Taj Mahal’s new album, “Time,” marks the first with his celebrated Phantom Blues Band since 2008. But the genre-exploring icon says the interlude was intended to be considerably shorter.
“Time,” he says, started before COVID, but was impacted by the pandemic shutdowns. “We kinda ducked in and out of different people having to deal with their health and stuff like that,” says Mahal, 84, who was born Henry St. Claire Fredericks Jr. in Harlem and began recording during the mid-1960s with the band the Rising Sons. He went on his own in 1968 and has won five Grammy Awards, as well as Lifetime Achievement honors from the Recording Academy and the Americana Music Association.
He formed the Phantom Blues Band in the early 1990s, and Mahal says little has changed in the group’s working method since then, with “Time” recorded mostly at guitarist Johnny Lee Schell’s Ultratone Studios in Studio City, California.
“We pretty much hit it every time. It just gets better and better,” notes Mahal, who also appears on actor Morgan Freeman’s upcoming “Symphonic Blues Experience” album, out Aug. 7.
“Those guys are veterans,” Mahal said. “They know the language. I wouldn’t be playing with them if I couldn’t feel it, and the people that are listening can’t feel it. I’m not up here for show, right?”
“Time,” meanwhile, takes its title from a soulful track written by the late Bill Withers that had not yet been released. “I very rarely take outside material from other songwriters … but this was a special time because Bill was a good friend of mine,” Mahal says. “We both admired one another for our independent spirit and spirit of coming up with different things. The song is really good and worked for me and worked for us as a band.
“We received Bill’s blessing, and furthermore, we received his wife’s blessing after he (died) and she heard the recording. So I’m really happy it’s on here.”
Taj Mahal & the Phantom Blues Band perform Friday, July 10, at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-399-2980 or royaloakmusictheatre.com.
Other music events of note this weekend (all subject to change) include …
FRIDAY, JULY 10
• Jack Johnson brings his SURFILMUSIC Tour to town at 7:30 p.m. at Pine Knob Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Drive, Independence Township. Hermanos Gutiérrez opens. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Ted Nugent will turn the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre into a Motor City Madhouse at 7:30 p.m. 14900 Metro Parkway, Sterling Heights. Kurt Diemer opens. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Chicago’s G Herbo and Detroit’s Skilla Baby rap at 8 p.m. at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, 2600 Atwater St. at Chene, Detroit. 313-393-7128 or TheAretha.com.
• “Music From Dimensions Tomorrow,” a new exhibit exploring Michigan music culture from the 1990s to the present, is open at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit. It includes photos, posters, recordings, homemade instruments and other artifacts from artists such as Faruk Z. Bey, Warren Defere, Davin Brainard, Elliot Bergman, Alice Coltrane and Yusef Lateef, as well as a remembrance of Yoko Ono’s 2003 visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts. 313-832-6622 or mocadetroit.org.
• Paul Oakenfold and the Crystal Method offer a star-packed night at the turntable at 9 p.m. at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.
• “Peter Asher: Everywhere Man,” a new documentary about the Beatles cohort, record producer, artist manager and more, screens through Sunday, July 12 at the Detroit Film Theatre, in the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave. 313-833-3237 or dia.org.
• Singer-songwriter Ben Chapman drops in at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.
• Dallas singer and songwriter Novulent and babyteeth join forces at 8 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• Brooklyn’s Gooseberry visits at 7 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. The Steve Dely Band opens. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• Alternative hard rock troupe Mella brings its latest tour to TSDMAAC (Catacombs), 15701 James Couzens Fwy, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. Body Thief and Postdrome open. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• King Serpent, Bastardous and more are part of PRTY Fest at El Club, 4114 W. Vernor Highway, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-757-7942 or elclubdetroit.com.
• Milford’s Audrey Ray headlines at the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Taylor Walls and Julian Joel are also on the bill. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.
• Mark Hershberger and the Detroit Jazz Project are in the house through Saturday, July 11, at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, 97 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe. 313-882-5399 or dirtydogjazz.com.
• The duo Missant plays at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• The Convalescence from Toledo tops a four-band bill at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. Doors at 6 p.m. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• Cherry Drop, Ficus, Simulation and Andrea Doria rock at Small’s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.
• The Roxy is in tribute mode this weekend, with Thunderstruck (AC/DC) at 8 p.m. and, on Saturday, July 11, Hynde Sight (Pretenders), also at 8 p.m. 401 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. 248-453-5285 or theroxyrochester.com.
• Veteran troubadour Howie Day is on at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. Max Bartos opens. 734-761-1800 or theark.org.
• Guitarist Noah Hogan and his Quartet occupy the Blue Llama Jazz Club at 7 and 9 p.m. 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
• Virtual: Alejandro Escovedo performs at 7:30 p.m. from Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club in New Hampshire, via veeps.com.
SATURDAY, JULY 11
• Country star and “American Idol” co-host Luke Bryan plays at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday, July 12, at Pine Knob Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Drive, Independence Township. Shane Profitt, Lauren Watkins, Raelynn and DJ Rock are also on the bill. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• The Detroit Symphony Orchestra goes into movie mode, accompanying “Jurassic Park” at 7:30 p.m. and, on Sunday, July 12, “Back to the Future” at 3 p.m., both at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.
• British R&B singer Ella Mai asks Do You Still Love Me? at 8 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. AMA and Girlfriend also perform. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.
• Atlanta rock troupe Drivin’ N Cryin’ flies courageous into the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. Laid Back Country Picker opens. 248-544-1991 or themagicbag.com.
• Trumpeter Alan Dennard presents “Swing, Rhythm and Flow,” blending hip-hop, jazz, poetry and spoken word at 8 p.m. in The Cube at the Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.
• Rock trio King’s X headlines at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. Doors at 7 p.m. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.
• Flamenco guitar specialist Roni Benise celebrates “15 Years of Passion!” at 7 p.m. at the Macomb Center, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. 586-286-2222 or macombcenter.com.
• The New York duo Memba mans the decks at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 8 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.
• White Lion’s Mike Tramp returns to the Diesel Concert Lounge, 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township. Doors at 7 p.m. 586-933-3503 or dieselconcerts.com.
• Chicago’s DemFightinWords puts its dukes up TSDMAAC (Confessional), 15701 James Couzens Fwy, Detroit. Doors at 6 p.m. Keep, Krooked and Barefaced also perform. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• The Bob Mervak Trio is on stage at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• Singer, songwriter and guitarist Brian McKee plays at 8 p.m. at Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit. 313-887-8500 or jazzcafedetroit.com.
• The Dusty Rose Gang rocks at 9 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. Dream Shoppe and Zinc Vacuum are also on the bill. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• Britain’s James Hunter Six brings its Grammy Award-nominated brand of R&B for an 8 p.m. date at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. McKinley James opens. 734-761-1800 or theark.org.
• Drummer Sean Dobbins and his Organ Trio, featuring Rob Dixon, works at 7 and 9 p.m. at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
• Virtual: Straight No Chaser streams live from its summer Beach Bash Tour! at 7:30 p.m., via veeps.com.
•Virtual: “The Rose: Come Back to Me,” a documentary about the Korean indie rock band the Rose, premieres at 9 p.m. along with an online Q&A, via veeps.com.
SUNDAY, JULY 12
• The Detroit rap duo D12 will sign copies of its new album, “D12 Forever, Volume One” from noon to 2 p.m. at the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale.
• Babyface brings his hit catalog to the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre for an 8 p.m. Show. 2600 Atwater St. at Chene, Detroit. Jane Eugene opens. 313-393-7128 or TheAretha.com.
• Mike Campbell of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers and his band the Dirty Knobs turn at 8 p.m. at the Flagstar Strand Theatre, 12 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Sarah Lee Guthrie opens. 248-309-6445 or flagstarstrand.com.
• Children’s music favorite Laurie Berkner plays two shows at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Doors at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. 248-399-2980 or royaloakmusictheatre.com.
• Canada’s Helix is joined by Kingdom Come at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. Doors at 5:30 p.m. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.
• Los Angeles punk rock group Generacion Suicida visits Small’s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.
• The French/Nordic group Skald does time at TSDMAAC (Catacombs), 15701 James Couzens Fwy, Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.
• The Detroit Blues Society holds a Blues Challenge showcase at 3 p.m. at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.
• The Detroit Jazz Factory collective gathers at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.
• DustBowlChampion, Computer Kills and Night Ritualz triple up at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.
• The pedigreed Lucy Wainwright Roche closes a busy weekend at 7:30 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1800 or theark.org.
• The Triumvirate from Ann Arbor plays at 6 and 7:30 p.m. at the Blue Llama Jazz Club, 314 S. First St., Ann Arbor. 734-372-3200 or bluellamaclub.com.
• Virtual: The husband-and-wife-led Parker Barrow livestreams at 7:30 p.m. from Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club in New Hampshire, via veeps.com.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.macombdaily.com ’
