[Harp-L] Taj Mahal's Rig ?

[Chris Canning]

G'day,
Does any one know what sort of rig Taj Mahal uses for harp. I love the sound
on songs like 'Leaving Trunk' and 'Somebody on your Bond'. I also really
love his playing. Not the most technical but so soulful. And he knows how to
play staccato.

Thanks Chris Canning

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[John Kerkhoven]

I can't answer about Taj's rig, but I do want to chime in about his fine
musical harp playing.

In particular, I'm learning "Lovin in my baby's eyes". This is a sweet tune
played on an Eb harp.

The chords in the song are Gm, Bb, F in the chorus and F, Cm, Eb and Bb in
the verses. Which is to say -- one way to think about it -- that the song
touches on positions 1 through 5.

It's an accessible melodic bluesy number great for thinking about chord
changes and
soloing over chords.

All the best,

John
Montreal

[46long Blake]

I think Jason once wrote that Taj Mahal has arguably the best timing in the
biz. Sorry, Jason, if I misquote, but I agree with the assessment.

Wouldn't everyone like to imitate the tone on the opening lines of "Leaving
Trunk?" Kinda that tubes-a-fryin' small amp working overtime edgy vintage
sound that many of us love, and for all of the wonderful amp choices out
there, boutique, vintage, and off the shelf, I have yet to hear anything
quite like Taj's classic tone on that one......

-Blake

On Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 6:14 PM, John Kerkhoven
<solo_d...@ca.inter.net>wrote:

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[Biscui...@aol.com]

I'm with you on Taj Mahal's playing, and timing in particular Blake. I can't
remember the album that it was, but one of his albums in the mid 70's had a
big influence on my playing for sure. It had Corina Corina on it, and She
Caught the Katy too, I do believe. Can anybody tell me what album that was?? The
whole album was pretty much blues without the traditional stuff he does a
lot of the time. I learned a lot off of it.

Randy
BiscuitBoy Blues

In a message dated 8/12/2008 8:44:02 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
46l...@gmail.com writes:

I think Jason once wrote that Taj Mahal has arguably the best timing in the
biz. Sorry, Jason, if I misquote, but I agree with the assessment.

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[cdp...@aol.com]

Taj Mahal was and is one of my favorites.
I bought the album, Natch'l Blues circa 1972 or 73.
Great record.
Corinna Corinna
She caught the Katy and Left Me a Mule to Ride

You Don't Miss your Water Til your Well Runs Dry
You can catch Taj playing a tune or 2 from this album on the Rolling Stones Circus DVD
Jesse Ed Davis was his guitar player then.
Highly recommend
Doug

[St. James Town]

Taj Mahal's Rig ?

a super reverb with a gain between the amp and speakers
a shure and akg mics. The akg was a 190 and shure a 545

[Richard Hunter]

Like many players, Taj has used different rigs over time. I saw him on TV in the early 1970's playing through a Shure tape recorder mic, the same model that I later discovered in my father's discarded tape recording gear. I couldn't get mine to sound as good as Taj's.

I was and am still a big fan of Taj's harp playing. I have lost track of how many times I have listened to the double album "Giant Step," and especially to the powerhouse down-home R&B of "Give Your Woman What She Wants," "You Gonna Need somebody On Your Bond" (which I covered as a solo arrangement on my second CD, "The Second Act of Free Being") and "6 Days on the Road". I learned a lot in particular from the way Taj uses octaves, and I love the raw feeling in his playing--when it's amped, it's just so rough and ready. When he throws down on "Give Your Woman What She Wants," I can hardly keep myself from jumping up and down and throwing my fist in the air.

Taj seemed to stop playing harp on his recordings for a long time, but he's back at it on his recent albums, and he stills sounds great.

Regards, Richard Hunter
latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp

[Chris Canning]

"St. James Town" wrote

' Taj Mahal's Rig ?

' a super reverb with a gain between the amp and speakers
' a shure and akg mics. The akg was a 190 and shure a 545

Awesome and Thank You

If any wants to hear what we're talking about, I found this from Rolling
Stones Rock n Roll circus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGspa4AX4gI&feature=related

[Rusty Wilson]

Attended my first SPAH blues circle jam last night, and holy smokes, those guys are good! I have read people's descriptions of these jams over the years, and not having been to one myself, I always wondered, "could those players really be as good as people say?" Now that I have heard them for myself, I can answer the question - those guys are EVEN BETTER than advertised! The tone, techniques, phrasing, and musicianship... more than I could have imagined to put it briefly. I won't start naming names because I would leave someone out (and as a first-timer, I knew practically nobody), but it was just a room full of monster players.

I also enjoyed meeting and sitting beside the hot-playing and highly educational Michael Rubin, and it was a treat to meet KC-based harp man Jimmie Meade in person for the first time.

It was a blast.

-Rusty


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[lil Buddha]

On Wed, Aug 13, 2008 at 6:55 AM, <Biscui...@aol.com> wrote:

>
> I'm with you on Taj Mahal's playing, and timing in particular Blake. I
> can't
> remember the album that it was, but one of his albums in the mid 70's had
> a
> big influence on my playing for sure. It had Corina Corina on it, and She
> Caught the Katy too, I do believe. Can anybody tell me what album that
> was?? The
> whole album was pretty much blues without the traditional stuff he does a
> lot of the time. I learned a lot off of it.

The Natch'l Blues recorded in 1968. Love that album.

[Greg Heumann]

Yeah, Rusty, I was there too. And my first SPAH also.

Anyone who, under any other circumstances, has been in a room with a
bunch of harmonica players probably experiences the usual fear and
dread - not of playing poorly but of being subjected to awful
playing. But I sat there in that circle of what, 40 players or more,
and with the exception of 1 or 2 beginners everyone who played was
not just good, but great. 14 year old kids, 90 year old seniors, big
names and unknowns - everyone had something different to say with
their instrument, and said it with great technical expertise and
wonderful musical feel. There was also tremendous respect and support
for everyone, beginners included.

I've been walking around listening in the hallways, meeting rooms,
everywhere - great harp players. It is truly an awe-inspiring and
humbling experience. Haven't been able to wipe the grin off my face yet!

AND I've had the pleasure of meeting so many of my customers for the
first time face to face.

Cheers

/Greg

http://www.blowsmeaway.com
http://www.bluestateband.net

From: Rusty Wilson <harpo...@hotmail.com>
Date: August 14, 2008 11:31:54 AM CDT
To: <har...@harp-l.org>
Subject: [Harp-L] SPAH Wednesday Night Blues Jam - holy smokes

Attended my first SPAH blues circle jam last night, and holy smokes,
those guys are good! I have read people's descriptions of these jams
over the years, and not having been to one myself, I always wondered,
"could those players really be as good as people say?" Now that I
have heard them for myself, I can answer the question - those guys
are EVEN BETTER than advertised! The tone, techniques, phrasing, and
musicianship... more than I could have imagined to put it briefly. I
won't start naming names because I would leave someone out (and as a
first-timer, I knew practically nobody), but it was just a room full
of monster players.

I also enjoyed meeting and sitting beside the hot-playing and highly
educational Michael Rubin, and it was a treat to meet KC-based harp
man Jimmie Meade in person for the first time.

It was a blast.

-Rusty

_______________________________________________