The Derek Trucks Band (album)
The Derek Trucks Band (often called simply, Derek Trucks) is the debut album by American Jazz/Blues/R&B group The Derek Trucks Band, released on October 7, 1997.[1] The album was recorded between September 30-October 4, 1996 at Dockside Studios in Maurice, Louisiana.[2][3] The album is composed mainly of re-arranged jazz and blues classics and the rest are original compositions by the band.[4] Derek was seventeen years old at the time of the release of the album.[5] In 2008, the album was made available digitally, and is now available on iTunes, and other online retailers like Real, Rhapsody, Yahoo! Music, eMusic, Napster and Puretracks.[5]
| The Derek Trucks Band | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 7, 1997 (CD) November 17, 2008 (Digital download) | |||
| Recorded | September 30, October 1-October 4, 1996 | |||
| Studio | Dockside Studios (Maurice, Louisiana) | |||
| Genre | Blues, jazz fusion, jam rock, Southern rock | |||
| Length | 52:13 | |||
| Label | Landslide Records | |||
| Producer | John Snyder | |||
| The Derek Trucks Band chronology | ||||
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Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [4] |
| Jambands: The Complete Guide to the Players, Music, & Scene | [6] |
| JazzTimes | (very favorable)[7] |
| One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band | [8] |
In a review for AllMusic, Michael B. Smith called the album "A flawless recording," and described the band as "a group of tight-knit, talented musicians." He stated that Trucks "blazes through new arrangements of jazz and blues classics," and commented: "He turns the trumpet wizardry of Miles Davis into slide-guitar magic, and his readings of a couple of Coltrane tunes pack a terrific punch."[4]
Writer Dean Budnick noted that the selection of tunes "provides the listener with a taste of each band member's considerable gifts," and also "demonstrates the group's affinity for jazz."[9]
Bill Milkowski of JazzTimes praised Trucks' "monstrous slide guitar chops," and remarked: "Not many slide guitarists would bother to tackle material like John Coltrane's 'Mr. P.C.' and 'Naima,' Miles Davis' 'So What' or Wayne Shorter's 'Footprints,' but Trucks stretches on these jazzy vehicles with ferocious conviction."[7]
Reviewer George Graham wrote: "Trucks still has the teenager's chutzpah that would lead him to attempt John Coltrane and Miles Davis on a slide guitar, but he already has enough experience and taste to make it come off remarkably well. The result is a very satisfying album with some impressive musicianship, and perhaps a surprise or two."[10]
Author Alan Paul noted that the album "announced loud and clear that Trucks was not your average teenaged guitar whiz."[8]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sarod" | Derek Trucks | 0:35 |
| 2. | "Mr. P.C." | John Coltrane | 5:30 |
| 3. | "555 Lake" | lyrics: Bill McKay; music: Yonrico Scott, Todd Smallie, Trucks | 6:33 |
| 4. | "D Minor Blues" | Larry Oakes, Trucks | 6:01 |
| 5. | "#6 Dance" | Oakes, Trucks | 2:39 |
| 6. | "Footprints" | Wayne Shorter | 4:19 |
| 7. | "Out of Madness" | Scott, Smallie, Trucks | 4:09 |
| 8. | "Naima" | John Coltrane | 4:59 |
| 9. | "So What" | Miles Davis | 4:37 |
| 10. | "Evil Clown" | McKay, Scott, Smallie, Trucks | 4:30 |
| 11. | "Egg 15" | Ron Roper, Smallie, Trucks | 7:40 |
| 12. | "Sarod Outro" | Trucks | 0:41 |
Personnel
- Band Members
- Derek Trucks - guitar, sarod
- Todd Smallie - bass guitar
- Bill McKay - organ, keyboards, synthesizer, clavinet, piano, vocals (on track 3)[11]
- Yonrico Scott - drums, tympani, conga drums, shakers, tambourine, maracas, sabasa, chimes[12]
- Additional personnel
- Gary Gazaway - trumpet, flugelhorn (on track 3,6)
- John Snyder - producer
- Tony Daigle - engineer
- Benny Graeff - assistant engineer
- Johnny Sandlin - mixing
- Benny Graeff - assistant mixer
- Tony Daigle - mastering
- J. Flournoy Holmes - design and photography
- Buddy Odom Management - management
- Wayne Forte (Entourage Talent Associates, Ltd.) - booking
- Kelly Elder - legal representation
References
- "Derek Trucks Band: The Derek Trucks Band". Derek Trucks. Archived from the original on 2009-04-29. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- "The Derek Trucks Band 1997 Debut CD". Hittin' the Note. Archived from the original on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- "Dockside Studios". MySpace. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- Smith, Michael B. "The Derek Trucks Band - The Derek Trucks Band". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
- "First Two dTb albums available for download now". Derek Trucks. Archived from the original on 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- Budnick, Dean (2003). Jambands: The Complete Guide to the Players, Music, & Scene. Backbeat Books. p. 46.
- Milkowski, Bill (March 1, 1998). "Derek Trucks: The Derek Trucks Band". jazztimes.com. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
- Paul, Alan (2015). One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band. St. Martin's Press. p. 441.
- Budnick, Dean (1998). Jam Bands: North America's Hottest Live Groups Plus How to Tape and Trade Their Shows. ECW Press. p. 251.
- Graham, George (December 17, 1997). "The Derek Trucks Band". GeorgeGraham.com. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- "The Graham Weekly Album Review #1092". George Graham. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
- "The Derek Trucks Band". Answers. Retrieved 2009-06-11.