SUSAN TEDESCHI
Hope and Desire
Verve Forecast
Susan Tedeschi’s Hope and Desire
is one of those albums that is simply right from the moment
you put it on and begin to listen. The song choices are
great, Tedeschi’s voice is in great form, and the
guitar work by Doyle Bramhall II and husband Derek Trucks
really hits the spot. True, some fans might want to hear
more of Tedeschi’s six-string work, but her concentration
on vocals on this disc seems natural and, (here’s
that word again) right.Hope and Desire presents
a series of covers that all have something in common, despite
the fact that some are blues, some soul, some country/bluegrass,
some gospel, some rock—all are songs that have a soulful
feel to them, and Tedeschi’s voice does justice to
them. She opens with the Stones’ “You Got the
Silver” from 1969’s Let It Bleed. This
was the album where the Stones first managed to combine
their blues and country influences into a rock stew that
they would mine for the next several years. Her cover of
Dylan’s “Protect My Child” benefits from
some gorgeous dobro work by Derek Trucks. The band here
is absolutely fantastic, and the idea to record with a hand-picked
group of guest musicians rather than Tedeschi’s longstanding
touring band came from producer Joe Henry (Solomon Burke,
Aimee Mann, Bettye Lavette). Henry’s work is exemplary
here, creating a sound that resonates with the roots of
American popular music in a way that recalls the heyday
of The Band.
"Making this record was a really incredible
experience," says Tedeschi. "It was exciting working
with new people, and there was tremendous chemistry between
all of us. We only had ten days to do it, so we really did
everything on the fly. It was all about capturing a moment
in time, rather than getting everything perfect, and working
that way was a blast. There were no rules and no written
parts; we'd just go in and try different things, and if
it wasn't happening, we'd just strip it down or try it another
way."
Tedeschi and company do more than just present
a nice group of covers—they manage to redefine many
of these tunes and claim them for their own, even though
most were done by legendary artists. “Share Your Love
With Me” gets a relaxed tempo and arrangement that
rings with gospel overtones, and Tedeschi’s vocal
interpretation is both soulful and longing. “Evidence”
is hard-edged soul with Tedeschi turning more raspy and
raunchy in her vocal work, with some tasty Hammond B-3 work
by Jebin Bruni, a session player who has worked with Aimee
Mann and Fiona Apple. “Loving You Is Sweeter Than
Ever” is less manic than its original version, with
a heavy-duty bass line that drives it along. Dorsey Burnette’s
“Magnificent Sanctuary Band” gets an electric
piano-fueled interpretation with the Blind Boys of Alabama
on backing vocals. This song has been recorded by Donny
Hathaway and David Clayton-Thomas, but Tedeschi’s
version here is definitive.
Hope and Desire is a great album
for those who like their blues wrapped up in a sonic blanket
of other American roots music styles, or who like their
pop and rock music infused with the blues. It’s Tedeschi’s
most mature recording to date, and while it’s likely
that her next album of originals will feature Tedeschi’s
guitar work and working band, it will probably be influenced
by the things that Tedeschi learned recording Hope and
Desire. This is an instant classic of its kind.
