The Tedeschi Trucks Band is a quintessentially American musical institution. A multiracial 12-member ensemble fronted by the husband-and-wife duo of guitar virtuoso Derek Trucks and singer/guitarist Susan Tedeschi, their sound draws on a wide variety of traditions from the cradle of American music in the South to beyond the borders of the United States, embracing elements of Indian and African music.
In their recent performance on a perfect summer night at Wolf Trap, Tedeschi Trucks Band offered the audience a reminder of the beauty and diversity that makes this country great.
TTB is characterized as a jam band, and that’s true, in the sense that they engage in improvisation and extended instrumental segments in their songs. But compared to the 30-minute jams found on the Allman Brothers Live At Fillmore East — the Allmans being one of their influences, as Derek played with them for some time — they played a much more conventional 15 numbers in a tight 85-minute set — including an instrumental jam between Kebbi Williams and Isaac Eady.
They also stand out from their jam band peers in the expansiveness of their influences. Sure, there’s the Allmans and the Grateful Dead (they played Jerry Garcia’s “Shugaree” on Friday night), but the songs they tastefully covered included the blue-eyed soul of the Box Tops’ “The Letter,” the classic R&B of Chuck Willis’s “I Feel So Bad,” the blues-rock of Eric Clapton’s “Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?”, the midwestern country of John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery,” the Latin inflections of Santana “Soul Sacrifice,” and the New Orleans funk of Dr. John’s “I Walk On Guilded Splinters,” the song with which they closed the show.
Watch Tedeschi Trucks Band perform Dr. John’s “I Walk on Guilded Splinters” live in 2022 via YouTube:
While they do play a lot of covers, TTB also stand out for their songwriting, with contributions from many members of the band. They kicked off the show with “Crazy Cryin’,” and they also played “Devil Be Gone,” “Who Am I?,” “I Want More,” “Until You Remember,” “Let Me Get By,” and “Future Soul.”
As it is every summer when TTB comes to Wolf Trap, their playing and singing were exceptional. Derek’s guitar work is some of the best in the world, and the rest of the band rises to his level of skill. Every time I hear Susan sing, I’m reminded she has one of the best voices in popular music.
Once you have heard TTB work their magic, it’s no mystery why they’re such a popular, beloved, and revered act.
Here are some photos of Tedeschi Trucks Band performing live at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap on August 29, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Ari Strauss.
