Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder/ Get On Board

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder/ Get On Board

Genre: Folk-blues

Label: Nonesuch Records

Rating: *****

When two legendary American musicians collaborate, you know you're in for a good dose of magic. What's even more interesting is that Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder have recorded something together after 54 years, paying tribute to their heroes Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.

Cooder last appeared as a guest on Taj's 1968 debut album. Before that, in 1965, they had formed a short-lived group called The Rising Sons, recording songs which were released later in the early 1990s.

On the new album Get On Board, Henry St Claire Fredericks Jr aka Taj Mahal plays harmonica, guitar and piano, besides singing. Ryland Peter Cooder is on vocals, guitar, banjo and mandolin, with his son Joaquim Cooder on percussion and bass.

The songs they choose were popularised by harmonica legend Terry and guitarist McGhee, who were part of the folk-blues revival in the 1950s and early 1960s. Their style, Piedmont Blues, was a mix of blues, gospel, fiddle tunes, ragtime and country.

This writer hasn't heard all the originals, but from whatever heard, one notices that Taj and Cooder have experimented with the older style, while sticking to the main tune. The pick of the lot, 'Pawn Shop Blues', written by the great Blind Boy Fuller, is slower and melancholic, whereas 'Packing Up Getting Ready To Go' is given an uptempo, concert feel.

Since there are only three musicians playing multiple instruments, there are many overdubs. But Taj's harmonica brilliance shines through on 'Hooray Hooray' and Cooder's guitar wizardry is evident on the opening track 'My Baby Done Changed The Lock On The Door'.

'Pick A Bale Of Cotton' and 'Cornbread, Peas, Black Molasses', two songs jointly written by Terry and McGhee, are played with neat folk-blues licks. And to complete the package, there are traditional gems like 'The Midnight Special', 'What A Beautiful City' and 'I Shall Not Be Moved', and the happy party song 'Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee'.

Get On Board is a brilliant attempt to revive traditional blues. Coming from masters like Taj Mahal and Cooder, who have been friends over the years, this is absolutely first-rate. Interestingly, besides adopting an Indian name,Taj Mahal's connection is that he has played at the Mahindra Blues Festival before, whereas Cooder's achievements include his collaboration with Mohan Veena exponent Vishwa Mohan Bhatt on the Grammy-winning album A Meeting By The River.

And if you're looking for more old-school stuff this weekend, check out Forever On My Mind, a set of eight tunes by Delta Blues legend Son House. Released a month ago by Easy Eye Sound, these contain previously unreleased versions of songs which have been heard in a different form before.

Son House was a contemporary of the revered Charlie Patton, and was said to be an influence on Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters. He had a distinct finger picking and slide style, and powerful vocals. Check out his 'Preachin Blues', 'Death Letter', 'Pony Blues' and 'Louise McGhee' - who's no way connected to Brownie McGhee! Nor is Son House linked to Sonny Terry but both of them could keep your weekend occupied.

Son House/ Forever On My Mind 

Genre: Delta Blues 

Label: Easy Eye Sound 

Rating: *****