On the album Briefcase Full of Blues, Elwood predicts that by 2006 blues albums will only exist in the classical music section of our public libraries.  Yet, after two nights at the Savannah Music Festival I can attest that blues is more than alive and well. 

On April 2nd a packed Trustees’ Theater shared in the groove of the Derek Trucks Band’s unique blues style.  Mike Madison’s vocals got the diverse crowd involved along with the peeks and valleys of Derek Truck’s slide guitar play.  Drummer Yonrico Scott played his fat-back drums expressively. Two second set treats arrived as local Kristina Train preformed a duet with Madison, and Indian slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya jammed with the band.  At the encore the crowd went wild as they did for an amped up version of "For my Brother" and a redux of "Favorite Things".

The World of Slide Guitar program began on April 3rd at the larger Lucas Theater.  Jerry Douglas began the evening honoring the Southern roots of steel guitar play.  Bob Brozman educated us to the rhythmic roots of Hawaiian slide.  We were then blessed with the meditative music of the Bhattacharya Family on traditional instruments.  Derek Trucks tied the show together with crucial electric play and covers like "Killing Floor".  Climaxing, the show ended with an unbelievably scintillating seven musician jam.   

Casual affairs on a normal southern nights, but the buildings could have swayed for all the emotion that was made by those who let their hair down.

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