Midnight in Harlem

I first saw Derek Trucks in September 2006, playing lead guitar on Eric Clapton’s tour. To say I was blown away is a massive understatement. I actually felt bad for Eric, because it seemed that Derek completely stole the show. His slide guitar performance on the song Layla actually raised the hair on my arms. I’ll never forget the experience. It was almost as if Derek was channeling the late Duane Allman, whose guitar magic helped make that song into such a beautiful classic back in 1970. I couldn’t help but wonder if Clapton had a vision of the future when he called his band at that time Derek & the Dominos?

Trucks was only 27 years old when I first saw him that night, but he had already been playing professionally for years. He had his first paid gig at age 11 and at 17 started his own band. Then when he was 19 he joined The Allman Brothers full-time – he had been playing on and off with them for years (his uncle Butch is the long-time drummer and founding member). He already had an amazing start to his career, but I could tell that this young man would continue to have a very bright future. In fact, I’m willing to predict that at some point in the future he’ll be considered one of the all-time greatest guitar players.

Combined Talents

At age 22, Derek married Susan Tedeschi, who at the time was a very talented and successful musician on her own. I didn’t know much about her, though, and didn’t fully appreciate her talent until she and Derek started playing together years later. She plays a pretty mean guitar herself, but it’s her vocals that really stand out. She has an amazing and unique voice – best described as being similar to Bonnie Raitt, but maybe with a little more depth.

In 2010, Derek and Susan started the Tedeschi Trucks Band, and the world has been a better place ever since. While their music is definitely rooted in blues, the outcome is more varied. Sometimes it’s a little heavy, and sometimes it’s more like jazz. But regardless of the category, their music is always positive and uplifting. The two have surrounded themselves with top-notch musicians, creating extraordinary results.

The first song of theirs that caught my attention was Midnight in Harlem, which was included in their set at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2010. This particular performance was (fortunately) captured forever in high definition video and included on the festival’s DVD that Clapton assembled and released. Our good friend (and cousin) Sam told me that if I liked Derek’s guitar work, then I absolutely had to watch the DVD to see his new band in action.

He wasn’t kidding. I immediately became a fan.

An Instant Favorite

Midnight in Harlem was included on the Tedeschi Trucks Band’s first official release in 2011. The album, Revelator, justifiably won the Grammy for Best Blues Album the following year.

Right from the opening notes, this song had me. It’s got a smooth, relaxed beat. And its mellow guitar, keyboard and vocal parts all blend together perfectly. If I really pay attention to the lyrics I suppose they’re not the happiest – typical of the blues – but the music is so beautiful I can’t help but be filled with happiness while listening. In fact, during one challenging stretch I experienced at work a few years ago, I used this song as my “attitude adjustment” every morning…for a good couple of months. And it never failed to lift my spirits and put me in a good mood, ready to tackle anything that came my way.

If I were to call this song a big ice cream sundae, then Derek’s slide guitar would be the whip cream, fudge and cherry on top. His slide-work appears throughout the song, but he really pounds out a whopper of a solo towards the end. Especially in the version I’ve posted below – where the solo runs for more than two minutes of the six-and-a-half minute song. Wow!

I’ve seen Tedeschi Trucks in concert a handful of times now, including a wild, stormy experience at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado last June. Contrasting with most acts, who play a fairly consistent set list each night, you never know what to expect from this band. Their set list is never the same, and they’re confident enough to throw in a brand new song on any given night. You can see them two nights in a row and have two completely different experiences.

 
But so far, I’ve never been to a concert of theirs that didn’t include Midnight in Harlem, which will always be my favorite part of the show. For some reason, all of life’s problems seem to fade far away when I hear this song, and I get completely lost in the music. I’m fortunate to have had a lot of amazing experiences in my life. But to me there’s nothing better than getting lost in music — hearing it live from the performers themselves — while being surrounded by thousands of other fans, all absorbed in that same moment. A song like Midnight in Harlem has the ability to make it even more special. It’s a very spiritual experience.

So, hats off to the Tedeschi Trucks Band for creating such beautiful music. And a special nod to Minneapolis’ own Mike Mattison, a long-time band bandmate of Derek’s who penned this particular gem of a song.

I hope you enjoy.