Happy Birthday Derek Trucks: All-Star Studio Jams

Though only turning 37 years old today, Derek Trucks has a reputation and resume that puts him among the most elite guitarists currently creating music. Sought after since his teenage years, the former The Allman Brothers Band member and current co-chair of Tedeschi Trucks Band alongside his multi-talented wife Susan Tedeschi continues to explore new avenues of expression with whomever he’s performing with. For the master slide guitarist’s birthday today, here’s a look back at younger Trucks in the studio showing off his diverse range with an all-star cast of cohorts.

Trucks was a part of two sessions of the BET J program Studio Jams, which premiered in 2003 and featured a mix of musicians from divergent backgrounds and styles to record together in a studio. In some cases the musicians were meeting each other for the first time.

Trucks was part of the first episode of Studio Jams, taped on November 11, 2000 and including guitarist (and St. Vincent/Annie Clark’s uncle) Tuck Andress, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones’ bassist Victor Wooten and drummer Roy “Futureman” Wooten, former Flecktone/current Dave Matthews Band saxophonist Jeff Coffin, TTB flutist Kofi Burbridge and jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco. Held at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, below watch the all-star ensemble play Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” and Jimmy Smith’s “Back At The Chicken Shack” as well as a vignette on the making of the session:

Trucks returned to Sigma Sounds Studios on April 1, 2003 for a second taping of Studio Jams. That time he was joined by his former ABB band mate and current Dead & Company bassist Oteil Burbridge, The Derek Trucks Band drummer Yonrico Scott and Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid, along with Kofi Burbridge and Jeff Coffin. Watch the all-star collective’s take on Billy Cobham’s “Red Baron” here:

As a birthday bonus, here’s Derek’s profile for the Studio Jams MUSICMAKERS series. Watch him reveal insights into his slide playing style and more: