The drawing on the last page of the liner notes to Tedeschi Trucks’ fourth studio album tells you about all the sounds that have influenced this rich album. The recently departed Gregg Allmann, blues guitarist and singer CeDell Davis, Leon Russell, BB King and Butch Trucks all have their fingerprints on some, part or all of the eleven songs here, making for a rich tapestry of Americana via the Cumberland Gap.
Vocalist Susan Trucks is in glorious voice throughout, defiant on the earthy funky swamp of “Signs, High Times” and assuring for the mellow soul of the chunky “I’m Gonna Be There.” Her wah-wah guitar is fun and stompy for the Memphis grit of “Hard Cas” and she glows on the tender folksy and acoustic
“Strengthen What Remains.” Derek Trucks slides like Rickey Henderson on the ballad “All The World” and the balance of gospel voices, urgent horns and dramatic traffic team with Allman Brothers Southern soul for “Shame” and Kofi burgridge’s keyboard works takes you to a misty ramblin’ man passion on “ Still Your Mind.” These roots run deep, and need no artificial irrigation.
They’re going to be hitting the West Coast in early May, so keep an eye out, as you won’t want to miss this important band.