Since he first began making records, like 1969's Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home, Taj Mahal has been one the world's most prominent blues stylists and storytellers. Since those early days, he's expanded his sound to include everything from calypso and reggae, trad jazz, gospel, R&B, and zydeco to various Pacific Islander and West African cultures. While albums such as 1971's The Real Thing, 1974's Mo' Roots, and 1976's Music Fuh Ya' (Musica Para Tu) have shown off his range, Mahal never strayed far from country-blues as on 1996's Phantom Blues and 1997's Senor Blues. He's also...