Article Contributed by Mike
Published on 2026-03-10
Photo: Courtesy of Z2 Entertainment
Z2 Entertainment presents an extraordinary evening of blues, roots, and American musical heritage as Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ bring their celebrated TajMo collaboration to Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder, Colorado on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Doors open at 6:00 pm with the show beginning at 7:00 pm.
Tickets go on sale Friday, March 13 at 10:00 am and can be purchased HERE. This performance is open to all ages.
Few partnerships in modern roots music carry the depth, history, and musical mastery of Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’. Their acclaimed TajMo collaboration unites two of the most respected figures in American blues and roots music, artists whose careers have collectively shaped the sound of modern blues, folk, and Americana.
Taj Mahal has spent more than six decades exploring the global roots of blues music, tracing its connections across the American South, the Caribbean, Africa, and beyond. A towering musical figure, Taj has expanded the language of the blues not by abandoning tradition but by revealing its vast cultural reach.
“I just want to be able to make the music that I’m hearing come to me,” Taj says, reflecting on his lifelong creative philosophy. “The music comes from somewhere. You’re just the conduit it comes through. You’re there to receive the gift.”
Born in Harlem in 1942 to a jazz pianist father with Caribbean roots and a gospel-singing schoolteacher mother from South Carolina, Taj Mahal grew up immersed in music, culture, and history. His family later moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, a vibrant cultural crossroads where musicians from across the globe gathered for neighborhood jam sessions and living-room dance parties.
The blues quickly became his musical compass. Even as other musicians explored different sounds, Taj gravitated toward the emotional depth and cultural lineage embedded within blues traditions. By the mid-1960s he had relocated to Los Angeles, forming the Rising Sons with guitarist Ry Cooder and launching a career that would soon reshape the perception of American roots music.
His 1967 debut album announced the arrival of a bold young bluesman, followed by The Natch’l Blues and the expansive double album Giant Step / De Ole Folks at Home. Throughout the 1970s and beyond, Taj continued expanding the boundaries of blues by incorporating global sounds including Caribbean rhythms, reggae, calypso, jazz, and African musical traditions.
Over the decades Taj Mahal has earned five GRAMMY Awards and 16 nominations, membership in the Blues Hall of Fame, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association, and recognition as a 2025 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement honoree. Yet for Taj, the motivation has always been deeper than accolades.
“It’s not a hunger or a thirst,” he says of his creative drive. “It’s just more knowledge of self — realizing that almost everything is right here.”
Joining him for this special evening is blues master Keb’ Mo’, whose remarkable career spans nearly five decades and includes five GRAMMY Awards and fourteen Blues Foundation Awards.
Born and raised in Compton, California, Keb’ Mo’ first gained national attention with his widely acclaimed 1994 self-titled debut album, which introduced audiences to his distinctive blend of traditional blues, folk, and contemporary songwriting. His 1996 album Just Like You earned his first GRAMMY Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album and launched a career defined by innovation and musical versatility.
Since then, Keb’ Mo’ has topped the Billboard Blues Chart multiple times, collaborated with artists including Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, The Chicks, and Lyle Lovett, and performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to The White House. His songs have been recorded by artists as diverse as B.B. King and Zac Brown, while his compositions have appeared in television series such as Mike and Molly, Memphis Beat, and B Positive.
The partnership between Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ first came together with their 2017 collaborative album TajMo, which earned a GRAMMY Award and quickly became a landmark moment in modern blues. Their musical chemistry bridges generations of blues history while continuing to push the genre forward.
Beyond music, Keb’ Mo’ has also devoted significant energy to philanthropy and arts education. As a longtime ambassador for the Playing For Change Foundation and a mentor with the Kennedy Center’s Turnaround Arts program, he has helped expand access to music education for children around the world.
Together, Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ represent two living pillars of American roots music — artists who honor tradition while continually exploring new musical ground. Their appearance at Chautauqua Auditorium promises an evening of masterful musicianship, storytelling, and the timeless power of the blues.
Event Details
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Chautauqua Auditorium – Boulder, CO
Doors: 6:00 pm
Show: 7:00 pm
All Ages
Tickets on sale Friday, March 13 at 10:00 am
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