, he has broadened his artistic scope over the years to include music representing virtually every corner of the world – West Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the Hawaiian Islands and so much more. What ties it all together is his insatiable interest in musical discovery. Over the years, his passion and curiosity have led him around the world, and the resulting global perspective is reflected in his music.

The three-time Grammy winner and one of the most influential American blues and roots artists of the past half-century, celebrates over four decades of blues, roots, reggae and beyond with his latest release The Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal 1969-1973 (Legacy, 2012), a two disc set. This is a follow up to 2008’s Maestro: Celebrating 40 Years, marking the fortieth anniversary of Taj's rich and varied recording career by mixing original material, chestnuts borrowed from classic sources, and songs written by a cadre of highly talented guest artists.

A self taught musician, Taj plays over 20 instruments including National Steel and Dobro guitars, and his remarkable voice ranges from gruff and gravelly to smooth and sultry. His music remains a well-seasoned gumbo, spiced with influences that originate in the Caribbean, West Africa, the Southern States, and the inner cities of America. The oldest of nine children, Taj Mahal was born in Harlem and grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts in a home filled with music. As an adolescent he explored the roots of American blues and other forms of music. For a short time he had an R&B band called Taj Mahal and the Elektras. He emerged professionally as cofounder of The Rising Sons with guitarist Ry Cooder. This led to a recording contract and Taj rose to prominence.

In addition to his regular work Taj has acted in films and composed motion pictures scores. He wrote the Grammy nominated score for Broadway production of Mule Bone. He has appeared in films such as Outside Ozona. In addition, he also recorded a number of Grammy-nominated children’s albums and provided voices for popular cartoon characters.

VERY SPECIAL GUESTS - ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY

Take a 15-time IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Dobro Player of the Year and a Tennessee-born guitar prodigy called “Nashville's hottest young player” by Acoustic Guitar magazine, and you have Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, a powerhouse acoustic duo that has electrified the acoustic music scene around the world.

Known for their white-hot picking and world class musicianship, as well as their soulful stone country vocals, the GRAMMY® nominated duo cleverly and uniquely melds bluegrass, country, blues, rock, jamgrass, and string band music of all kinds to create a signature blend of music that defies restrictions of genre. NPR has called Ickes and Hensley "two musical phenoms"; Vintage Guitar raved they're an "acoustic firestorm" who "are changing the rules"; Acoustic Guitar describes their sound as "steel-string bluegrass with all the intensity of rock 'n' roll" and No Depression observed they're "two of the finest musicians playing today."

Ickes and Hensley have shared the stage or collaborated with Tommy Emmanuel, Taj Mahal, Vince Gill, David Grisman, Jorma Kaukonen, Marty Stuart, and Steve Wariner—all admirers of the duo. Ickes, former founding member of bluegrass "supergroup" Blue Highway and highly sought-after Dobro master, has graced the recordings and concerts of artists such as Earl Scruggs, Merle Haggard, Alison Krauss, Tony Rice and more. Hensley, who earned his first IBMA Guitar Player of the Year nominations in 2020 and 2021, made his Grand Ole Opry debut at the age of 11 (thanks to an invite from Marty Stuart with Earl Scruggs) and has appeared on stage with the likes of Johnny Cash, Peter Frampton and Old Crow Medicine Show.

All three of the Compass Records albums released by Ickes and Hensley have received widespread acclaim, including their debut Before The Sun Goes Down, which garnered a GRAMMY® nomination, and the combo's current release World Full of Blues, which features collaborations with Vince Gill and Taj Mahal. Ickes and Hensley recently teamed with guitar master Tommy Emmanuel for a very special EP, Accomplice Series Vol. I. The EP was released May 7, 2021 via Emmanuel's label, CGP Sounds, to critical acclaim. The three high-powered guitar virtuosos performed together on the Grand Ole Opry on May 8, 2021 and from famed Nashville venue 3rd & Lindsley on May 9, 2021 via worldwide broadcasts to celebrate the release of the project.

Ickes and Hensley are currently being featured in Season 5 of the popular music series, "David Holt's State of Music" airing nationwide on PBS. They've also recently completed work on their fourth record with GRAMMY®-winning producer Brent Maher, which is set for release on Compass Records next year.