Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Taj Mahal and the Hula Blues Band: Sacred Island

Taj Mahal and the Hula Blues Band: Sacred Island

By Ed Kopp
August 1, 1999
View read count

Taj Mahal and the Hula Blues Band: Sacred Island

Former resident of the Hawaiian island of Kauai, Taj Majal is one of the most versatile bluesmen around, having tackled country blues, R&B, jazz, gospel, reggae and more on his 37 albums. On Sacred Island, Taj teams up with some veteran Hawaiian musicians to blend blues, traditional Hawaiian music and reggae. This is a fine eclectic release on which Mahal's dobro, harp and vocals blend surprisingly well with Hawaiian slack-key guitars, ukelele, and various reed and wind instruments. The latter are played very gracefully by the talented Carlos Andrade. High points include "Coconut Man" (a reworking of Toots Hibbert's ska classic "Monkey Man"), the title cut (a gentle and beautifully arranged instrumental), a lilting version of the Chuck Willis tune "Dupree and Betty," and a fun version of Mahal's popular "Mailbox Blues" (previously recorded under the title "Going Up To The Country, Paint My Mailbox Blue"). Sacred Island is an enjoyable follow-up to Mahal's Grammy-winning Senor Blues.

Personnel

Taj Mahal

guitar and vocals

Album information

Title: Sacred Island | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Windham Hill Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

12-15-78
< Previous

Good Dog, Happy Man
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.