In terms of pure musicianship - the ability to play or sing well, both technically and expressively - the individual members of the Tedeschi Trucks Band are each gifted, seasoned and professional. Some, most obviously Derek Trucks himself, ascend to a level of artistry that transcends mere training and practice. They are accomplished, but more importantly, they are unique, and born to be so.

Arithmetically speaking, the sum of the parts of TTB is a very large number. But taken as a whole, the Tedeschi Trucks Band and what they signify, is much greater. And clearly, they know this themselves, and strive against odds to make it work, night after night, year after year. After all, as a practical matter, a successful and sustainable 12-piece band is no small feat.

A TTB show is not so much a band playing hits to please a crowd, as a collective of like-minded artists, shelving their egos and elevating each other, to create something of great beauty, that can't be made without all of them there.

This is evident even in the sequence of performances in last night's show. The opener was TTB's own Gabe Dixon, who was making excellent original music under his own name, with some following, well before he stepped into TTB, to fill the enormous hole left by the tragic early death of keyboardist/flautist Kofi Burbridge. Accompanied by a subset of the larger band, he played a subtle but strong, 30-minute preview of what was to come, showcasing original songs as well as a lovely cover of Tom Petty's "Wildflowers".

The second act was hometown favorites Los Lobos, who have a long-standing friendship with TTB, and have played with them in various forms over the years. The hometown crowd was thrilled to hear some of their most popular songs; after a half-century, Los Lobos sound as good as ever. But the special magic was when they were joined by Derek and Susan (Tedeschi) and other TTB members, for the last couple of songs, including a moving cover of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On".

And vice versa - as David Hidalgo of Los Lobos stated from the stage, they are "extended family". So it's both logical and delightful to see various members of either band, discreetly showing up to play with the other, at various points throughout their respective sets.

As for the main act, TTB played - as always - a selection of old and new original songs, and well-chosen covers from the classic rock and blues repertoire they've absorbed, and sometimes transformed.

One stunning moment was Derek's short solo guitar intro to "Keep On Growing" (by Derek and The Dominoes). His first few notes were a subtle hint at the original recording, then he went in a completely different melodic direction for an exquisite minute, then brought it back to the song we know well, to great effect.

The audience was happily receptive to old and new, as it should be. TTB is a thrilling live band, but has also produced many excellent original studio recordings. The latest project, called "I Am The Moon", is actually four separate "episodes", each a collection of songs (roughly a short album's worth), with accompanying continuous video.

This is a clever and original approach to releasing new music, and it's worthy of your attention. The first three episodes have been released (on YouTube), one per month starting in May of this year, with the fourth due in late August. They are highly recommended. Songs from this project were close to half of last night's set list, and they worked quite well in the live context.

Finally, there is one negative point to report from this otherwise superb show: the lack of young faces in the crowd.

It's great to see a sea of tie-dye shirts and grey ponytails (my own cohort), but folks, maybe the next time this band is in your town, you can drag along a child, grandchild, or other unsuspecting young victim. Most will stay glued to their phones, of course. But there are no machines in this collective - the moving parts are all wood, steel, breath, and muscle - and somewhere out there are those few kids who will be transformed by this, and pick up a real instrument. They need to be found and nurtured. The world needs them.

The rest of us can just look forward to our next opportunity to visit with the collective, and soak up a little joy.

The Immediate Family took the stage at The Mint, one of LA's premier mid-sized venues, on February 13, marking the beginning of a brief tour with scheduled dates in both California and Florida. The band boasts an assembly of iconic session musicians: Russ Kunkel on drums, Leland Sklar on bass, Danny Kortchmar, Steve Postell, and Waddy Wachtel on guitars. Kortchmar and Postell primarily handle the lead vocals.

These seasoned studio musicians have, since the early '70s, provided accompaniment to an extensive list of top-tier artists in live performances and recording sessions, a role they continue to fulfill. Notably, Kortchmar and Postell are also recognized for their significant contributions as songwriters and producers, amassing a remarkable catalog of hits for various artists.

The sheer volume of their achievements is so vast that it warrants a documentary rather than a brief mention. Thankfully, Denny Tedesco has addressed this with his film about The Immediate Family, following his acclaimed documentary "The Wrecking Crew" about a similar group of influential musicians from the '60s.

After decades of supporting other artists, these five close friends decided to channel their collective talents into a project of their own. The result was the formation of The Immediate Family and the release of an outstanding rock album aptly named after the band. Their second album, "Skin In The Game," is set to release on February 16.

Despite Waddy Wachtel's absence due to commitments with Stevie Nicks, Elliot Easton of The Cars stepped in to fill the gap with impeccable guitar work during last night's performance. The setlist included tracks from their current and upcoming albums, along with selections from the extensive catalogs of Kortchmar and Postell, featuring collaborations with Don Henley, Jackson Browne, and more. In a nod to Easton's participation, the band also performed several hits from The Cars. Highlights of the night were "Dirty Laundry," "New York Minute," "Just What I Needed," along with newer originals like "House Will Fall" and "Skin In The Game."

The musicians, each with over fifty years of experience, appeared in fine form, delivering performances that lived up to their legendary reputations. The venue was filled to capacity, the audience was ecstatic, and the mutual joy between the band and their fans was palpable, offering a much-needed uplift in these uncertain times.

For those in Florida and California, catching The Immediate Family live is highly recommended. While future opportunities might be limited not by age but by their ongoing commitments, their live shows are not to be missed.

For fans unable to attend in person, the "Immediate Family" film by Denny Tedesco is available on popular streaming platforms, alongside the band's music. Both the documentary and their records come with strong endorsements.

Opening for The Immediate Family last night was Calling Cadence, a local LA band led by Oscar Jesus Bugarin and Rae Cole. Their performance, characterized by a blend of classic soul, large-band arrangements reminiscent of Tedeschi Trucks Band, and influences of Prince, was a revelation. Their musicianship was exceptional, particularly Bugarin's, who also serves as the principal songwriter. Though Calling Cadence already had a following among the local audience, their set was a delightful discovery for many. Their debut album, also titled "Calling Cadence," is available across standard platforms and is well worth exploring.

The Tedeschi Trucks Band is unique: a 12-member ensemble of extraordinary musicians, playing the music they want to play, sustaining a productive schedule of recording and live performance, and thrilling ever-growing audiences all along the way.

The TTB roster of stellar players has been steady for the last few years. In particular, Gabe Dixon is a star-level singer and keyboard player in his own right, and it's great to again hear Mike Mattison sing (and play a little guitar). He's been collaborating with Derek Trucks since well before the TTB was born, and his charismatic, easily recognizable voice is as much a part of this music as anyone's.

The band has both excellent original material and the ability to cover other people's songs in unique ways. Their last studio recording was 2022's "I Am The Moon," released that year in four parts. Written primarily by Tedeschi, Trucks, Mattison, Dixon, and a handful of others, it's a cohesive set of diverse songs, all based on the theme of a 7th-century Arabic poem about star-crossed lovers. Yes, old-timers—it's a "concept album," and a fine one at that!

And so a TTB show is, in a way, happily predictable: there will be no pyrotechnics, no acrobatics, no costume changes, no tricks of any kind. Instead, you can count on a well-oiled machine that fires on all twelve cylinders from start to finish, with the sole goal of making thrilling music.

While there will always be surprises, they are only musical: a sensitive cover of Led Zeppelin's "What Is And What Should Never Be" was glorious, while an energetic "Come and Go Blues" (by the Allman Brothers Band) served as a delightful showcase for Gabe Dixon's vocal and keyboard talents. And "44 Blues" (by Howlin' Wolf and Roosevelt Sykes), with lead vocals by Mattison, was a sweet tip of the hat to opening act Little Feat (more on them later), who covered it on their first album well over 50 years ago.

Aside from these covers, TTB fans heard many favorite originals as well, including "Made Up Mind," "Midnight In Harlem," "Let Me Get By," and others.

As a musical enterprise, the Tedeschi Trucks Band stands alone. Derek Trucks is now internationally recognized as one of the most gifted, exciting, and original guitarists of all time; his playing is instantly recognizable. Susan Tedeschi is also a very fine guitarist, but her blues-inflected vocals are simply breathtaking and a focal point of the band. It only makes sense then that this married couple runs their band like a family and are now well into their second decade of doing so successfully. It works because everyone involved brings world-class talent and a singular dedication to making the best music they can make together. If you have an opportunity to see them live—you should.

Little Feat, the show's opening act, was founded in 1969 by the late singer/guitarist/songwriter Lowell George and keyboard player/composer Bill Payne. The original lineup lasted about 10 years, without much commercial success, then essentially imploded when Lowell George died while touring in promotion of his solo album, "Thanks, I'll Eat It Here." Their small fan base just wrote off the loss of Lowell and assumed the band would not be heard from again.

But they were wrong. In the late '80s, a new edition of Little Feat emerged after the remaining members decided to give it another shot. They added Craig Fuller (originally of Pure Prairie League) on lead vocals and longtime Feat associate Fred Tackett on guitar, trumpet, and other stringed things. In 1988, they released their reunion album "Let It Roll," which was not only a critical success but even something of a commercial one as well.

Subsequently, due to the loss (to cancer) of both guitarist/singer Paul Barrere and original drummer Richie Hayward, the roster has shifted more than once over the last 36-ish years. But all of the still-living original members are still touring and recording with the band.

Now, there are still some old-time fans who believe "it's just not as good without Lowell." This is nonsense.

Little Feat Version Two (which has now lasted almost four times longer than Version One) is arguably a better band, even with the original members now approaching octogenarian status. Currently, recent member Scott Sharrard handles most of Lowell's front-man role, and both his vocals and guitar styles (including on slide) show a clear reverence for his predecessor. He sounds like a profoundly talented singer and player in his own right but with a deep love of Lowell George's music. Newest drummer Tony Leone has the unenviable job of filling the late Richie Hayward's shoes, but he does so admirably, with his own style still intact.

So to say that this band is something less than their original incarnation is both wrong and irrelevant. Everything about Little Feat that was great is still great. They've managed to overcome the loss of Lowell George's singing and playing just fine, though we will concede that the loss of his songwriting is not easily remedied. That said, his songs themselves do remain, and Little Feat today plays them at least as well now as they ever did. And certainly, the living members are also fine songwriters themselves.

For last night's show, their one-hour opening set was a tight, joyous rendition of mostly Lowell-era songs like "Fat Man In The Bathtub," "All That You Dream," "Oh Atlanta," "Spanish Moon," "Skin It Back," and "Willin." They also played the classic "Mellow Down Easy" from their new album "Sam's Place," which is an all-blues collection (a first!) featuring lead vocals by percussionist/singer Sam Clayton.

Ultimately, the pairing of Little Feat with the Tedeschi Trucks Band is perfect—these two bands are cut from the same cloth, and they clearly love and respect each other's music and ethos. To see either band perform is a joyous experience, but for the live-music fan, seeing both on the same bill is about as good as it gets.