Showing posts with label All My Friends Celebrating The Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label All My Friends Celebrating The Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman. Show all posts

5/18/2014

Rock/Blues/Country Review: Various-All My Friends Celebrating The Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman

Release Date: May 6, 2014
Label: Rounder Records

The legend of the Allman Brothers Band and its namesake Gregg Allman has transcended time and all barriers for music fans across the globe. They have been credited with being one of the originators of the jam band culture and rightly so. Allman has survived the turbulent times of drug addictions, the loss of his brother Duane and many lineup changes in the band. He has come out the other side of all that and continues to carry on the tradition of great blues rock music to entertain countless fans everywhere that flock to his concerts.


On January 10th this year at the Fox Theater in Atlanta a special event took place. A tribute to the music of Gregg Allman, All My Friends Celebrating The Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman, was recorded and filmed. 4 hours of pure blues rock was presented to a full house of appreciative fans. The set was released this month by roots label Rounder Records and it encompasses two CDs, one DVD and a booklet with several pictures at that event and liner notes. The package folds out into four sections and is presented in a nice cardboard case.


The lineup is a who’s who of music including The Allman Brothers Band, Devon Allman, Trace Adkins, Kenny Aronoff, Jackson Browne, Eric Church, Natalie Cole, Audley Freed, Brantley Gilbert, Vince Gill, Warren Haynes, John Hiatt, Rami Jaffee, Jaimoe, Dr. John, Chuck Leavell, Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’, Martina McBride, Pat Monahan, Sam Moore, Jack Pearson, Robert Randolph, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Don Was and Widespread Panic. Now if that isn’t a good choice to represent your body of work I really don’t have a clue what else could be considering the genre. As it turned out it was an excellent show of respect and replication of Allman’s music. Any fan of a particular artist is understandably hesitant going into something like this. It is natural to feel some doubt of how the music is going to sound compared to the originals. Let me assure you this is an outstanding reproduction of the Allman cannon in every way. 


So where does one start with such a comprehensive set? It’s not an easy task when all the tracks are so well done. The band that remained on the stage throughout the performance was incredibly good and obviously why it was easier to reproduce all the songs for the guest vocalist. Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks were a constant force and there was a killer horn section with the usual wall of percussion behind them. 


Vince Gill has always been a favorite of mine and thousands of other country music fans and his contribution to the show was stellar. He served up “Multi-Colored Lady” like only he could and I am sure Gregg was pleased. That is one example of several performances that make this set a special treat for rock, blues and country music fans. What is nice to see as well is that Allman is visibly happy and at peace these days. Attitude dictates an overall atmosphere at a concert or anywhere else for that matter, so with that in mind it makes for an out of this world performance from everyone involved including the honored icon.


There are far too many instances of musical clarity and exceptional musical craftsmanship to mention on this set and it would be easy to babble on forever about what you will hear and see on this concert. All I can say is that this one is a keeper and a must have to any Allman fan or blues, rock or country enthusiast. All of those genres are represented here along with some jazz runs that only The Allman Brothers Band could pull off in a live setting. All the pieces of the puzzle came together just as if it was meant to be all along. If there is a rock ‘n’ roll heaven this is what it must be like.

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: ALL

Tracks:

Disc: 1

 01. Come and Go Blues Warren Haynes
02. End of the Line Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks
03. Stand Back Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks
04. You Can t Lose What You Ain t Never Had Devon Allman, Jimmy Hall and Robert Randolph
05. Please Call Home Sam Moore
06. Just Another Rider Keb Mo
07. Before the Bullets Fly Brantley Gilbert
08. Let This Be a Lesson to Ya Dr. John
09. Queen of Hearts Pat Monahan
10. One Way Out John
11. Statesboro Blues Taj Mahal and Gregg Allman
12. Just Ain t Easy Widespread Panic
13. Wasted Words Widespread Panic and Derek Trucks
14. I m No Angel Trace Adkins


Disc: 2
 
01. Trouble No More Trace Adkins
02. Multi-Colored Lady Vince Gill
03. All My Friends Martina McBride
04. Can You Fool Pat Monahan and Martina McBride
05. Ain t Wastin Time No More Eric Church
06. Win, Lose or Draw Eric Church
07. These Days Jackson Browne and Gregg Allman
08. Melissa Jackson Browne and Gregg Allman
09. Midnight Rider Vince Gill, Zac Brown and Gregg Allman
10. Dreams The Allman Brothers Band
11. Whipping Post The Allman Brothers Band
12. Will the Circle Be Unbroken full cast


Disc: 3
 
01. Come and Go Blues Warren Haynes
02. End of the Line Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks
03. Stand Back Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks
04. You Can t Lose What You Ain t Never Had Devon Allman, Jimmy Hall and Robert Randolph
05. Please Call Home Sam Moore
06. Just Another Rider Keb Mo
07. Before the Bullets Fly Brantley Gilbert
08. Let This Be a Lesson to Ya Dr. John
09. Queen of Hearts Pat Monahan
10. One Way Out John Hiatt
11. Statesboro Blues Taj Mahal and Gregg Allman
12. Just Ain t Easy Widespread Panic
13. Wasted Words Widespread Panic and Derek Trucks
14. I m No Angel Trace Adkins
15. Trouble No More Trace Adkins
16. Multi-Colored Lady Vince Gill
17. All My Friends Martina McBride
18. Can You Fool Pat Monahan and Martina McBride
19. Ain t Wastin Time No More Eric Church
20. Win, Lose or Draw Eric Church
21. These Days Jackson Browne and Gregg Allman
22. Melissa Jackson Browne and Gregg Allman
23. Midnight Rider Vince Gill, Zac Brown and Gregg Allman
24. Dreams The Allman Brothers Band
25. Whipping Post The Allman Brothers Band
26. Will the Circle Be Unbroken full cast

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Write A Music Review Founder

May 18, 2014

Review Provided By Write A Music Review