Gregg Allman: Low Country Blues

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Even on Gregg Allman’s earliest Allman Brothers Band recordings from the late 60’s,  he sounded years older than his actual twenty-something years.  His white boy blues ached of everything that his darker skinned blues superiors oozed of.   Along with his stellar Hammond B-3 chops, Allman is a true bluesman and gritty rock and roller, with stories of hard living and tragic losses that rival Lemmy and Keith Richards.   But at times the Allman Brothers Band’s signature jammy flairs appeared too heady for Gregg and his band of arm tattoos.   So with a voice custom built for a golden four minute single, Allman’s solo output is best remembered for the classic rock radio staple “I’m No Angel.”

Low Country Blues, Allman’s first solo album since 1997 and produced by  – who else these days  T Bone Burnett- pays homage to his roots with a reworking of songs from Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Otis Rush, Skip James and more. Burnett has assembled a band that includes guitarist Doyle Bramhall II and Dr. John to capture the spirit of swamps blues and themes of regret, tears and redemption.   Allman’s voice stars front and center, a breather from competing with the guitar acrobats of the fertile gunslingers in his “other” band.

“Little By Little,” and “I Can’t Be Satisfied” are Gregg Allman 101, nip and tuck blues with just enough a bite of roadhouse blues.  The eerie and stark “Devil Got My Woman,” is one of Allman’s finer vocal moments, whisking a ghostly fable to life, while “Floating Bridge,” plays like an Idlewild South B-side. “Blind Man” wins with a robust horn section, while “Tears, Tears, Tears,” could be aVan Morrison tune with its rich horns and Dr. John’s flavorful piano fills.  

With 11 of the 12 tracks being covers you can’t expect another “Whipping Post” or “Dreams” to evolve,  but if you had to secure hope for Allman’s creative rebirth this decade, hear “Just Another Rider,” and you’ll be hoping it to open a second set at this March’s Beacon Theatre run.   T Bone Burnett has done wonders by squeezing blues/roots based records out of many genre evolving artists the past decade, but Low Country Blues sounds the most fitting.

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