December 2002 Feature Story
Susan Tedeschi

12/14 @ The Moore Theatre, opening for Keller Williams. (sold out); 12/16 @ The Aladdin Theatre, Portland, OR; 12/17 @ Filmore, San Francisco, CA

by Tony Engelhart

The title of the latest release from , Wait For Me, is appropriate because it's just what fans have been doing-waiting. While the vocalist/guitarist/songwriter has shown up as a guest on many celebrated projects such as Willie Nelson's Milk Cow Blues, Double Trouble's Been A Long Time, and most recently on her husband - Derek Trucks' - Joyful Noise, it has been four years since Just Won't Burn garnered Tedeschi a Grammy Nomination as Best New Artist. (Tedeschi & Trucks have been busy making a family...Charles Kahlil and ???.) So, was Wait For Me worth the wait? Absolutely!

Susan Tedeschi is by no means straight-ahead urban blues player. Like Bonnie Raitt, she freely mixes classic R&B, blues, and her own gospel and blues-flavored original songs creating radio friendly tunes with tremendous cross-over potential. The first single, "Alone", has gone into heavy rotation on adult contemporary as well as blues radio stations across the country. Reminiscent of Just Won't Burn, Tedeschi takes the listener on a journey of somber ballads, rockin' blues, and everything in between. Her scorching guitar work is showcased on "Hampmotized" while her tender vocals are the focal point of the Bob Dylan cover "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right". Not surprisingly, Derek Trucks appears on two tracks - "Gonna Move" and "The Feeling Music Brings" - as producer and lead guitarist.

While Wait For Me flows in a similar vein as Just Won't burn, Tedeschi has graduated from associate producer to executive producer (Trucks' presence notwithstanding) and has broadened her musical scope. Her vocals are confident and enthusiastic while her guitar playing movies from smooth and sleek to raw and raunchy.

After only three releases (two for Tone Cool), Susan Tedeschi has only begun to evolve. Let's just hope it's not such a long wait until we hear from her again.

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