An Allman Brother does his own thing

In a world where the presentation of musical acts may trump their musicality, Derek Trucks is focusing on what matters to him the most — the music.

“You have to bend with the time, and the days of the record company running the whole thing has passed. It’s good people can trade music and get the word out there, but as an artist, you have to focus on playing as your interest. It should really be substance first,” he said.

As a child prodigy at the guitar, Trucks has been focusing solely on the music since 14 years old, when he started the Derek Trucks Band. He’s now hailed as one of the greatest slide guitarists.

“Far too many young bands are too concerned with how they’re going to present what they do more so than what they do. It’s a little bit lightweight when you’re focused with the media. You have to learn how to do your (expletive) well first and then get it out to the people,” he said.

Since the age of 12, Trucks has toured with the Allman Brothers Band. His parents were supportive of his music career.

“I was traveling the state, then the country, then the world. It kind of snowballed — nothing that was planned out; it was one of those things. It’s been a trip,” said Trucks, now 31. “There’s no music education like actually being out there and playing concerts and getting out there.”

After over a decade of performing with the Allman Brothers as a special guest, Trucks became an official member in 1999. He has continued to tour with the Allman Brothers while performing with his own band.

Trucks’ band plays a blend of blues, soul, jazz rock, qawwali music — a genre of music from Pakistan and Eastern India — Latin and other kinds of world music. The Allman Brothers, who have long been known as Southern-rock musicians, also incorporate elements of blues, jazz and country into their playing.

“It’s pretty fortunate to be in a band that’s established and to have the musical freedom. It’s an amazing gig; I’m glad to be a part of it,” he said. “But there’s something with your own group, where the story hasn’t been written yet. You can do whatever you want, whatever you feel.”

But Trucks said he doesn’t feel stifled by the Allman Brothers either.

“When I do the Allman Brothers, I don’t feel like I have to shut myself off musically,” he said.

Despite having started so young, Trucks hasn’t contemplated doing anything else.

“Once you have the bug, it’s over and you’re in,” he said. Trucks said while he could see touring less and working on other aspects of music like producing, the field he’s in will stay the same.

But for now, Trucks is touring with his band — along with his blues-guitarist wife Susan Tedeschi’s band.

Trucks’ wife, Tedeschi, has been a source of inspiration to him, as well as a songwriting partner.

“It’s nice anytime you’re with someone who’s been a powerful musician,” he said. “It’s going to spark your ideas whether it’s onstage or in the studio.”

As for his two children with Tedeschi, it’s too early to say if his 8-year-old son will get into music, but his 5-year-old daughter is already interested.

Trucks, along with his band, is in the middle of writing and recording a new album. He said nothing’s definite, but the group may be able to put the record out early next year.

Fans can expect “a combination with all the things that we’ve done with my group and Susan’s group. We’ve written 25 to 30 songs so far. There’s a freshness to it,” Trucks said.

Despite working with many of his heroes, Trucks focuses on creating new music.

“Both me and my wife have been very fortunate to play with our heroes — Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, the Allman Brothers and Herbie Hancock,” he said. He added that there’s still a few more he’d like to play with, but at “the end of the day, it’s really starting something from scratch, just writing.”

Messenger Post (Canandaigua, N.Y.)