Taj Mahal - Mumtaz Mahal (1995)

Taj Mahal is joined by Indian master musicians N. Ravikiran and V.M. Bhatt on a selection of tunes that ultimately owe more to obvious blues clichés than they do to cross-cultural collaboration. Perhaps that's because nearly half of the album's tunes – including Robert Johnson's "Come on in My Kitchen," "Mary Don't You Weep," and "Johnny Too Bad" – have long been staples of Taj Mahal's concert catalog. This isn't to say that the set doesn't have any moments of inspired improvisation and nuanced playing; there are a few instances of brilliance. But that seems a terrible waste of the talent gathered, unless the listener is looking for nothing more than an unlikely blues workout. - by Brian Beatty, AMG

Tracks:
1. Coming of the Mandinka (Taj Mahal) 5:14
2. Come On in My Kitchen (Robert Johnson) 11:31
3. Rolling on the Sea (Taj Mahal) 5:01
4. Mary Don't You Weep (Traditional/arr. Taj Mahal) 6:43
5. Stand by Me (Jerry Lieber) 7:02
6. Johhny Too Bad (Trevor Wilson) 5:47
7. Curry and Quartertones (Taj Mahal/Narisimhan Ravikian/V.M. Bhatt) 2:46

Personnel:
Taj Mahal (Vocal and Guitar)
Narasimhan Ravikian (Chitra Veena)
Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (Mohan Veena)

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