Maestro (Taj Mahal album)


Maestro is a studio album by American musician Taj Mahal. It was released on September 30, 2008, via Heads Up International. Recording sessions took place at Ultratone, Capitol Studios and Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, Sonikwire Studios in Irvine, The Shed in New Orleans, and Fat Tuesday Recording Studio in Honolulu. Production was handled by Taj Mahal himself, the Phantom Blues Band, Warren Haynes and Ben Harper. It features guest appearances from the Phantom Blues Band, with whom he had recorded the Grammy-nominated albums Señor Blues and Shoutin' in Key, Los Lobos, New Orleans Social Club, Angélique Kidjo, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley and the Hula Blues Band. Other contributors include Toumani Diabaté, with whom he had recorded the album Kulanjan, and his daughter, singer-songwriter Deva Mahal, with whom he had recorded several children's albums in the past.
It received a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album nomination at the 2009 51st Annual Grammy Awards, but lost to Dr. John and the Lower 911's City That Care Forgot.

Personnel