Taj Malah concerts are legendary and, for me, a soulful, personal connection to self. The anticipation for this concert was huge, as he has many Grammys, a large following, and relatable lyrics. Preparation was beyond the normal process of selecting a close location to the stage and gathering friends and snacks. It was a trip and opportunity to recharge life with positive wonders yet to be seen. This audience was tight – a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd. Yet, as I roamed the venue, there was always space for one more.
The Monophonics opened the concert with a soulful, passionate jam. As Bay Area locals, they entered their Stern Grove backyard with adventurous, psychedelic excitement. Their musical range was vast yet remained true to classic soul sounds. The horn rhythm section was a vibrant wake-up/stand-up call, enhanced with the voices of angelic backup singers. The lead vocalist, Kelly Finnigan, gave the songs fun and sharp meaning. Their live performance was a moving excitement to dance versus the relaxing sway of the album.
The final song, “Last One Standing,” left everyone dancing with applause.
Set List:
*Sage Motel
Suffocating
Chances
*shape of teardrops
*Love you better
It’s only us
*Warpaint
*crash and burn
Last one standing
*Sage Motel Album
DJ SHORTKUT bridged the next musical phase with familiar dance and soul tunes.
When Taj Malah entered, an invisible, inaudible shimmer into the bones, announcing something was about to change. As he settled in, he greeted the crowd as an old family friend. The set blended a familiar story themed as a seductive soul awakening with a sense of home. His conversations were poignant and brief between a short set of songs. Taj would remind us, “Jazz is for the mind, Reggae is for the body, and the Blues are for the soul …The soul is our true -home sweet home-..” and familiar family character nicknames.. .. and odd stories from family vacations. He would then ease into singing, “take a jog outside your mind, come on with yesterday, wonders to be seen.” He accompanied the sweet words with a Hawaiian, bluesy groove bringing the tropics to the venue. As he introduced the ensemble, there was repeated mention of the 60 years together and from the start: Bill Rich (Bass) and Kester Smith (Drums), and Bobby Ingano ( a welcoming new addition.)
He did bring in a bit of humor as he paused for a 4-minute countdown until the next song would be a 100 years old. A comforting reminder of respect for the related ancestry of music.
The key phrase from the last song “this is a mean old world – give back to yourself”. This is a reminder the blues will always bring your soul home. Grateful for the sweet musical experience it was.
