The Derek Trucks Band - Out of the Madness (1998)

How many teenaged guitar prodigies can get away with playing genre-blending improvisational music and convincing blues on only their second album? Just one: Jacksonville's Derek Trucks. His musical imagination is exceeded only by his guitar prowess. Trucks, who favors slide guitar, reanimates the blues past here. On Son House's "Preachin' Blues" and Howlin' Wolf's "44," he effortlessly attains an edgy, electrifying air of tension epitomizing the honest-sounding modern blues that many others attempt so hard--and so clumsily--to achieve. Just as impressive is Truck's ongoing exploration of the transcendent jazz/rock/blues realm where guitar-packing elders like Jeff Beck, Duane Allman, Carlos Santana, and Ronnie Earl, among a few more, have dared to go--the instrumentals "Younk Funk," "Kickin' Back," "Pleasant Gardens," and "Spillway." Unlike countless other guitarists, Trucks knows better than to sully his material by singing when he can't, and he turns to Warren Haynes (of Gov't. Mule), Larry McCray, and Matt Tutor to handle the vocal chores. It's little-known Memphis resident Tutor who really pours heart and soul into songs--hear "Preachin' Blues" and "Alright." All in all, this is a strong blues-and-beyond album. Keep an eye on this Trucks kid. --Frank-John Hadley