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Derek Trucks Band

The Derek Trucks Band has been a work in progress for over 10 years, blending jazz, rock, blues, Latin, Eastern Indian, and other world music into the sound that now defines the DTB. The band’s mission has been to assemble a group of musicians that share a passion for improvisation and musical exploration, and to develop a united musical vision by performing with this core group of players for an extended period of time. The focus of the band is on the art form itself, despite the current trend of image-driven music on the scene today. The DTB aims to create progressive roots music in an effort to move the art form forward and re establish substance over hype. Following is a brief history of the band, and the diverse background of the musicians that make up the DTB.

Derek Truck's musical career began at the age of nine, when he picked up a five dollar acoustic guitar at a yard sale. "It was nothing special," he claims, “It was just the only thing that looked interesting." But that seemingly inconsequential purchase changed his life. After learning what he could from his father and a family friend, Derek began playing with other musicians around town. "It happened pretty quick," Derek remembers. Within the span of a single year, he had purchased an instrument, learned how to play, and began touring - with his father acting as road manager/chaperone. What had begun as a weekend activity quickly became a life’s pursuit, and would eventually result in Derek being the youngest player to make Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" list.

Derek got his first paying gig at age 11 and formed his first band at age 12. Todd Smallie, who played with many jazz and blues musicians in the Atlanta area, entered the picture in 1994, when Derek was 15 years old. "We have so many stories and so much in common,” says Derek, “It's been an amazing experience with him.”

In 1995, Yonrico Scott rounded out the band's permanent rhythm section. More than 20 years older than Derek, Yonrico brings an incredible lifetime of experience to the table. Like Derek, Yonrico began to play music at an extremely early age, picking up the drums when he was only 7 years old, playing gospel music in church. While growing up in Detroit, Yonrico studied under Motown drummer George Hamilton before moving south to attend the University of Kentucky, where he received a Bachelor's Degree in percussion performance.

Born in the Bronx, raised in Washington, DC, Kofi Burbridge first picked up the flute at age 6. He soon began ear training and studying theory at the same time. Kofi's musical education was rooted in classical and jazz -- for the flute. While attending college at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Kofi landed his first touring gig. Eventually making his home in Atlanta, Kofi took advantage of numerous opportunities to play with his brother Oteil (bassist extraordinaire) and a host of like-minded, enthusiastic musicians. He joined the Derek Trucks Band in 1999.

In 2002, The Derek Trucks Band heard about vocalist Mike Mattison after recommendations by both DTB producers Craig Street and John Snyder in the same week. Mike had been performing and recording as part of a duo called Scrapomatic in the New York area. Mike performed with The Derek Trucks Band for several gigs and Derek soon realized he had found the final piece of the puzzle. Mike’s soulful voice and understated stage presence fit the band’s musical vision and Mike worked into a full time position with the band shortly thereafter. Mike, originally from Minneapolis, lived and played in Brooklyn for a number of years before finally being drawn to the Southeast and settling in Atlanta with the rest of his DTB bandmates.

Count M’Butu has been the mysterious sixth member of The Derek Trucks Band for the last six or more years. He is the only band member that doesn’t perform on every tour, but his presence with the band has become more frequent over time and the band always elevates their playing when he graces the stage. Born in Georgia in 1945, Count M'Butu studied music at Georgia State University and learned the art of drum making while in Africa, where he developed his love for and prowess on a variety of percussion instruments. He has worked with a wide variety of musicians, including Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit, Frank Zappa, and Chuck Leavell and has shared stages with Widespread Panic, Blues Traveler, the Allman Brothers Band, and Phish.

Source: Derek Trucks
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The Derek Trucks Band: Roadsongs

Read "Roadsongs" reviewed by Doug Collette

by Doug Collette
June 24, 2010

A full-length extension of the previously issued EP, Already Live (Victor, 2009), and a more than worthy successor to Live At the Georgia Theatre (Sony Legacy, 2004), Roadsongs accurately summarizes the evolution of The Derek Trucks Band over its sixteen-year existence. Recorded at Chicago's Park West, the site of the group's concert DVD Songlines (Legacy, 2006), this double-disc set collects standards of the DTB repertoire as well as selections from the unit's most recent studio recordings, many of which are ...

260

Live Review

The Derek Trucks Band in Rutland VT: One for the Ages

by Doug Collette
November 26, 2009

The Derek Trucks Band Paramount Theatre Rutland,Vermont November 6, 2009 The Derek Trucks Band concluded the second of their extended sets at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland, Vermont with “Key to the Highway" and “My Favorite things," each tune a mirror image of the other and an all but perfect distillation of the preceding near-three hours of stellar musicianship. The interweaving of raw intensity and graceful lyricism was the sextet's ...

293

Album Review

The Derek Trucks Band: Already Live (EP)

Read "Already Live (EP)" reviewed by Doug Collette

by Doug Collette
May 11, 2009

Approximately forty minutes isn't nearly enough to capture the sensation of the Derek Trucks Band concert experience, but the five impeccably recorded tracks that comprise Already Live should be enough to placate the guitar hero-worshippers and other fans of the precocious wunderkind who find his recent studio work a bit too structured.

Even with its availability limited to indie record stores, this collection of concert takes captured in autumn of 2008 may not constitute a collector's item per ...

163

Live Review

The Derek Trucks Band: From The Mystic to the Mainstream

by Doug Collette
December 17, 2005

The Derek Trucks Band Lebanon Opera House Lebanon, New Hampshire November 20, 2005A tremendous work ethic combined with seemingly boundless creativity is paying off for the Derek Trucks Band just as the buzz around them increases in volume and expanse. Judging from the way the band and their leader were feeling it in Lebanon New Hampshire, combined with the way the audience reacted---buzzing with anticipation beforehand, then testifying loudly throughout the set--here you ...

174

Performance / Tour

Derek Trucks Band: 2010 Hiatus

Source: JamBase
November 5, 2009

The Derek Trucks Band To Go On Hiatus In 2010

The Derek Trucks Band After 16 years of relentless touring, and a fantastic 2009 that featured the release of Already Free, and a World Tour that brought the band to more than a dozen countries on four continents, The Derek Trucks Band is taking a hiatus in 2010. There are still a number of dTb dates scheduled throughout November and December of 2009 - details below.

To commemorate a stellar ...
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164

Performance / Tour

Derek Trucks Band | 04.15 | S.F.

Source: JamBase
April 21, 2009

Words by: Eric Podolsky | Images by: Susan J. Weiand

Derek Trucks Band :: 04.15.09 :: The Grand Ballroom :: San Francisco, CA

Derek Trucks :: 04.15 :: San Francisco Derek Trucks has spent some time in the national spotlight in the past few years (touring with Clapton, appearing on the cover of Rolling Stone, Allman Brothers' 40th anniversary Beacon run, etc.), and based on raw musical talent, there are few who deserve it more. There is no doubt ...
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200

Recording

Derek Trucks Band: Live EP

Source: JamBase
April 10, 2009

THE DEREK TRUCKS BAND SUPPORTS 'RECORD STORE DAY' WITH THE RELEASE OF LIVE, LIMITED EDITION EP ALREADY LIVE IN STORES APRIL 18

The Derek Trucks Band In honor of “Record Store Day," The Derek Trucks Band will release Already Live (Sony/Victor Records) - a five song EP consisting of live recordings from the band's latest and critically acclaimed album Already Free, as well as fan favorites from their live performances such as “My Favorite Things" and ...
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227

Interview

Guitarist Derek Trucks Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
February 24, 2009

Over the past few years guitarist Derek Trucks has been on the cover of Down Beat and Rolling Stone; he's been profiled in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal; he's toured with Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana; he's guested on recordings with J.J. Cale, Elvin Bishop, Buddy Guy, David Sanborn and Nashville dobro virtuoso Jerry Douglas; and he's done a DVD with McCoy Tyner, Ron Carter, and Jack DeJohnette. A child prodigy, he joined Bob Dylan on ...
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120

Recording

Derek Trucks Band: Grindin' Toward Freedom

Source: JamBase
January 30, 2009

By: Dennis Cook

The Derek Trucks Band These days The Derek Trucks Band is getting known for what they do that's unique to them, and not just their bandleader's associations with the Allman Brothers or Eric Clapton.

“It definitely feels like there's a little shift going on," says Derek Trucks. “For the last few years, with the Clapton tour and everything else, I think our music is finally lining ...
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301

Music Industry

Derek Trucks Band | 11.07.08 | NYC

Source: JamBase
November 22, 2008

Words by: Eric Liebetrau | Images by: Hiroya Wakabayashi

Derek Trucks Band :: 11.07.08 :: Blender Theater :: New York, NY

The Derek Trucks Band In the mid-'90s, Derek Trucks began gaining cred for his work in the Allman Brothers Band, mainly due to his strikingly accurate approximation of the classic slide guitar of the late Duane Allman. Given his age (he first played with the legendary band while still in his early teens) ...
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237

Recording

Derek Trucks Band: Already Free

Source: JamBase
November 14, 2008

THE DEREK TRUCKS BAND SET TO RELEASE ALREADY FREE ON JANUARY 13, 2009

Listen to “Down In The Flood".

“Three things worth knowing about Derek Trucks: He is young, he is a veteran, and he is the most awe-inspiring electric slide guitar player performing today." -Ashley Kahn, Wall Street Journal

“One of the best guitar players out there." -Willie Nelson

Derek Trucks Band One of the most critically acclaimed guitarists and the youngest musician to be named in Rolling Stone's ...
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190

Performance / Tour

Derek Trucks Band | 09.06.08 | Chicago

Source: JamBase
October 10, 2008

Words by: Herschel Concepcion | Images by: Howard Kaplan

Derek Trucks Band & Lubriphonic :: 09.06.08 :: Vic Theatre :: Chicago, IL

Derek Trucks :: 09.06 :: Chicago With a delightful combination of American blues, jazz and world music, the Derek Trucks Band is redefining it all in an era where it seems like everything's already been done. Defined by Derek Trucks's raunchy, rippin' slide guitar, the band's sound taps into the realm of ...
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108

Recording

Derek Trucks Band's Label Debut "Joyful Noise" Just Released On Columbia Records

Source: All About Jazz
September 7, 2002

Only 23 years old, this young master of the slide guitar has been touring since the age of 11. Derek's debut album for Columbia, Joyful Noise is a genre busting collection of both incendiary instrumental workouts and passionate vocal tunes. The Derek Trucks Band (Derek Trucks: guitar; Todd Smallie: bass, Kofi Burbridge: keyboards, flute and vocals, and Yonrico Scott, drums and vocals) will soon celebrate their 10th anniversary. Guest vocalists on the new cd include r&b and rock hall of ...
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