Tedeschi Trucks Band
Album: Made Up Mind
Label: Sony
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.tedeschitrucksband.com

Made Up Mind is the second album from husband and wife pairing of Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi.

It follows the hugely successful 2011 release Revelator from The Tedeschi Trucks Band and took eight months to record. Boy does it deliver.

Sparkling strong vocals from Susan Tedeschi and a good sprinkling of beautiful slide guitar from Derek Trunks, this is a disc which takes many cues from a rich heritage, skilfully blending blues, Gospel, soul , Motown and funk. It's a mighty beefy stew.

The eleven-piece band - yes eleven - have produced a fascinating mix. The grungy intro to the title track leads into a great bluesy song with superb guitar and great vocals. The horn section fill out the sound brilliantly. As an opener this is a belter.

The second track Do I Look Worried is a different beat and follows 6/8 timing but the quality is maintained. Tedeschi's vocals are top class and the band back up wonderfully, with more great guitar from her husband.

The album switches from lighter soulful numbers such as Part of Me to full-on blues rockers such as Whiskey Legs, but throughout the musicianship sparkles.

The heavily guitar-laced rocker The Storm once again features a strong vocal performance and an extended jam ending which is simply blistering. All along I thought, I'd love to see this band live!

The album finishes with the gentle Calling Out To You - a lovely acoustic outing, simply but brilliantly played.

If you like Bonnie Raitt, the Allman Brothers Band and such like, then the Tedeschi Trucks Band are right up your street.

John Knighton