Richard BodinEight years ago, Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ joined forces to create a strong collaborative album under the moniker TajMo. It wasn’t the best work of either artist, but we’re talking about two living legends of blues music. Naturally, TajMo won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. At the time, both considered it a one-off. However, they enjoyed the experience so much that when the opportunity rose again, they embraced it and have now released Room on the Porch.
Warmth and Welcome
It’s a fitting name for a fitting album. The music feels like home—warm and welcoming. And because there’s room on the porch, they bring other artists along for the jam. The title track, for example, featuring Ruby Amanfu, came about very organically in the studio.
“That song started out as a little guitar piece I used to play by myself after shows when I was still wired from the stage,” Taj recalls. “I shared it with everybody in the studio, and then Keb’ and Ruby built this whole beautiful song around it.” It feels like a real invitation to drop what you’re doing, sit down with these wonderful people, and enjoy some Southern hospitality.
Songs of Love, Loss, and Life
In this homey comfort, we can relax, sit back, and let ourselves be carried away by the music. Taj and Keb sing about friendship, family, and love. In “My Darling My Dear” or “She Keeps Me Moving,” they show how love can be bright and wonderful—a guiding light through life. But they also show its painful side. In “Junkyard Dog,” they capture the heartbreak that follows betrayal or loss. The joy turns to sorrow. The porch turns cold.
They help us, like friends would, work things out and navigate overwhelming hurdles in “Make Up Your Mind”. “Blood Is Thicker Than Mud” reminds you that family will always be there. In the wonderful “Blues Will Give You Back Your Soul,” they remind us that blues music can help mend what’s broken. Because even if rock ‘n’ roll is your jam, jazz gets you back your mind, or reggae revives your body—ultimately, blues is all about healing the soul when love hurts.
Blues, Roots, and Beyond
Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ have spent decades playing the most beautiful blues there is. Room on the Porch celebrates that legacy. Room on the Porch is a celebration—not just of blues past and present—but of the roots and branches of all music born from the African diaspora.
As Taj explains: “If you take the African imprint out of Western music for the last 500 years, there’s almost nothing left. As much as it might feel like we’re touching on all these different genres, the way I see it, we’re just connecting with the music of our ancestors and their influence on what’s happening now. That’s what gives me energy and keeps me excited.”
Conclusion: A Seat by the Soul
This new album is not revolutionary, nor could it really close to any of Taj or Keb’s best work. But it still has a lot to give and enjoy… With Room on the Porch, Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ invite us into their world not just to listen, but to feel, reflect, and heal. It’s an album built on kindness, wisdom, and groove—proof that the blues, in the right hands, is not just alive but deeply restorative. There’s a seat waiting, and the music’s already playing.
