Improvisations by Ron Wynn

Taj Mahal's music defies categorization     Henry Saint Clair Fredericks Jr., better known as Taj Mahal, ranks among the nation's finest and most versatile musicians.  Mahal, who'll be appearing in Nashville Monday as part of the Memorial Day Centennial Blues Festival, has excelled in numerous genres, and is both a wonderful singer and gifted instrumentalist.  While the blues have been a major part of his playing and vocal approach for decades, Mahal's fingerpicking style emphasizes the thumb and middle finger rather than the index finger. He also embraced global influences long before anyone coined the term "world music." Mahal's LPs have reflected elements of African, Asian, South Pacific and Caribbean music in addition to the blues on many occasions. He's among the more outspoken musicians. Mahal has  long spoken about his disappointment regarding the lack of support for the blues among younger generations of black listeners. He often links...