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08:41 AM, Mar 04, 2003 |

Date of Concert: 2/25/2003 | Location: Nashville, TN

Susan Tedeschi - Live @ The Belcourt Theater =Capacity Crowd Nashville, Tennessee Tuesday, 2/25/03 w/ACME Booking -Jim Pitt Review by: Ron Miller Jazz & Blues Review On a cold February night, Nashville was treated to a world -class belting of blues and soul from an incredible songstress who testifies the transcendent blues spirit better than anyone in recent memory. Susan Tedeschi is without a doubt a bonafide soul stirring artist that is moving more mainstream (translation: more popular)with each Grammy nominated release. With multiple Grammy nominations, Blues Handy Awards and raves from; Billboard, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly and People, the answer is undeniably clear. Susan Tedeschi is an artist synonymous with high energy, blistering blues riffs and vocal projection not heard of live since Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin! Don’t just take my word for it. Just listen to the accolades from the likes of Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Double Trouble, Allman Brothers, Sheryl Crow, John Mellencamp, Buddy Guy and B.B. King all of whom have hand picked her to tour with them in years past. There’s a new lady (of soulful blues) in town! I believe Susan reflects the intense Atlantic years from ‘66-’71 that turned Aretha Franklin’s Soul music into a household trademark. Check out the "Live at the Fillmore West" for a taste of the gutsy energy and sensitive ballads you can expect from Mrs. Susan. Tedeschi is not to be confused with the "girl" singer’s of today’s pop asylum as she sings with mature delivery and a vocal tone that is individual and undeniably alluring and seductive. Her songwriting and vocal delivery captivates an audience while making a resounding statement for R&B music and soul drenched blues. In two words….Tedeschi, testifies! To hear Susan’s music live is an organic, sensual and a downright fun experience. Based on the raves from the audience and the 16 selections performed with her seasoned band, Tedeschi’s Nashville romp was more proof that her musical delivery is heartfelt and affects everyone in attendance deep in their collective soul. Susan also offered up a special guest Aubrey Ghent for the Nashville show who was both fiery and caused standing ovations and joyful applause from the audience and smiles from Susan, ear to ear. Look For Aubrey Ghent to augment the New England leg of the Tedeschi tour through March and April! While this energetic new mom travels with her one year old son on tour and performs, she has a seemingly girlish charm and attains an unassuming star quality. Susan Tedeschi is classy and her demeanor on stage is both defiantly anthemic, (listen to the yells of approval from the ladies in the audience for a testimony!) and full of life’s reflective fun and joyful times (love & motherhood w/ music). When Tedeschi entered the stage with her band she was greeted with a roar of approval from the Belcourt audience. The set began with "You Need To Be With Me" with it’s Reggae pulse and blues riffs setting up three selections from her latest Grammy nominated release ‘Wait For Me.’ The album title song "Wait For Me" was followed by "Alone" -the song which received a Grammy nomination for 2002, written by Nashville native Tommy Simms. Tedeschi then paid tribute to Bob Dylan with her soulful rendition of "Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right." The Junior Wells song "Little By Little" was followed by a new funky jam song "Hypmotized." The seventh song would introduce the Nashville audience to a native lap steel master Aubrey Ghent. Mr. Ghent is a long time friend of Susan’s husband Derek Trucks and incidentally married the couple. Ghent’s Slide mastery was breathtaking and added extra fire to the great show in progress. "The Feeling Music Brings" would showcase Susan’s Matriarchal choir leader vocal riffing trading with Hammond Organ and Ghent’s lap steel howls and growls. The crowd raised up in approval and the slide showcase "Looking For Answers" had both Ghent and Tedeschi working out on slide. The Paul Pena song "Gonna Move" would be followed by the energetic, fun loving song "I Fell In Love." Seemingly an anthem to how Tedeschi feels about her marriage, her son Charlie and this point in her life. The introspective delivery of "In The Garden" was airy, dreamy and previously recorded on the Double Trouble album. The ladies in the audience yelled with approval and sang along with "Momma He Treats Your Daughter Mean" and Ghent’s slide work took the energy over the top! Susan always pays tribute to the artists she has been affected by and the next song would feature a 12/8 ballad from the great Bobby "Blue" Bland the R&B song master. "Lost Lover Blues" was a heartfelt ballad along the lines of T Bone Walker’s "Stormy Monday" and a beautiful contrast to the roadhouse rocker performed previously. When Tedeschi broke into the scorching blues belting of "It Hurts So Bad" all bets were of for a "contained" audience. The heartfelt lost lover song really connected with the audience -especially, the ladies in the audience who rocked and sang with Susan except for the impossible gut wrenching and painful wails sung solo in the stop time breaks by a testifying Tedeschi! Susan really has songs that reflect life and drama that real people feel and have to work through. Susan and her fiery band left the stage but an encore was eminent because of the joyous crowd reactions! There is no mystery why Susan’s independent release, ‘Just Won’t Burn’ sold over 500,000 just by word and hard roadwork alone! After two Grammy nominations in as many recordings we can only anticipate the next recording will send Tedeschi over the top and her name because we need artists like her and music needs her now more than ever. Tedeschi and Aubrey Ghent returned to the stage with the band ready to play the last selections. The crowd kept yelling for "Rock Me Right" as she introduced "Better Days" the Title cut from her very first recording in Boston to sell at her gigs in the mid-nineties with much success. After a rousing performance Tedeschi fought off calls for other songs(a sign of a strong song catalog) and introduced a song the band would try out on the audience. No one knew what the song was but the opening chords were that of a Stevie Wonder classic from ‘Songs To The Key Of Life.’ Susan introduced the song as one needed to reflect what the world needs now is healing. The song? "Love’s In Need Of Love Today" was a great night cap to end the show, chock full of great grooves and heartfelt lyrics while being reflective of the times we live in today -post 9-11. After witnessing another great soul drenched performance from Susan Tedeschi I come away with a smile and joy thinking about the classy lady who sings the blues with the best; past, present and in the future. After the performance Susan signed many autographs and CD’s for her fans. Tedeschi comes across with genuine girlish charm and testifying Matriarchal choir leader. No matter what your music taste are, Tedeschi proves she’s the real deal……. as her fiery music will move you -heart, soul and body! FINE Tedeschi info: www.susantedeschi.com www.artemisrecords.com www.tonecool.com Booking info: Ron Kaplan ron@mpachicago Reviewed by: Ron Miller -writer & contributor with: Pollstar / Jazz Review / Music City Blues Society/Nashville Newsletter /Indianapolis Jazz Foundation / The National Endowment of the Arts and Music For Life Alliance