There were some who feared that Jonathan Holden's celebrated Rhythm & Roots concert series would end when he died in January.
But his widow, Susan Holden, was determined to finish what Holden had started. Without missing a beat, she reached out to the artists signed on for the 2011-12 season, and all but one of the remaining acts agreed to make their dates. The act that pulled out has rescheduled for October.
Next Thursday, blues and roots legend Taj Mahal closes out the season with his trio at the Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St.
Mahal's shows are like a history lesson on blues, exploring the genre's birthplace in African-American folk music and gospel spirituals and its flowering in early jazz and contemporary music.
But Mahal takes it a step further, reinterpreting the blues by borrowing influences from zydeco, reggae, rhythm and calypso packaged with some impressive guitar chops.
His show next Thursday starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $28-$86 through www.foxtucsontheatre.org
Holden said she is planning the 2012-13 Rhythm & Roots series, which will include collaborations with other Tucson concert presenters.
Next up is a show June 15 with the Fremonts featuring Mighty Joe Milsap and special guest Bob Corritore at the Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites, 5151 E. Grant Road. Tickets are $18 at www.rhythmandroots.org or $20 at the door.
Cathalena E. Burch
