Mr. Henry St. Claire Fredericks Jr. (b. 5/7/42,) better known by his stage name Taj Mahal, is an American blues musician. He plays the guitar, piano, banjo, harmonica, and many other instruments, often incorporating elements of world music into his work. Mahal has done much to reshape the definition and scope of blues music over the course of his more than 50-year career by fusing it with nontraditional forms, including sounds from the Caribbean, Africa, India, Hawaii, and the South Pacific.
Wikipedia has a wealth of information on Taj Mahal that will have you marveling about his musical history that started when he was a small child.
Taj’ musical output is stunning over his 50 plus years of being in the music business. His name is very familiar to me, but not much beyond that. I do remember seeing him not all that long ago in a very good documentary on Native American musicians, connected with Jesse Ed Davis, who I first saw playing on George Harrison and Friends Concert for Bangladesh. Jesse Ed played together with Taj on multiple albums.
For some reason, “Queen Bee” showed up in SRR, even though it is from Senor Blues, released in 1997. BTW, Senor Blues won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 40th Grammy Awards back then. I learned that the live version I’m including in the YouTube is from the January 24, 2024 released album, “The Taj Mahal Swingin’ Sextet Live at the Church in Tulsa.” From Taj’ website, I found this blurb:
With his latest release, Swingin’ Live at the Church in Tulsa, Taj adds to his legendary legacy with an extraordinary set recorded at the Tulsa studio best known as the home base of the late, great Leon Russell. The ten songs reach across multiple genres that he has explored in his incomparable career, and feature his long-time quartet—bassist Bill Rich, drummer Kester Smith, and guitarist/Hawaiian lap steel player Bobby Ingano—augmented by dobro player Rob Ickes and guitarist and vocalist Trey Hensley.
There is so much to love about this song. The guitar work, the lyrics, and how Taj sings it. It’s a love song like no other. Give it a listen and see what you think. And drummer, Kester Smith, is on it!
Sweeter than a honey bee, yeah, baby been sweet on me
Sweeter than a honey bee, yeah, my queen bee
Oh she rock me to my soul, oh love me to my soul
Oh she rock me to my soul, oh she rock me to my soul
She’s a strutter, she can shake it some yeah
Watch her now, look at her run
Strut now and shake it some, dancing having fun
She rock me to my soul, oh she love me to my soul
Oh rock me to my soul, oh love me to my soul
Honey in the honey pot, oh and the pot, the pot is hot
Honey in the honey pot, oh and the pot is what you got
To love, to rock me to my soul
Oh love me to my soul, oh rock me to my soul
Oh rock me to my soul
Baby won’t you come by me yeah, spare me all this misery
Sugar won’t you come by me, oh I know you’ll agree, ‘gree, ‘gree, ‘gree
To love me to my soul, oh to rock me to my soul
Oh rock me to my soul, oh love me to my soul
Sweeter than a honey bee oh, baby been sweet on me
Sweeter than a honey bee oh, my queen bee
Oh she rock me to my soul, oh love me to my soul
Oh she rock me to my soul, oh rock me to my soul
These songs were made for lovers
Lovers and lovers and lovers and lovers and lovers
And lovers and lovers and lovers, And lovers and lovers
My soul, my soul
Queen bee
Queen
Songwriter: Henry St. Claire Fredericks Jr. aka Taj Mahal
UPDATE: Just today had a chance to try to look a little closer for information on drummer, Kester Smith. To my unhappiness, I learned that he passed away on January 14 of this year, just 10 days before the release of the album. Heaven just got itself a divine drummer. My condolences to Mr. Smith’s loved ones and to the sextet. You are going to have to search for awhile to fill those sticks.
ANOTHER UPDATE ON 031424:
I found Kester’s obituary, which has a lot more info in it about his musical career. I knew the moment I heard the drums in this song that this was an individual whom I needed to know more about. To meet his music now, just as he passed on, is so sad.
Read the obit here.
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Taj Mahal has been around for years but I’ve never really followed his career in music.
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Yes, over 50 years. I think it’s time I learned a little more about his music. This song is fantastic.
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I like it! Very nice and thanks for the share!
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You’re welcome :)
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I really liked his work with Jesse Ed Davis (the first album of his I owned was 1969’s “De Ole Folks at Home/Giant Step” – one side solo acoustic – often with banjo – the other electric with band including Davis). Also interesting was 1971’s “The Real Thing” with lots of brass, including four tubas at times.
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Steve good to learn more info on Taj and Jesse Ed. He’s got powerful juju and can only imagine how strong it was when he was a young man. After learning where this recording came from I decided to pre-order the album (CD.) The ensemble he has there is fantastic! I need to learn more about that drummer.
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Always enjoy a little Taj every now and again. I’d say the man has not lost his touch, thanks Lisa I had not got round to listening to this!
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As I just mentioned to Steve, I pre-ordered the album (CD) of this live performance and it is supposed to ship next week.
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Oh well I can’t remember the last time I bought a CD! Let us know what you think.
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I will, Randy. Actually I’ve started buying music again. Right now I’m listening to Idles’ new one, Tangk. It’s brilliant!
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I could easily add this tune to a blues playlist :)
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It’s been my earworm for days now. Excellent tune by an excellent ensemble.
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It does drag on a tad too long (so I pressed send) to shut him up ;-)
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LMAO!
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😁
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You know I love this guy…him and Ry Cooder go together for me…
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They did go together – I’ll have more on Monday.
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:) cool!
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cool!
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I can see the connection for sure, Max.
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This guy!!! He’s so good!!!
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YES! And look at the players he has assembled. The full rich sound in a place that doesn’t look like it was designed for sound recordings.
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Senor Blues is a great album. One of many. Taj is a treasure. (K)
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You’re so far ahead of me in music knowledge. Too much music too little time.
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Everyone I knew was in a band in high school, and many continued making music for a long time after. They kept introducing me to new music. Also, FM radio was much more free back then. No one telling you (or the DJs) what you might like/should listen to. They played everything, all genres, whatever caught their ear. And I spent a lot of time listening to the radio.
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I remember those FM radio days also. The golden years of radio. Are there any of those kinds of channels in NYC left?
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The one “alternative” station has a playlist now too. It’s different than top 40 radio, but it’s still a playlist. Very depressing.
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:(
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I’ve really come to dig Taj Mahal, who perhaps isn’t your “typical blues artist.” He frequently blends blues with world music. While I had known of him for many years, Mahal really entered my radar screen in 2017 when he released his great collaboration about “TajMo” with Keb’ Mo’, another artist I really like!
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Another one to seek out when there is time. Glad you are familiar with his music stylings and collaborations beyone Jesse Ed Davis.
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Have you ever listened to any songs from the “TajMo”? I liked it so much that I decided to see Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ during their tour that supported the album! :-)
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Thanks for the link, Christian. Just checked it out. Good concert to be able to attend!
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Thanks, Lisa. And not that I want to “check on you”, but did you also watch the clip of Jontavious Willis? He’s incredible!
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TMMTLT (too much music too little time) Sorry :)
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I know this feeling. That said, when you have a chance, check him out, especially if you dig country blues. At that concert, he was all by himself with just an acoustic guitar. That’s literally all he needed. Taj Mahal has called him “wunderkind”. :-)
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Love me some blues! 💙
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Taj & Crew do it up right here <3
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Yup!
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I’m hooked on this song! Have listened to it many times since posting this.
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I figured that. Good tradition,
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The venue, the church in Tulsa, was renovated (guessing for acoustics) in 2022. The production quality is excellent!
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I meant that comment for the Jones take.
Ry and Taj have a recent one Ive been listening to.
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Will have to seek out the Ry and Taj one.
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