All My Friends – Celebrating the Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman (Rounder)

On January 10 of this year, musicians old and new gathered together to pay tribute to Gregg Allman, coiner of the term ‘southern rock’ in describing the sound of The Allman Brothers, a quintessential band of that often misunderstood genre. This two CD, one DVD package is a document of that night, a one-off only, featuring a stellar cast of musicians and singers including current Allman Brothers Band members and former alumni, Jackson Browne, Dr. John, John Hiatt, Taj Mahal, Sam Moore (of Sam & Dave), Gregg’s son Devon Allman, Keb’ Mo’, Pat Monahan and members of the country fraternity – including Eric Church and Martina McBride – a genre that is as important to Allman as the blues and rock music in general. Legendary producer/musician Don Was was the MD for the project.

As advertised, the concert encompassed his professional career, from the classic 1969 debut album of The Allman Brothers to his more recent blues and country work. Allman himself remains a superlative vocalist and keyboard man, and it’s mainly his songs that litter the recording, including some masterful versions of old classics such as Whipping Post, and several cover versions of blues standards that have always been an integral part of Allman’s repertoire, although the ‘Brothers most famous song, Jessica (incidentally written by former Allman Brothers member Dickie Betts, who wasn’t present here), is not included… As you would expect from a live recording, the overall sound remains within very tight parameters, and with two long CDs of the stuff, it can be a chore to listen to in one sitting. There are also more than your fair share of riffs and soloing going on, but the musicianship is outstanding throughout, and the performances almost invariably lively and spot on. Moreover, the use of guest vocalists throughout provides that extra light and shade within the overall celebratory tone of the music.

In the end though, Allman shows himself to be a true rocker; this ain’t no watering down of the gritty rock background he came from, and you couldn’t get much further from the going-through-the-motions of the cabaret circuit that many veteran rockers sadly find themselves doing. Rather, Allman continues to be a vital keeper of the rock’n’roll flame.

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