Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Tedeschi Trucks Band: Made Up Mind

3

Tedeschi Trucks Band: Made Up Mind

By

Sign in to view read count
Tedeschi Trucks Band: Made Up Mind
Tedeschi Trucks Band's debut, Revelator (Sony Masterworks, 2010), was a marvel of modern blues-rock. Songs deeply rooted in genre tradition ultimately comprised a deeply felt personal statement by the dual leaders of the group, guitarist Derek Trucks and vocalist/guitarist Susan Tedeschi.

The group's sophomore album, Made Up Mind, not surprisingly, radiates an even more mature sense of style. Placing the title song first may seem an obvious ploy to set a tone, but the sequencing works: Tedeschi's singing, as much as it recalls a young Bonnie Raitt, is nevertheless potent in its delivery, while Trucks' solo reaffirms the point of the lyrics. The slightest touch of horns, emblematic of the band's innate sense of restraint, adds decoration that further distinguishes the track.

The audio quality of the recording, overseen by Trucks as he co- produced with Jim Scott (then preserved by Bob Ludwig's mastering), punctuates the authority within the musicianship. The bond of the remaining ten-piece unit is perhaps more impressive here than on the debut album if only because, in the wake of the departure of bassist Oteil Burbridge, various players (including Pino Palladino and Dave Monsey) assume that role; the synchronous motion of the group is remarkable as it moves in unison on "Do I Look Worried."

There's a palpable confidence in the band's playing, too, which no doubt accounts for the bravery by which it moves beyond the constraints of style otherwise dictated by the horn-augmented lineup. "Idle Wind," for instance, would work as a folk song were it an unadorned acoustic track, yet it becomes a densely arranged thing of beauty as keyboardist Kofi Burbridge's flute breezes in behind the lead vocal, only to usher in gentle horn lines, all of which becomes wrapped in the sinuous guitar embroidery that weaves in around and through the other sounds.

Recorded in Trucks and Tedeschi's "Swamp Raga" home studio, Made Up Mind is a recording with all the continuity and logic an album should evince (and to which its ornate triple-gatefold digipak hearkens). The slightly funk-derived "Misunderstood" is a sharp though not jarring gearshift, as it contrasts with the muted "Calling Out to You" that concludes the song sequence. During the course of the eleven numbers, instrumental textures contrast each other as TTB functions with the ease derived from its constant roadwork. But even so, nothing sterile or antiseptic afflicts the musicians' interactions, even as tracks like the uplifting, gospel-tinted "Part of Me" are kept sufficiently abbreviated to prevent any playing without purpose.

On the contrary, the resonance of this band's sound here extends from the dual drumming of Tyler Greenwell and J.J. Johnson (both of whom play with a light touch that belies the force of their impact) to the falsetto of vocalist Mike Mattison that lends an exultant quality to the track. Rather than the imminent collision depicted in the cover graphic, Made Up Mind is a work of pure and utter confluence of concept and execution.

Track Listing

Made Up Mind; Do I Look Worried; Idle Wind; Misunderstood; Part of Me Whiskey Legs; It's So Heavy; All That I Need; Sweet And Low; The Storm; Calling Out To You.

Personnel

Tedeschi Trucks Band
band / ensemble / orchestra

Susan Tedeschi: guitar (6, 7), vocals, percussion (1); Derek Trucks: guitars, percussion (10); Kofi Burbridge: keyboards (1-10), flute (3); Tyler Greenwell: drums (1-10), percussion (1-10); J.J. Johnson: drums (1-10), percussion (1-10); Kebbi Williams: saxophone (1-5, 7, 8) ; Maurice Brown: trumpet (1-5, 7, 8); Saunders Sermons: trombone (1-5, 7, 8), vocals; Mike Mattison: vocals (1-5, 7-9); Mark Rivers vocals (1-5, 7-9); Pino Palladino: bass (1, 7-9, 10); Bakithi Kumalo: bass (3, 4), percussion (3, 4), congas (4); George Reiff: bass (6); Dave Monsey: bass (2, 5); John Leventhal: guitar (2); Doyle Brahmall II: guitar (5, 8); Jim Scott: handclaps (5); Erik Krasno: guitar (7), percussion (10).

Album information

Title: Made Up Mind | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Sony Music

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
View events near Burlington
Jazz Near Burlington
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.