Savoy

"Taj Mahal's 'Savoy' reconstructs the music of his youth in its original style for a contemporary audience ... The specific songs mostly date from the 1930s and 1940s and capture the swinging mood of the period. It's good time music for both when times are good and when they are not - from the Great Depression to World War II and after ... A lively record that snaps like a pair of hipster's digits. The arrangements are tight. The main players (...) capture the cool vibe of the originals".

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"Savoy embodies the abundant joy of its predecessor, Get On Board: The Songs of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, but the album offers added nuance, color, dynamics, and musical sophistication. It seemingly accomplishes the impossible by taking these (overly) familiar standards and breathing new life into them while simultaneously honoring their legacies as well as that of the historic Harlem ballroom".

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"While other artists in their twilight years have failed to engage on similar projects, this is an absolute joy: the 14 songs taking on an additional meaning when overlaid with his own storyline. Taj Mahal's speaking voice is very much like his singing voice - rich, gravelly, not unlike Satchmo's - and his scat is also lively and engaging. Producer/pianist John Simon helms the band, and they swing idiomatic throughout - their take on 'Caldonia' (made famous by Louis Jordan) is wild".