This week on the Track Star Podcast, we're joined by blues legend Taj Mahal. He spent over six decades expanding what the blues can be, weaving in Caribbean rhythms, folk, soul, and world music along the way. We got to discuss the artists and traditions that shaped both his career and the genre itself.

This playlist spans from Elvis Presley to Harry Belafonte to Miriam Makeba, and Taj Mahal has a story for every single one. He traces where this music comes from and connects the dots across Delta blues, jazz, Caribbean folk, South African rhythms, and Saharan guitar.

He shares how he discovered his favorite song growing up listening to his neighbor play John Lee Hooker on the porch, his deep love of bassists like Charles Mingus and Oscar Pettiford, the trip he took just to hear Ry Cooder play the 12-string guitar. We also talk about some of the standards he introduced and the most meaningful projects he worked on.

This Episode’s Track List:

00:00 - Intro

00:23 - Mystery Train - Elvis Presley

00:40 - That's All Right - Elvis Presley

3:15 - Better Git It in Your Soul - Charles Mingus

4:33 - Day-O (Banana Boat Song) - Harry Belafonte

5:25 - Blind Willie McTell - Statesboro Blues

10:44 - Boomer's Story - Ry Cooder

13:36 - Matilda - King Radio

15:35 - Freight Train - Elizabeth Cotten

16:50 - Mbube - Miriam Makeba

17:13 - Mbube - Solomon Linda

18:02 - The Boy in the Bubble - Paul Simon

19:21 - Tamiditine - Bombino