FANTASY RECORDS 20th March 2026
Once upon a time there was an amazing guitarist called Derek Trucks. I was lucky enough to hear him with his own band in Sheffield in 2009, where he did jazzy blues, including a twenty minute jam on ‘My Favourite Things’, inspired by John Coltrane. There was also a great guitarist with a superb voice called Susan Tedeschi, who had her own band. In a master-stroke, the two musicians, already married in 2001, ditched their separate bands in 2010 and formed the Tedeschi Trucks Band, with their sixth studio album released March 2026. There’s a slew of live recordings too, all exceptional.
The Tedeschi Trucks Band make a soul-blues fusion, with stinging yet lyrical guitar from both, as individuals and in duets. Susan’s vocals, full of grit and honey, tug at the feelings and the big, twelve-piece, rolling blues band with backing singers and a horn section make a stew of rich music. The sound makes me feel wrapped in warm feeling while rocking. This outing feels more traditionally blues than others, coming after their quadruple concept album, telling a love story.
Opening with a strutting blues, it rolls on into ‘I Got You’, where a sweeter, poppier version emerges, with a bouncy smiling love song smiling at you. Written by Mike Mattison (guitar, vocals), the song shows the band to be a joint effort. “‘I Got You’ is a breath of fresh air and pretty different for us,” shares Trucks. “It feels like the band, but it doesn’t feel like anything we’ve done before.” Except that Truck’s and Tedeschi’s guitar and voice are their signature and instantly recognisable what ever vehicle they are in. ‘Who Am I’ is a warm and comforting love song with an unusual almost-raga little guitar riff and a lovely extended guitar solo from Derek. We get a big rocker and a balled characterised by lovely Hammond organ sounds and super-expressive blues guitar.
Sometimes the edge is harder and the music punchier with the title track standing out as a driving locomotive of rock. The punch reminds me a bit of The Bellrays and the solos are screaming. The band has an organic feel with the music sounding like it could have no other form. The volume and drive lets Susan’s voice push hard and have a catch like Janis Joplin or Bonnie Raitt. In another switch, but an organic one, ‘Under The Knife’ is a smooth dancing piece, still punctuated by distinctive guitar. The blues is never far away but it’s a Muscle Shoals soul-blues, exemplified by ‘Devil Be Gone’, with a rolling riff, tasty little licks, powerful vocal and a backing chorus. ‘Ride On’ is a gentle country song eases us out of the album with the lovely sentiment that “you’re the only home I’ve ever known”.
It’s another great album, instantly accessible but also distinctively the work of these individual musicians, unique collectively and special one by one. It feels like a welcome home.
Ross McGibbon
We’re fond of the Tedeschi Trucks band here, so here’s some other reviews:
https://www.vanguard-online.co.uk/tedeschi-trucks-band-live-from-the-fox-oakland/