Even after thirty years behind a guitar you can't keep a good bluesman down. And here he is, in his trademark Hawaiian shirt, greying beard, shades and Blues Brothers style trilby hat - take those away and you wouldn't recognise the legendary Taj Mahal in the street.
But it's definitely him here tonight. And he's on fire. Not literally obviously, that would be hideous. Nope, Mr Mahal, who first emerged from the early Sixties folk scene, is still playing his blend of Southern blues, R&B, bluegrass and reggae with passion and a warm sense of fun.
A great bear of a man who dances like Baloo from the Jungle Book, cheekily wiggling his arse, slowly waving his arms above his head, Senor Blues -for tis he- clearly loves the music of his making as he flits from guitar to harmonica to between song banter, to percussion and back again.
The voice is as powerful, agile and moving as ever. From it's Barry White/Dr John ocean deep growl to Wilson Picket style screeching, it never fails to deliver tonight as he plugs his superb new live album 'Shoutin' In Key'.
From the tongue-in-cheek swagger of 'The Hoochi Coochi Coo', through robust, brass-fuelled renditions of James Brown's 'Think' and Otis' 'Mr Pitiful' to the beautifully tender reggae lilt of 'Queen Bee', Taj and his grimly earnest yet supremely tight combo are mighty fine tonight.
There's nowt so life-affirming as an evening of gritty soul, hearfelt blues and authentic R&B (not that R Kelly/TLC style nonsense that passes for R&B these days). Long may Taj Mahal dole out the goods with aplomb.
IMAGES: HAYLEY MADDEN
