Album Review: Taj Mahal ‘Savoy’
By Mike O’Cull
American musical treasure Taj Mahal swings the living daylights out of a wonderful collection of old-school standards on his new album Savoy.
Set to make impact April 28th, 2023 on Stony Plain Records, Savoy is an affectionate tribute to the glory days of the swing era and its artists. The songs on it come from giants including Duke Ellington, Louis Jordan, George Gershwin, and Louis Armstrong, among others. Most of these tunes would have been heard at the legendary Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, which is where Mahal’s parents met at one of the first Ella Fitzgerald/Chick Webb gigs there in 1938. The spirit of the old Savoy days that ran from 1926 to 1958 is absolutely alive in Taj on these tracks and his love for them is easy to hear.
Savoy is the result of a decades-long desire shared by Taj and producer John Simon (The Band, Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, Blood Sweat & Tears) to have their way with this material. The two men have been friends since the late 1960s and have worked together extensively. The idea of doing classic standards with a blues flavor was appealing to both of them and it finally went down at 25th Street Recording in Oakland, California with engineer Gabriel Shepard at the board.
Backing up Mahal’s vocal and harmonica work on these sessions is a cracking studio band composed of Danny Caron on guitar, Ruth Davies on bass, John Simon on piano, and Leon Joyce, Jr. on drums. Ace background vocalists Carla Holbrook, Leesa Humphrey, Charlotte McKinnon, Sandy Cressman, Sandy Griffith, and Leah Tysse also add to the magic, as does a guest appearance by legendary singer Maria Muldaur.
Taj Mahal is an actual living legend of American music and has been blowing minds since first emerging with the group The Rising Sons in the mid-60s alongside fellow genius Ry Cooder. His first two solo albums, Taj Mahal (1967) and The Natch’l Blues (1968) are among the most important blues records ever made. He’s won three Grammy Awards out of 14 nominations, was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, and earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association. Without a doubt, he’s someone you should know and probably already do.
The record opens with (what else?) “Stompin’ At The Savoy.” Over the intro, Taj tells the story of his parents meeting there, after which he and the band float us all away on a sea of jazz melody, gentle swing beats, and scat singing. It’s a light and joyful moment that will make you smile in a hurry.
Taj does an exemplary job on the Duke Ellington/Mack David gem “I’m Just A Lucky So-And-So.” His smooth and elegant vocals are entrancing against the textures of the band and he croons it like he owns it. Mahal has a master’s touch on this type of vintage sound and his soul makes the past come alive.
“Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby”
George Gershwin’s eternal “Summertime” gets treated to a medium swing feel, some slinky guitar work from Danny Caron, and one of Mahal’s best lead vocals on the entire set. This song always feels like a world unto itself but Taj expands its vision to match his own and succeeds at making it feel fresh all over again.
Mahal goes deeper in Ellingtonia with the emotive ballad “Do Nothing Til You Hear From Me.” The lush, blues-inflected arrangement gives Taj all the room he needs to lay out his heart and he’ll make you feel every word. The songwriting of this era was special in many intangible ways, which is why the world still loves it, and it’s clear that Mahal intuitively understands each one.
Savoy is one big highlight for swing lovers, so put it on and leave it on. Do pay extra attention to Taj’s takes on “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby,” “Lady Be Good,” and Louis Jordan’s jump blues tour de force “Caldonia.” Hang out with this record and have a ball.
Pre-order ‘Savoy’ Here
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