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- Summary: The Grammy-winning blues artist releases his first studio album in five years, featuring appearances by Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Los Lobos, and Ziggy Marley.
- Record Label: Heads Up
- Genre(s): Blues
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
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Positive: 2 out of 6
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Mixed: 4 out of 6
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Negative: 0 out of 6
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Maestro never sounds the least bit unfocused. Being eclectic comes naturally to Mahal, who sees to it that Maestro is a consistently engaging celebration of his 40th year as a recording artist.
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The album is a refreshing reminder that, in the right hands, the blues is very much a living genre that need not be stuck in a formulaic 12-bar past.
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This album is a testament that shows Mahal can still make a solid folk blues record. One just presumes a maestro should do more than that.
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MojoHearing Mahal mimic African Blues players is usually fun, but 'Zanzibar' is underwhelming. But when Ben Harper turns his guitar up, things get interesting. [Nov 2008, p.116]
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It's an entertaining set, and makes an intriguing contrast to his early classic, "The Natch'l Blues," recorded back in 1968 and now rereleased, with light, rhythmic songs like 'Corinna' or 'She Caught the Katy' and 'Left Me a Mule to Ride' still sounding as fresh as ever.
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UncutAs a studio album it's dull and rather pointless. [Dec 2008, p.116]
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