With a foundation in American blues, multi-instrumentalist Mahal built his music from many genres, constructing a sound that is uniquely his own. He is equal parts historian and innovator, keeping musical traditions alive by giving them a fresh voice and context. His catalogue is celebrated on Taj Mahal: The Complete Columbia Albums Collection. A comprehensive label anthology, the set contains thirteen albums (15 discs), including what many consider Taj Mahal's finest work, chronicling his recording career from its inception to worldwide acclaim. It also includes Rising Sons, his groundbreaking band collaboration with Ry Cooder. Though their mid-'60s recordings went unreleased at the time, their music was hugely influential on their peers, including the Rolling Stones, with whom both Mahal and Cooder soon collaborated. Sounder soundtrack marks the beginning of Mahal’s parallel occupation as a sought-after film score composer while the two-disc set The Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal 1969–1973 includes a full disc of previously unreleased studio material and a second disc which premiers a live concert recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in London on April 18, 1970.