Saturday night the Joy Theater comes alive with the music of one of the most exciting live bands in rock ‘n’ roll. For New Orleanians, an added bonus comes in the form of trumpeter Maurice Brown. He anchors the group’s formidable horn section.
Besides being great musicians, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks are a married couple. Their rapport comes across instantly to listeners.
The band’s latest release, Made Up Mind, showcases Tedeschi’s blues howler of a voice and Trucks’ stellar guitar chops. On tunes like “The Storm” the synergistic power of her vocals and his guitar drive the sound into psychedelic blues territory.
“Misunderstood” takes the band into funk terrain. A syncopated groove percolates under a chorus that evokes the call and response of a gospel choir. Trucks’ guitar is never in your face, but sets the tone gently percolating and giving way to a great organ solo.
While the album contains concise versions of the couple’s latest collection of songs, the band lets it loose on stage. Trucks is well-known as a fiery lead guitarist (he has been a member of the Allman Brothers since he was just a kid) and the rest of the band is a tight-knit, road honed-outfit. This will be one of the shows of the year.
