Many women are not active in the blues. But those who venture into that somewhat messy world of beer and tattoos often know how to blow a breath of fresh air in the genre. In the wake of Bonnie Raitt and Rory Block, Susan Tedeschi (pronounced: Tedeski) has managed to gain a permanent place in the blues scene in the decade that followed her debut Just Won't Burn (1998). Not by copying her male
… colleagues, but by introducing feminine qualities such as grace and elegance. And an open mind, because purism is fortunately foreign to Susan. Tedeschi, who is married to slide guitarist Derek Trucks of The Allman Brothers, delivers an album with Back To The River that should definitely make her one of the big names of the roots world. We hear a delicious concoction of blues, soul, gospel, funk and rock, produced by top producer George Drakoulias (Jayhawks, Black Crowes) and with contributions from Tony Joe White, Gary Louris and Doyle Bramhall II. (MS)more
