Page 55 - BiTS_05_MAY_2025

The Derek Trucks Band—Joyful Noise/ Backyard
Tracks—Floating World FLOATD6470

Slide guitarist and bandleader Derek Trucks is

known for his eclecticism and that is certainly in
evidence on The Derek Trucks Band’s third album,
“Joyful Noise”, originally released in 2002, ranging
from ‘Maki Madni’, which booklet notes writer Alan

Robinson defines in his comprehensive overview as
“Modal Eastern” (do note it contains some rather

inventive slide playing) to “Latinate funk” with
‘Kam-Ma-Lay’. Mind you, this review is here in these
pages for a reason.

The set opens with the New Orleans-flavoured funk of the title track, with echoes of
The Meters, and then do take a listen to ‘Home In Your Heart’ with the great Solomon
Burke strutting his stuff on a classic vocal performance, a remake of his 1963

recording. Mr Burke’s raw throated singing turns up again on the slower R’n’B styled
‘Like Anyone Else’; do listen out too for Derek’s slide guitar break.

Staying in a classic soul groove, Susan Tedeschi – wife of Mr Trucks of course – turns

in some powerful soul singing of the James Brown/ Joe Tex oldie, ‘Baby, You’re Right’.
Given the set’s diversity, it does need a spirit of adventure to appreciate all the music
here, but as some reviews noted at the time, it’s worth it.

Rounding out the playing time, “Backyard Tracks” was originally a four track promo
only set released in 2006, and readers will find familiar sounding material. The covers
of Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s ‘Up Above My Head’ and the standard ‘Key To The Highway’,

plus ‘I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free’) from Nina Simone and the original
funk workout, ‘All I Do’ are all certainly worth checking.

Norman Darwen

Jim Kweskin & the Berlin Hall Saturday Night
Revue—Doing Things Right—Jalopy Records

I recall buying a Vanguard of the Newport Folk

Festival 1964, many years ago, It was mainly due to
the presence of Sleepy John Estes but I was also
intrigued by old timey musician Frank Proffitt and

certainly enjoyed the final three numbers by “Jim
Kweskin & The Jug Band”. Well, here is the evidence
that Jim is still at it – rather more sophisticated these

days maybe – but the enthusiasm is certainly still
there.

Jim reaches right across the spectrum of vintage roots music now, from the honky

tonk sound of ‘Sail My Ship Alone’ and the bluesy Western Swing meets vintage jazz