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‘Let It Go’ has a nice cool Latin jazz type vibe with some lovely extenuated bass sounds going on.
‘I Want To Be In Love’ definitely has a 1960’s Yardbirds style about it. There is a nice touch of
slide guitar on the rootsy closing number ‘You Are My Love’.

Richard Townend’s strength lies in his songwriting. Here he has put together an album of well
constructed songs with some intelligent lyrics that can really keep the listener tuned in. At times

Richard’s songs bring to mind the likes of Mark Knopfler, Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello.

Richard is also no mean guitarist. He has an almost effortless style to his playing and uses an
array of tones and effects that work so well with the songs. He is ably supported by Matt Gillam
on bass and Mark Hall on drums and with some keys and backing vocals on there too what we
have here is a well rounded finely produced album. Don’t get too hung up on genres, I’m sure you
blues fans out there will enjoy this album as much as I did, so go give it a spin.

Ged Wilson

The Taj Mahal Swingin’ Sextet—Live At The Church In Tul-

sa—Lightning Rod Records
Taj Mahal needs no introduction as he is a true veteran and

stalwart of the Blues scene worldwide. This latest offering as the
name suggests is recorded live in Tulsa with his six piece band.

The album opens with Taj shouting, “can I get a big yeah from ya!
I’m talking about a Oklahoma yeah!”. This whips the crowd into
a frenzy as he rolls out ‘Betty And Dupree’. Next up is his classic

tune, ‘Mailbox Blues’ which really gets your foot tapping. There
is a great vibe to ‘Queen Bee’ that just seems to carry you along
before hitting a more country feel with ‘Lovin’ In My Baby’s Eyes’
where he shares vocals with Trey Hensley. ‘Waiting For My Papa To Come Home’ is a nice and

gentle laid back pedal steel guitar led instrumental tune.

‘Slow Drag’ features some nice resonator guitar whilst Taj shares the vocals once again on the
blues classic ‘Sittin’ On Top Of The World’. ‘Twilight In Hawaii’ is a pedal steel guitar led
instrumental that has that Hawaiian sound to it. Another Taj classic ‘Corrina’ has a Van Morrison

feel to it before closing the show to rapturous applause with the barrelhouse blues number
‘Mean Old World’.

When I listen to a live album I want to get a sense of actually being there and that really comes
across with this album. Having seen Taj Mahal play live a few times in the past I can visualise his
huge stage presence right here on this album.

Taj has this great rich seasoned vocal that has that believed, lived in blues, legend type vibe

about it. He is ably supported here with top musicians that pull together to make this whole
album so enjoyable. This album may be rooted in the old style of blues from the 60’s and 70’s but
it has stood the test of time and sounds assured and so right for today’s audience to enjoy. Go

give it a spin and hear the master at work.
Ged Wilson