by Mercy Moosemuzzle - SGN Contributing Writer

Taj Mahal
Mercy found Taj Mahal's performance at Jazz Alley on December 13 very gratifying. It was an evening of upbeat blues. His musicians - Bill Rich on bass and Kester Smith on drums - assisted him ably. His keyboards were amazing and featured on his opening piece by Little Walter, 'Blues with a Feeling.'

An audience member called out, 'It's good to have you back!'

Taj said, 'It's good to be back.' He explained he usually spends Thanksgiving week at Jazz Alley, but this year he had been on a tour of Europe and Scandinavia.

He switched to a hot electric guitar for 'TV Mama' by Big Joe Turner. 'I'm Going to Change My Way of Living' by Richard Betts was slow and soulful - a nice contrast. 'Annie Mae' went back to the fast pace, and 'Blues Without Blame' by Steve Miller stayed there. 'Stealin',' a traditional folk song associated with the Grateful Dead, followed.

He switched to a very sweet acoustic guitar for 'Fishing Blues.' That was one of his most famous songs. 'There Ain't a Woman in 14' mixed up the flavor nicely. 'Corrina' is another well-known song by Taj, and was Mercy's favorite. 'Good Morning, Miss Brown' followed nicely.

He went back to the electric guitar for a slow, pleasing instrumental original, 'Zanzibar.' Also slow was 'Blues on the Banjo,' played, appropriately, on the banjo. He stayed on the banjo for the more upbeat 'You Do the Time You Done the Crime.'

Taj went back to the piano for 'Deed I Do.' He stayed there for 'Sweet Honey in My Soul,' a strong closer. 'Lovin' in My Baby's Eyes' was a slow romantic encore and a nice place to leave the evening.

Goldenseal
Mercy got wrapped up in Gill McKnight's Goldenseal. The story is about Amy Fortune, who is a botanical illustrator, and Leone Garoul, her ex, to whom she has come back to help with a publishing project. The details of art and the woodsy setting were apt. The sex scenes were fun. Mercy has a pet peeve about the ambiguous pronouns this book uses. There was a plot point she didn't think added up. The narrative took a turn Mercy hadn't predicted.

Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band
Mercy and Cuteness are very much looking forward to Poncho Sanchez at Jazz Alley. Sanchez's congas are phenomenal. He is backed up dynamically by Joey De Leon (timbales), Rene Camacho (bass), Ron Blake (trumpet), Robert Hardt (alto and tenor saxophone), Francisco Torres (trombone), Jose Rodriguez (bongos), and Andy Langham (piano). Sanchez and his ensemble won the Grammy for Best Latin Jazz album for Latin Soul. Mercy likes their powerful sound and danceable salsa rhythms.

They will be there December 28-30. You can get your tickets at jazzalley.com.

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