Blues
At times, this band reminds me so much of the Allman Brothers circa 1970, that I feel like it's deja vu all over again. Of all the young guitar slingers out there today, I feel like Derek Trucks is the most talented and musically mature of all the diaper dandies. With Warren Haynes from Gov't Mule backing here, it just makes this CD that much better. The album starts out with a very bluesy version of the Son House tune "Preachin' Blues". He then goes into a cool instrumental "Younk Funk", which features some truely versatile guitar playing, going from jazz to funk to bluesy rock. Next comes a couple more classic blues covers in "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" and one of my favorite oldies, Chester Burnett's "Forty Four", in which Trucks shows us his slide guitar prowess. He does 2 instrumentals back to back with "Look-Ka-Pypy, and my favorite "Kickin' Back", that's so Allman Brother like, it feels like he's plucking notes straight from the ghost of Duane Allman himself. This kid is good. He also does the same thing on another instrumental "Spillway". But he also throws some very jazzy notes our way that avoid all blues cliches that are so prevalent among most young guitar players today. Blues great Larry McCray also thought enough of the kid to make an appearance here on the song "Ain't That Lovin" You", where he sings vocals and trades guitar licks with Trucks. A very nice tune and the best vocal on the album. The CD ends with one of the most unique acoustic blues instrumentals that I've ever heard. The best way to describe this song is psycedelic blues. The guitar playing here is so weird it's cool. This whole album is top rate from beginning to end. A very ambitious effort from the most versatile young guitar player playing today. Get it and get lost in the blues groove.
By Patrick Earley.
**
How many teenaged guitar prodigies can get away with playing genre-blending improvisational music and convincing blues on only their second album? Just one: Jacksonville's Derek Trucks. His musical imagination is exceeded only by his guitar prowess. Trucks, who favors slide guitar, reanimates the blues past here. On Son House's "Preachin' Blues" and Howlin' Wolf's "44," he effortlessly attains an edgy, electrifying air of tension epitomizing the honest-sounding modern blues that many others attempt so hard--and so clumsily--to achieve. Just as impressive is Truck's ongoing exploration of the transcendent jazz/rock/blues realm where guitar-packing elders like Jeff Beck, Duane Allman, Carlos Santana, and Ronnie Earl, among a few more, have dared to go--the instrumentals "Younk Funk," "Kickin' Back," "Pleasant Gardens," and "Spillway." Unlike countless other guitarists, Trucks knows better than to sully his material by singing when he can't, and he turns to Warren Haynes (of Gov't. Mule), Larry McCray, and Matt Tutor to handle the vocal chores. It's little-known Memphis resident Tutor who really pours heart and soul into songs--hear "Preachin' Blues" and "Alright." All in all, this is a strong blues-and-beyond album. Keep an eye on this Trucks kid.
By Frank-John Hadley.
**
Derek Trucks- Guitar
Todd Smallie- Bass, Vocals
Yonrico Scott- Drums, Percission, Vocals
Bill McKay- Organ
With special guests;
Jimmy Herring- Guitar
Warren Haynes- Guitar
Larry McCray- Vocals
**
01. Preachin' Blues 4:58
02. Young Funk 4:49
03. Good Morning Little School Girl 5:39
04. Fourty-Four 5:38
05. Kickin' Back 8:51
06. Look-Ka PyPy 4:07
07. Alright 2:48
08. Death Letter 5:25
09. Pleasant Gardens 6:33
10. Spillway 4:56
11. Ain't That Lovin' You 6:37
12. Deltaraga 2:52
**
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