Think of an incredibly energetic live band that brings emotion to their performance that resonates with themselves and their audience. Add songwriting that matches both of those with a lead singing wife and guitar playing husband. Add that they are an 11-piece band making their debut with the album Revelator on June 7th, 2011, and you meet the Tedeschi Trucks Band.
Derek Trucks on slide guitar, Susan Tedeschi on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Oteil Burbridge on bass guitar, Kofi Burbridge on keyboards and flute, Tyler Greenwell on drums and percussion, J.J. Johnson on drums and percussion, Mike Mattison on harmony vocals, Mark Rivers on harmony vocals, Kebbi Williams on saxophone, Maurice Brown on trumpet and Saunders Sermons on trombone were Tedeschi Trucks Band for Revelator.
Come See About Me opens the album with a dynamic and upbeat percussion and slide guitar playfulness that warms the soul. Lyrically, the song acknowledges a relationship that has the makings of something special, if only the courage to allow for the change for love lets one come see about the other.
Another ditty of affirmation, trust and faith in love, Don’t Let Me Slide brings force to stating that knowing yourself and your need for the love of another needs just a little push. The beauty musically and lyrically simply works.
Midnight in Harlem is hands down the most beautiful song on Revelator. The intense love, harmony, hurt all leading back to the eternal that is love, with such exceeding composition, steadiness, harmony and instrumentation, I cannot get enough.
Bound for Glory continues a firm and mature romance filled with personality and playfulness. The opening riff grabs you by the wrist and never lets you go in landing the glory we’re bound to find.
A laidback rolling into Simple Things brings a matter-of-fact question to endurance. Love gets messy, unbalanced, and needs adjustment upon occasion. Speaking the truth and hearing the truth, giving and taking, is the path to sustaining love.
The horns that begin Until You Remember subtly gives way to an acoustic guitar with the singing of Susan Tedeschi. The effect is confessional, vulnerable, seeking. Love nor people aren’t perfect. It’s precisely after several moments on top of several more that the question underneath it all appears: “Do you remember that you’re mine?” Powerful.
Ball and Chain is a playful prayer of thanks for seeing that the one you love is the one you have. The effect fits the album perfectly, keeping the spirit and raising the tenor.
The range of instrumentation takes another dynamic step forward with These Walls, with the song title a metaphor and literal analogy to my hearing. The physical need of home, safety and security on a strictly survival front are strong. The metaphorical comes in with a spiritual sustenance in striving for the courage for strength in bringing these needs to bear emotionally.
Learn How to Love returns us to the strength and force of the opening three songs of the Revelator album. Extending the spirit of survival and safety of These Walls into the realm of love and belonging, we hear about the determination to make it real through direct, intentional acts.
Shrimp and Grits (Interlude) provides the first strictly instrumental song of the album, landing at less than two-minutes in length. The joyousness and strength offer me a sweet sense of love.
Love Has Something Else to Say is an expression of the giddy happiness that comes with love. No struggle or thinking or effort are needed; the joy simply is told.
Shelter / Ghost Light speaks acts of emotional sensitivity and love. The safety and aspiration with Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks singing bring the pair together so sweetly, and perfectly. It is at the roughly 4:26 mark of the track that the hidden instrumental track called Ghost Light rolls for the concluding music of the album.
Other contributing musicians for Revelator included Oliver Wood on guitar and vocals, David Ryan Harris on guitar and vocals, Ryan Shaw on harmony vocals, Eric Krasno on acoustic guitar, Alam Khan on sarod and Salar Nader on tabla.
Matt – Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Matt Lynn Digital 
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