Tedeschi Trucks Band Live at the Chicago Theatre

Photos © 2020 by: Roman Sobus

Photos © 2020 by: Roman Sobus

Derek Trucks / Guitar
Susan Tedeschi / Guitar & Vocals
Tyler Greenwell / Drums & Percussion
J.J. Johnson / Drums & Percussion
Mike Mattison / Harmony Vocals
Mark Rivers / Harmony Vocals
Alecia Chakour / Harmony Vocals
Kebbi Williams / Saxophone
Elizabeth Lea / Trombone
Ephraim Owens / Trumpet
Brandon Boone / Bass Guitar
Gabe Dixon / Keyboards & Vocals

Go back to December 31, 2008 when guitarist Derek Trucks and his wife, singer/guitarist Susan Tedeschi, were preparing to ring in the New Year. Married since 1999, these two soulmates, equally steeped in the musical roots of blues, jazz, and gospel, had finally decided the time was right to set aside their successful solo careers and commit to a new band melding their vision and talent. It wasn’t the first time they had collaborated; they had shared a stage countless times and traded album guest appearances, all while starting a family together. But on that night, hitting the stage together with members of the Derek Trucks Band and a guest horn section they heard the future.

In pursuit of their ideal sound driven by world class musicianship, Tedeschi and Trucks put together a musical collaborative like no other, flying in the face of any practical or economic considerations. There have been evolutionary changes to the band along the way, but the freight-train force of veteran drummers J.J. Johnson and Tyler Greenwell were there from the start, along with two brilliant Trucks Band veterans to amplify the rhythm section: Kofi Burbridge with his prodigious talent on keys and flute, and Mike Mattison, with his dynamic vocals and songwriting skills.

A 3-piece horn section brought on for studio work proved indispensable to the group’s sound and became a permanent addition – now composed of Kebbi Williams’ intergalactic saxophone, Ephraim Owens on trumpet and Elizabeth Lea on trombone. Industry-renowned bassist Tim Lefebvre (David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Sting) joined in 2013, and two years later a third incredible voice, Alecia Chakour, was added to the background vocals provided by Mark Rivers and Mattison; each more than capable of delivering a stirring turn as a lead vocalist.

On the road for upwards of 200 days a year, the TTB family has grown strong, bonding over backyard BBQs and long bus rides, all the while developing a growing repertoire of original material and paying homage to an extensive canon of influences ranging from Sly & the Family Stone, Miles Davis and George Jones to Joe Cocker, Nina Simone, and even Indian sarod master Ali Akbar Khan.

Embracing improvisation over convention, and set lists rarely repeated, the collective is adept at exploring almost any musical territory. The genuine respect within its ranks is evident on stage. Trucks’ masterful guitar skills and Tedeschi’s soaring vocals and bluesy guitar shine but don’t overpower the breadth of talent, happily yielding the spotlight as needed in service of what the song deserves.

Trucks and Tedeschi’s uncompromising vision has paid off. Now 12-members strong, and with a catalog of five albums and nearly a decade of steady touring in the U.S. and abroad, Tedeschi Trucks Band carries a distinguished reputation earned from both audiences and critics as one of the premier live bands in the world. Sold-out multi-night runs at venerable venues like the Beacon Theatre, Ryman Auditorium and Red Rocks Amphitheater are a testament to the can’t-miss concert experience fans have come to anticipate.

The band’s own “Wheels of Soul” tour has become a sought-after summer experience from promoters across the country, bringing TTB’s unique stew of upbeat rock and soul together on stage with a slew of guests, sit ins, and supporting bands that have included the late Sharon Jones, Los Lobos and most recently The Wood Brothers and Hot Tuna. 2018 will also mark the sixth year for the TTB-curated Sunshine Music Festival, hosted each January in their home state of Florida.

TTB’s most recent CD/film release, Live From The Fox Oakland (2017) was nominated for a Grammy and follows a quartet of critically-hailed and commercially successful albums, including the Grammy-winning debut, Revelator (2011) and Let Me Get By (2016), called “one of the great records of the year” by the Associated Press.

The film documents the progress the band has made since its inception, while also showcasing its endless potential to bring out the best in each other every night in any musical direction they choose. It’s clear that the leaders have no intention of slowing down now. As Trucks remarked to Mark Maron on his WTF podcast featured in the film, “I haven’t found this band’s ceiling yet.” For Tedeschi Trucks Band, there may not be one.

Check out more great live photos here!


Tour:

JAN 21 – Convention Center Music Hall – Kansas City, MO
JAN 22 – Stephens Auditorium – Ames, IA
JAN 24 – Chicago Theatre – Chicago, IL
JAN 25 – Chicago Theatre – Chicago, IL
JAN 28 – Count Basie Center for the Arts – Red Bank, NJ
JAN 29 – Count Basie Center for the Arts – Red Bank, NJ
FEB 1 – SSE Wembley Arena – London, UK
FEB 14 – Warner Theatre – Washington, D.C.
FEB 15 – Warner Theatre – Washington, D.C.
FEB 18 – Altria Theater – Richmond, VA
FEB 19 – UPMC Event Center – Pittsburgh, PA
FEB 21 – Warner Theatre – Washington, D.C.
FEB 22 – Warner Theatre – Washington, D.C.
FEB 25 – Mountain Arts Center – Prestonsburg, KY
FEB 27 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
FEB 28 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
FEB 29 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
JUN 26 – Daily’s Place – Jacksonville, FL
JUN 27 – The Wharf Amphitheater – Orange Beach, AL
JUN 28 – Tuscaloosa Amphitheater – Tuscaloosa, AL
JUL 1 – Constellation Brands Marvin Sands PAC – Canandaigua, NY
JUL 2 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, NY
JUL 3 – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH
JUL 5 – Midway Lawn – Essex Junction, VT
JUL 7 – Mann Center for the Performing Arts – Philadelphia, PA
JUL 10 – PNC Music Pavilion – Charlotte, NC
JUL 11 – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek – Raleigh, NC
JUL 12 – Rose Music Center at The Heights – Huber Heights, OH
JUL 14 – Artpark – Lewiston, NY
JUL 15 – Fox Theatre – Detroit, MI
JUL 18 – Westville Music Bowl – New Haven, CT
JUL 19 – Great South Bay Music Festival – Patchogue, NY
JUL 24 – Fox Theatre – Atlanta, GA
JUL 25 – Fox Theatre – Atlanta, GA
JUL 26 – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend – Cincinnati, OH
JUL 28 – The Amphitheater at White River State Park – Indianapolis, IN
JUL 31 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
AUG 1 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO

Links:

Official: http://tedeschitrucksband.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DerekAndSusan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/derekandsusan