Multi-Grammy Award-winning blues legend Taj Mahal and his Quartet rolled into Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway, NJ on Wednesday. After dancing and shuffling to his position centerstage, surrounded by a half-dozen guitars, banjos, and mandolins, the maestro began his set within the blues genre before his Hawaiian influences crashed over the audience like waves on a beach. In his vibrant style, the wise storyteller mixed jokes, memories, and inspirational tidbits to paint a colorful and diverse collage representing his global influences and musical knowledge.

The Taj Mahal Quartet—consisting of multi-instrumentalist Taj Mahal, bassist Bill Rich, guitarist and lap steel master Bobby Ingano, and percussionist Kester Smith—opened the show with “Slow Drag” off 2008’s Grammy-nominated album, Maestro. Taj proclaimed that he was going to “bring the baby out here” as he traded his banjo for a mandolin for a classic take on “Wild About My Lovin’” before switching instruments once more for “Done Changed My Way of Living”. Taj brought out his metal hollow-bodied guitar for this tune—off 1968’s The Natch’l Blues—and would favor this instrument for most of the show.

A well-known cover of “Fishing Blues”—written by Chris Smith in 1911 and first recorded by Henry Thomas in 1928—led into fan favorites “Corinna” and “Queen Bee”. Staying within the blues realm, Taj wiped the sweat from his brow as he unearthed a diamond in the rough with Chuck Willis’ “Betty and Dupree” before returning to his own repertoire for a hearty serving of “Lovin’ in my Baby’s Eyes”.

Taj Mahal – “Betty And Dupree” (Chuck Willis) – 7/20/22

[Video: The Gumba Gumbas]

Taj Mahal introduced the traditional masterpiece “Stagger Lee” with the preamble, “In the history of bad men who have emerged in different genres of music, blues, and country blues, few can compare to him.” Breaking the silence between songs as Taj switched guitars, Bobby Ingano teased “Gloria” and provided the catalyst for Taj to respond with a quick tease of Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.”

Related: Watch Taj Mahal Share Secrets Of Cooking Good BBQ, Memories Of Duane & Gregg Allman At LOCKN’ [Pro-Shot]

Switching gears, Taj Mahal injected island vibes into the setlist with tropical-inspired performances of “Sailing into Walker’s Cay” and the instrumental “When I Feel the Sea Beneath My Soul.” Returning back to his blues roots, “CC Rider” gave Taj Mahal a chance to flash a guitar solo before returning to the island with consecutive instrumentals “Twilight in Hawaii” and “Sleep Walk”. Both songs featured Bobby Ingano on lap steel. As Taj explained between songs, the stock market crash of 1929 brought the world of recording music away from the wealthy society and that it was a pivotal time in music history as America “started listening to itself.”

Rounding out the lengthy set, the Taj Mahal Quartet performed the traditional “Blackjack Davey” and followed with a heartwarming reminder to “Take a Giant Step” (“outside your mind”). Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, this tune was first recorded by The Monkees in 1966. Back to his own repertoire, Taj Mahal closed out the show with the uplifting piece “Everybody is Somebody”.

Taj Mahal Quartet has a loaded touring schedule ahead with upcoming stops on the East Coast at Newport Folk Festival on Friday (7/22) before heading to Portsmouth, NH on July 23rd; Westhampton Beach, NY on July 24th; Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY on July 26th; and Norwalk, CT on July 27th. For a full breakdown of the tour schedule and dates, click here. Taj Mahal is the embodiment of musical history, breathing the ancient knowledge of music’s earliest known songs to life. Thank you, Taj, for the energy and inspiration.

Setlist: Taj Mahal | Union County Performing Arts Center | Rahway, NJ | 7/20/22

Slow Drag, Wild About My Lovin’, Done Changed My Way of Living, Fishing Blues, Corinna, Queen Bee, Betty and Dupree, Lovin’ In My Baby’s Eyes, Stagger Lee, Sailing into Walker’s Cay, When I Feel The Sea Beneath My Soul, CC Rider, Twilight in Hawaii, Sleep Walk, Blackjack Davey, Giant Step, Everybody is Somebody