One of the wonders of the music world, Taj Mahal, 83, returns to Atlanta

Part of that travel brings Mahal to Atlanta for a Thursday performance at Variety Playhouse alongside his long-running Phantom Blues Band, with Grenadian-Canadian musician Kaia Kater set to open.

Credit: Photo by Mike Coeyman

Credit: Photo by Mike Coeyman

As a musician who began touring in the 1960s, the Massachusetts-raised, California-based Mahal has spent plenty of time in the area, with particularly fond memories of staying at the former Paschal’s Motor Hotel. “I used to come to Atlanta a lot more than I have in recent years,” Mahal said. “Played at different places around but I’ve always had a good time there.”

It was at a festival here, in fact, that the singer and multi-instrumentalist first suggested to fellow bluesman Keb’ Mo’ that they join forces to make music. Billed as TajMo, the pair has recorded and released two acclaimed albums to date, most recently last year’s Grammy-nominated “Room on the Porch.”

The title track, a fiddle-flecked ode to openness and Southern hospitality (“there’s room on the porch for everyone”) co-written by Mahal and Mo’ with Nashville singer Ruby Amanfu, was the centerpiece of a performance the duo gave at the Grand Ole Opry last year.

Mahal’s musical journey began with the influence of his parents, to whom he dedicated the 2023 album “Savoy,” a dive into pop and jazz standards such as “Sweet Georgia Brown.” He began performing R&B and blues rock in his late teens, moving to California in the mid-’60s and linking up with guitar wizards such as Ry Cooder and Jesse Ed Davis. His early California years included a stretch of opening for Georgia legend Otis Redding on the Sunset Strip. “It was one of the most amazing shows,” Mahal said. “Incredible, absolutely incredible.”

In 1968, he released a highly regarded cover of Blind Willie McTell’s “Statesboro Blues,” first recorded by McTell in Atlanta in October 1928. The Allman Brothers Band was inspired to cover the song after seeing Mahal and Davis perform it live.

Mahal and band (including Davis) linked up with the Rolling Stones in London later in 1968, performing four songs at what became known as “The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus.” Its film release was shelved for decades because of the Stones’ rough, crack of dawn performances, which contrasted sharply with blistering sets from Mahal and the Who.

“Mick and Keith were good for their word,” said Mahal about the band sending first-class tickets to the U.K. “We went over there and had a wonderful time. We were kinda stunned that it took so long (for the film, released in 1996) to come out.”

Credit: Photo by Mike Coeyman

Credit: Photo by Mike Coeyman

The following decades found Mahal exploring African, Jamaican, Indian and Hawaiian music, the latter connected to his residence in the 50th state for a number of years. He continued to play a host of instruments, and even today is happy to pick up and pick whatever’s closest to him at his house. “I’ll hear some ideas in my head and come home and pick up a banjo and go off on that,” he said. “Or ukulele, or mandolin. It’s constant movement of things being worked out.”

Given his expertise in ethnomusicology and embrace of countless styles, Mahal was a natural choice to participate in the acclaimed 2017 American Epic sessions for the documentary and audio recordings of the same name. Using rebuilt 1920s recording technology (with only one microphone), a variety of modern musicians recorded new songs and older material as a tribute to the pioneers featured in a parallel documentary about early folk music recordings and the artists who made them.

Mahal recorded several songs at the sessions, most notably a monumental cover of Charley Patton’s 1929 blues epic “High Water Everywhere,” a chronicle of the 1927 Great Mississippi Flood’s disproportionate effect on African Americans. Additionally, he played ukulele on the Hawaiians’ rendering of “Tomi Tomi.”

“To be placed in front of how it started is always great,” said Mahal, reflecting on the experience. “Anytime I’ve had the opportunity to fall back into some earlier technology that was capturing the music, that just makes it that much better.”

Mahal has a number of releases in the pipeline, starting with “Time,” recorded in 2010 and set for a May 1 release. Its title track was written and recorded first (but never released) by late soul legend Bill Withers, who gave his blessing to the cover before his death in 2020.

Mahal’s current tour is set to go through July, after which he will begin a series of shows with Keb’ Mo’ in support of “Room on the Porch.” In the meantime, he’s ready to bring a night of the blues back to Atlanta, as ever forgoing a set list and playing what he and the band feel in the moment.

“Jazz gives you back your mind. Reggae, it gives you back your body,” he said. “But the blues will give you back your soul.”

CONCERT PREVIEW

Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band

With special guest Kaia Kater. 8 p.m. Thursday (doors open at 7 p.m.). All ages. Starting at $64. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. NE, Atlanta. variety-playhouse.com.