Derek Trucks

I have discovered (for me at least), a new musical act I just can't get enough of. I used the term "man love" to a friend, which was met with a healthy burst of laughter (understandably), but I fear it's true. I have to admit, I have a thing for Derek Trucks. And I'll tell you how it happened...

I have always been a huge fan of Eric Clapton. I really like the blues-rock stuff that Clapton has done, and as he has gotten older and the idea of commercial success seems to have become less and less important to him, he has delved deeper and deeper into the blues influences that are so important to him. This has been reflected in the lineups of acts that have been a part of the benefit concerts that he has done in 2004 and 2007 to benefit the Crossroads Center, a non-profit addiction center he has been a part of. Crossroads 2004 was in Texas, and Crossroads 2007 was in Chicago.

Recently, my wife spotted an ad for Crossroads 2010, which was held in Chicago in June 2010. A DVD of the concert (I have the other two) was set for release in the Fall, but a 2-hour highlights version was going to play in a limited number of theaters nationally for one night, for one show. [It is interesting how an 11 hour concert can turn into a 4 hour DVD, which can in turn be abbreviated to a 2 hour movie...]. We got together with a neighbor couple and went to see the show, which was great to see on a large screen and a good sound system.

The show itself could be the subject of a post by itself, but the single best song in the theater version of the concert for me was Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi performing a song called Midnight in Harlem. I left the theater captivated by the guitar line, as simple as it was, and the haunting melody. At this point all I knew about Derek Trucks was from brief conversations with brother Dave. Having had the previous Crossroads discs playing in the background at various times around the house over the years, I knew that the blond ponytail guy in the background of some ensemble numbers was named Derek Trucks and that according to Dave he was a guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band. When I got home from the Crossroads 2010 show, I needed to know more.

As with Carole King a few months ago, I was amazed at what I learned when I started to do a little research. I won't go into a whole biography here (as usual, Wikipedia has a good one...). To summarize, Trucks bought his first acoustic guitar at age 9, was playing in travelling bands at the age of 10 (yes 10), formed the Derek Trucks Band at the age of 15, and currently at the ripe old age of 31 is considered by many to be one of the greatest living electric slide guitarists. He has had his own band for 16 years (and a bunch of albums), is the main guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band, and has toured with all sorts of people, including a 2006 tour with Eric Clapton. The Derek Trucks Band is currently on hiatus, and he has a new band with his wife called (creatively) the Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks Band. Go figure....

My descent into temporary madness can be tracked from Midnight in Harlem on Crossroads 2010, back through Anyday on Crossroads 2007, to an Amazon purchase last week. Anyday has always been a favorite song of mine off the Layla and other Assorted Love Songs album by Derek and the Dominoes (Eric Clapton). I think I like DT's version from CR' 07 better than the original. Poking through some reviews and seeing what was readily available, my Amazon purchase consisted of 1993's Joyful Noise, 2009's Already Free, 2010's live Roadsongs, and the 2006 live DVD Songlines Live.

Joyful Noise is a good album if a bit raw (which is a good thing). Roadsongs and Songlines Live are absolutely terrific. But the gem here is Already Free. This album is a magnificent blend of Blues, Blues-Rock, World Music, Jazz Fusion, and bits of all sorts of other things. 8 out of the 12 songs were co-written by Trucks. The remainder are a nice choice of selections from others, including a cover of Bob Dylan's Down in the Flood. This CD hasn't left the CD player in my car since it arrived in the mailbox and I played it for the first time. If you think you would like a guitar virtuoso playing this kind of music (and brother Dave, I do mean you...), if you do nothing else I ever ask of you...BUY THIS ALBUM. You won't regret it. I promise. Watch the YouTube video I have linked in above for Midnight in Harlem. If you like this even a little bit, trust me...

Pardon the fawning, but I love music of all sorts, and finding something new (for me) that I like this much is an exhilarating feeling. It doesn't happen all that often, but when it does, I have to share it...