Matt LuceyIntro to the band
Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks formed the band “The Tedeschi Trucks Band” in 2010. A married couple, with a shared love for music, this dynamic duo took the blues world by storm. The couple got married in 2001, bonded by a shared passion for the same kind of music. For years, the two worked separately, touring with their respective bands, until a combined tour in 2008. This tour led to the merging of forces and subsequent formation of the Tedeschi Trucks band in 2010. The release of their debut album in 2011, titled “Revelator“, was a statement of intent from the band. This album would later win them the Grammy award for Best Blues album.
Before the Union
Both Derek and Susan had storied careers prior to this too. Derek trucks notably played amongst legends from a young age, including Buddy Guy, Bob Dylan and Joe Walsh. This is in addition to his studio time with Clapton and JJ Cale, as well as touring with The Allman Brothers. No one can doubt his credentials with a track record like that (pun intended). Susan similarly saw success prior to the union. Being immersed in the Boston Gospel scene from a young age, attending Berklee College of Music and touring extensively, Tedeschi had also established her talent beyond any doubt.
Pinnacle of the Band
Far from a one hit wonder, the couple and their band went on to become cornerstones of the modern world of Blues. Following their debut, Tedeschi and Trucks released 4 more studio albums. This, however, would not be the main focus of their legacy. Having gained such respect from the community at large, the pair were invited to regularly collaborate and play with others. One of the most exceptional moments saw Derek Trucks playing on stage alongside John Mayer, Susan and the legend, BB King. Derek, who excels in many styles, played some of the best slide guitar ever caught on video. The moment was so impressive that BB King himself claimed it to be “Just about as good as I ever heard”. High praise from the man considered to be the King of the Blues.
Recent Works
I recently talked about the Duo in relation to their involvement with the BB King Blues Summit 100. This was a collaborative album led by Joe Bonamassa in honour of the late great BB. The pair played incredibly, standing out even amongst the genres current line-up of greats. Suffice it to say, any release from their band has me excited.
Currently, there is only a single released in anticipation of the album, which will be called Future Soul. The album will be their 6th studio album and has a release date of March 19th. The production was carried out by Trucks himself, alongside Mike Elizondo. The album will be released under the bands long time label, Fantasy Records. The sound of the album has been described as dreamy, country with varying influences. Whatever it is, fans have high hopes.
Song – Who am I
The song that we have now, in anticipation of the album, is called Who Am I. It’s a promising track that immediately captures you with a soft but hooky riff that holds steady through the over 5 minutes of runtime. Susan holds up the vocal performance, meshing flawlessly with the gently riff. You immediately get the theme of the song. Its not heavy rock, its not overtly bluesy, but its catchy and soothing. Susans vocals are a definite highlight for me. From my experience listening to the band in the past, I don’t think I gave Susan enough time, being enthralled instead by the guitarwork. This time, Tedeschi really makes the song.
That being said, the riff also grows on you the more you listen. Even with the substantial length of the song, it doesn’t feel overkill. The whole sound is achieved with some really well placed reverb and effects that give the song this sort of soft, dreamy quality. The solo comes in hot. While it’s stunningly skilful and has great tone, it doesn’t take you out of the overall songs feeling. It’s more like a crescendo that then returns to the amazing riff just in time for the song to finish up.
Final Thoughts
This is a really promising glimpse into the album to come. With a definitive voice to the song, I would love to see the album build on what this track promises. No surprise that the Tedeschi Trucks band have, once again, knocked it out of the park.
