The Taj Mahal Sextet’s Swingin’ Live at the Church in Tulsa won the Best Traditional Blues Album Grammy Award. The award was announced on February 2, 2025.
Swingin’ Live at the Church in Tulsa captures a live performance at the historic Tulsa studio once home to Leon Russell. The album features ten tracks spanning multiple genres, performed by his long-time quartet, bassist Bill Rich, drummer Kester Smith, and guitarist/lap steel player Bobby Ingano, along with dobro player Rob Ickes and guitarist/vocalist Trey Hensley.
With a career spanning nearly 50 albums over seven decades, Taj Mahal has been a pivotal figure in expanding the blues’ reach. Rooted in traditional country blues, his work integrates reggae, Latin, R&B, Cajun, Caribbean, gospel, West African, jazz, calypso, and Hawaiian slack-key influences.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central