For the first four shows of their 40th Anniversary Run at the Beacon Theatre, the Allman Brothers Band invited a number of special guests who came from the blues and rock worlds. Last night, the Allmans tipped their collective caps towards the elements of jazz that play a large role in their music by inviting jazz greats Stanley Clarke, Randy Brecker and Lenny White to join them at various points during show number five.

[Moogis Screenshot capture of Oteil admiring Clarke by Gondicar]

Following along on the cripsy Moogis webcast feed, I saw the Brothers kicked things off with Little Martha once again before digging deep into their repertoire for hot versions of Rocking Horse and Gambler’s Roll. For the Dreams that ended the first set, the Allmans brought out trumpeter Randy Brecker and drummer Lenny White who’s best known for his work on Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew and in the recently reunited Return to Forever.

The second set started with a beautiful Melissa that was the only song of the set that didn’t feature any guest spots. Pedal steel wiz Robert Randolph and jazz drummer Adam Nussbaum started the parade of special guests for rollocking versions of Turn On Your Lovelight and One Way Out before giving way to Brecker for a cover of Joe Zawinul’s In A Silent Way that led into another massive In Memory of Elizabeth Reed. Lenny White came out for the Liz Reed and was joined by his Return to Forever bandmate Stanley Clarke for a mindblowing bass/drum segment towards the end of the mammoth song.

READ ON for the setlist, stats and more from night five…

Set 1: Little Martha, Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More, Walk On Guilded Splinters, Rocking Horse, Gambler’s Roll, Revival, Woman Across The River, Dreams (w/Randy Brecker and Lenny White)

Set 2: Melissa (Gregg on acoustic guitar), Turn On Your Lovelight (w/ Robert Randolph and Adam Nussbaum), One Way Out (w/ Robert Randolph and Adam Nussbaum), In A Silent Way (w/ Randy Brecker), Liz Reed> (w/Randy Brecker and Lenny White) Drums> (Butch/Marc/Lenny White) Bass Jam > (w/ Stanley Clarke), Liz Reed (w/ Stanley Clarke)

Encore: Mountain Jam > Dazed & Confused > Mountain Jam

As if the show wasn’t amazing enough, the band returned sans special guests for a “quick” 15 minute version of Mountain Jam sandwich complete with a delicious Dazed and Confused filling. As incredible as Thursday’s night show was, I think we’ve got a new candidate for best show of the run. The Allmans return to the Beacon on Monday for another sold-out show. Hit up the Moogis feed if you can’t make it in person.

STATS

Bust Outs: Turn On Your Lovelight, In A Silent Way (last played 4/8/07)
Special Guests: Robert Randolph, Adam Nussbaum, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, Randy Brecker
Beacon Run ’09 Debuts: 6
Total # of Songs For The Run: 57

Scott Bernstein

Scott Bernstein co-founded Hidden Track in October 2006 and was managing editor until taking over as EiC in January 2008. Scotty also writes for Relix Magazine and curates YEMblog.com.

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