Taj Mahal

As a musician, you ought not name yourself after one of the wonders of the ancient world unless a) you’re damn sure of yourself and b) you’re going to be playing for a long time and assume iconic status. Taj easily meets both criteria: His ego’s as big as the stogies he smokes, and his tunes have taken him about as far as a folk-blues musician not named Dylan can go. His polyglot, border-crossing music takes from the American South, Africa, the Carribbean, Hawaii, Cuba, and beyond, and his proficiency on twenty-plus instruments, starting with his trademark Dobro, can be stunning. Throw in a rich, gruff but honeyed voice and an occasional whistling solo, and there’s no doubt he’s still got what it takes to cast a spell in concert. 651-290-1221, www.fitzgeraldtheater.org