Taj Mahal: Roots Rising

Hosted and curated by legendary blues & roots musician Taj Mahal, the Roots Rising Showcase will feature a collection of Taj’s hand-picked favorite emerging artists performing songs recorded live and exclusively for this streaming performance. Artists include Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Amythyst Kiah, Annie Mack, Leyla McCalla, Piedmont Bluz Acoustic Duo, Ranky Tanky, Allison Russell and Jontavious Willis. Expect a live solo performance from Taj as well!

Taj Mahal’s 3-show March series begins with a full electric set starring the Phantom Blues Band and special guest Jon Cleary (Saturday, March 13) followed by the Roots Rising Showcase (Saturday, March 20) featuring some of Taj’s favorite emerging artists including Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Amythyst Kiah, Annie Mack, Leyla McCalla, Piedmont Bluz Acoustic Duo, Ranky Tanky, Allison Russell and Jontavious Willis; and the all-star multi-generational finale duo collaboration with Fantastic Negrito (Saturday, March 27).

Tickets can be purchased for each show for $25, or as a series for $65.

Ticket purchase includes a 48 hour replay.

MPAC has partnered with Mandolin to bring our patrons access to this performance, and we receive a portion of each ticket purchased through our link.

Quantifying Taj Mahal’s musical significance is impossible but people try anyway. Composer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, multi-GRAMMY® winner, multi-Blues Music Award winner, Blues Hall of Fame member and Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement award recipient Mahal is one of the most prominent and influential figures in late 20th Century blues and roots music.

When Taj sought to assemble a studio band for his 1993 release Dancing’ the Blues, little did he know at the time he had created an entire “sound” that would see the Phantom Blues Band become headliners at clubs, theaters and festivals around the world. Together and separately, the members of this two-time GRAMMY® winning group have performed with Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Little Feat, Elton John, The Rolling Stones and many more. Featuring Tony Braunagel (drums, percussion), Larry Fulcher (bass), Joe Sublett (saxophone), Mike Finnigan (keyborads/organ/vocals) and Jonny Lee Schell (guitar/vocals), PBB explores everything from Texas Blues to Memphis Soul.

British born New Orleans funk savant Jon Cleary is a virtuosic keyboardist, profoundly expressive vocalist, distinctive songwriter and GRAMMY® winner. His music pays homage to and proudly fills the void left behind by such Crescent City icons as Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Art Neville, James Booker and others. He has toured the world with the likes of Taj Mahal, John Scofield, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, and has led his own R&B/soul group the Absolute Monster Gentlemen for over two decades now.