MAY 2011 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM MAY 2011 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A

Why do this now? of thing that feels like an army approaching. not really improvising or creating melodies TRUCKS: It was a multitude of things. Our Plus I knew from playing with the Allman based in the moment. Bonnie Raitt is a rare kids are a bit older, the Allman Brothers are Brothers all these years that when that train exception, but she’s really a slide player. doing fewer dates, and it was time to take a gets going there’s nothing like it. Any time You don’t hear her ripping leads very often. break after 16 years being on the road with I’ve been in a situation with two drummers Derek understands all this, and he’s been my band. Plus our relationship is at a more it’s always felt epic. Our drummers, Tyler very supportive in that way. He’s a big fan mature point. We’ve been through the fi re, Greenwell and J.J. Johnson, have such a of my guitar playing. That means a lot to me, musically and personally, and we’re more special connection that sometimes you because I think he’s the best living guitar adult now. It was now or never. can’t even tell both are playing. They player in the world. TEDESCHI: We’ve always had an complement one other in a way that sounds understanding that someday we would put like super-stereo. Why the title Revelator? our other projects aside and make an album TRUCKS: It refers to the revealing of simple together. It’s something I’ve been anticipating How did you approach the guitar? truths. Music is supposed to help you the whole 12 years we’ve been together. TRUCKS: I was more conscious of making navigate through life. It’s supposed to make every sound that came out of the guitar serve you feel better and express things you can’t Why emphasize the vocals? the song, especially when it came to solos. in any other way. That’s our goal. You show TEDESCHI: Having our own studio allowed There are one or two songs where I just up in a town and try to make things better for me the time to try various microphones. In the air it out, but for the most part it was about a few hours. When I set aside time to listen past I haven’t had that luxury. We found a mic playing in the spirit of the song. I wanted the to an album, that’s what music does for me. that I really felt comfortable with. Jim Scott guitar solo to complement the mood, if not an And it asks something of you, too. You have [who co-produced with Trucks] and [engineer] outright extension. The beauty of the album to participate in order to get the most out Bobby Tis have a beautiful gift. They hear things in a pure way, and they know how to capture that on tape. This is a revolutionary album for me. We did some daring things, like recording my vocals very dry without much reverb. A lot of producers would never do that. TRUCKS: I’ve heard Susan sing in many different situations, and I know how powerful, beautiful and nuanced her voice can be. That had never been represented properly. James Minchin IIIJames Minchin

What microphone did you use? TEDESCHI: A Neumann U 47. It was bought specifi cally for me, but this album is the fi rst DEREK TRUCKS & instance I’ve gotten to use it. I tried other microphones as well and a lot of them have great qualities, but they missed various parts SUSAN TEDESCHI of my range. The U 47 captures all parts of Two guitar aces making beautiful music together—onstage and off my vocal range. How did you fi nd your songwriting

“MUSIC IS SUPPOSED TO BE Trucks and Tedeschi have long The band’s debut album, Revelator, collaborators for the album? IIIJames Minchin medicinal,” says Derek Trucks. “It should be envisioned forming such an act together. offers up a simmering mix of fi ery blues TEDESCHI: I felt certain that Gary Louris uplifting and it should be a tool for relief. Married since 1999, the two often shared rockers, gospel-tinged ballads and soulful from the Jayhawks was someone Derek is that from song to song it feels like ‘It’s important women That’s the point of a band like this.” The group the same stage, played on each other’s R&B. Trucks’ stinging slide work and would click with—and sure enough they hit a scene shift, like theatrical changes. he’s talking about is the Tedeschi Trucks albums and even vied for Grammy honors in Tedeschi’s smoldering rhythm chops it off right away. The three of us wrote a The moods are strong and different know they can play Band, the 11-member ensemble (including the same category. But other commitments— are duly showcased, but the emphasis song in 10 minutes. And then there was from song to song, and I didn’t want two drummers, background vocalists and Trucks had his own Derek Trucks Band and is less on solos than on songcraft and John Leventhal, who I had written with, to disrupt that illusion. a horn section) he leads with his wife and a steady gig with the Allman Brothers Band; Tedeschi’s bluesy vocals. Trucks and and David Ryan Harris, who Derek TEDESCHI: Playing guitar is as electric guitar too.’ fellow master guitarist Susan Tedeschi. The Tedeschi had her solo career—kept them Tedeschi talked to us about their goals for brought in. I didn’t know David, but I fell in important to me as ever. Part of idea, according to Trucks, is to have “a big, from uniting for a record. “We were both the band from their home in Jacksonville, love with a lot of the melodies he came up the reason is that there aren’t a lot –Susan Tedeschi crazy army that writes together and bleeds charging ahead with our individual careers,” Fla., where the couple recorded Revelator with. His approach is like Stevie Wonder’s of women who do it. I can’t tell you together and allows everyone to shine.” Trucks says. “Now, we’re ready.” in their own studio. in a way—very soulful. how many little girls—actually women of all of it. This band has a unique opportunity ages—have said to me how I’ve inspired to touch on many different things. The Why double drummers? them to pick up the guitar. That’s important, musicianship is strong enough that it can TRUCKS: Part of that idea came from because it still is such a male-dominated go in any direction. I don’t see a ceiling for ‘We’ve been through the fi re, musically and listening to some of the great James Brown industry. It’s important that women know they what this band can do. This album is the tip recordings. There’s that low sizzle you can play electric guitar, too. Most women of the iceberg. personally. It was now or never.’ –Derek Trucks get with two drummers, a simmering sort play acoustics and play chords, but they’re –Russell Hall

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