August 4-10, 2005

musicpicks

Susan Tedeschi

by Nicole Pensiero

blues

Blues singer-guitarist Susan Tedeschi has an usual career goal: "I'd love to sell a million records, but have no fame," she says. "I like being respected for my music, and getting to work with great players — but then having a sort of anonymous soccer-mom kind of life when I'm off the road. People don't know me."

Well, actually, some do, and plenty more discovered the 34-year-old Boston-bred, Florida-based performer after she nabbed a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist for 1998's Etta James-meets-Bonnie Raitt-flavored Just Won't Burn. Married to guitar whiz-kid Derek Trucks and the mother of two toddlers, Tedeschi is gearing up for the October release of her fifth album, Hope and Desire (Verve Forecast), a collection of covers.

"It was a blast to make," Tedeschi says. "We did it in 10 days. The chemistry was absolutely great." Produced by Joe Henry, the CD features ax heroes like Doyle Bramhall II and her hubby, Trucks. Two of the musicians for the sessions — bassist Paul Bryan and drummer Jay Bellerose — were pals of Tedeschi's from her days at Boston's Berklee College of Music.

The songs picked for Hope and Desire run the gamut from country (Iris DeMent's "Sweet Forgiveness") to rock (the Stones' "You Got the Silver") to gospel (Donny Hathaway's "Magnificent Sanctuary Band" — which features the vocal firepower of the Blind Boys of Alabama). Diverse, yes, but they have one thing in common, Tedeschi says: "great storytelling."

Joined by a three-member band for this tour, Tedeschi will handle lead guitar onstage and expects to play a mix of old and new material. "We like to mix it up," she says. "We'll play off the crowd a bit; see what they're up for."

Thu., Aug. 4, 8 p.m., $35-$45, with Lucinda Williams, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 52nd St. and Parkside Ave., 215-893-1999, www.manncenter.org.