All-Star Musicians Honor Berkeley Blues Legend Taj Mahal at San Francisco Benefit Concert

Berkeley-based blues legend Taj Mahal received a star-studded tribute Saturday night at The Masonic in San Francisco, where Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Joan Baez and Van Morrison joined platinum-selling artist Hozier and other notable musicians for a 3½-hour celebration.

“This is off the charts,” Taj Mahal told the capacity crowd during “A Night to Honor Taj Mahal,” according to a review of the concert.

The tribute show doubled as a benefit for the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, which provides services and financial assistance to musicians and others working in the music industry, according to the organization’s website at sweetrelief.org.

The evening featured Bay Area musical greats alongside artists who have drawn inspiration from Taj Mahal’s work over the years. The lineup included blues performers like Otis Taylor and Lady Bianca, country musician Will Hoge, and Oakland’s Alvin Youngblood Hart, according to the review.

Most artists performed one to two songs each, supported by a house band. Taj Mahal, who incorporates reggae, jazz, gospel, calypso, Afro-Caribbean and Hawaiian sounds into his music, sat in with several performers and also played solo sets throughout the night.

The concert’s first major highlight came when Taj Mahal joined Van Morrison for rock ‘n’ roll and R&B songs including Little Richard’s “Lucille” and the Big Joe Turner favorite “Shake, Rattle & Roll,” according to the review. The performance drew Joan Baez onto the stage, where she began dancing to the music and received cheers from the audience.

Morrison did not appear again after his early set and was notably absent from the evening’s finale, according to the review.

Taj Mahal later performed with Bay Area legend Maria Muldaur on his love song “Baby, You’re My Destiny.”

“Are you ready?” Taj Mahal asked the folk, pop and blues vocalist, according to the review.

“As ready as I will ever be,” Muldaur responded.

Little Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band brought garage rock energy to Taj Mahal’s “Give Your Woman What She Wants,” while George Thorogood performed the Willie Dixon-penned “Howlin’ for My Baby” and the country blues classic “Midnight Special,” according to the review.

The concert faced typical challenges of all-star tribute shows, including pacing issues, lengthy stage changeovers, and organizational difficulties that come with managing numerous performers and limited rehearsal time, according to the review.

Despite these production challenges, the evening delivered more highlights than mediocre moments, with only one significant misstep occurring during the show’s finale, according to the review.

The tribute celebrated Taj Mahal’s influence on multiple generations of musicians, from fellow blues artists to contemporary pop stars like Hozier, whose hit “Take Me to Church” has established him as a first-tier arena headliner.

The concert showcased the breadth of Taj Mahal’s impact on the music world while raising funds for musicians in need through the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. The organization provides crucial support to music industry professionals facing financial hardship or health challenges.

The Masonic venue provided an intimate setting for fans to witness collaborations between established legends and contemporary artists, all united in honoring one of the Bay Area’s most influential musical figures.