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BUY THE CD
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Would you believe that the last new studio album of Gregg Allman's, Searching for Simplicity, was released fourteen years ago? Though a
"best of" CD came out in 2002, which offered three new songs, he hasn't come out with a more recent release…until now.
Low Country Blues, as the title suggests, is a collection of some wonderful blues tunes. There is only one original song, which was co-written by Gregg and fellow Allman Brothers Band member Warren Haynes. However, Gregg introduces a wide variety of blues styles, such as big band, Chicago blues, and even swamp music while covering tunes from artists like Bobby Bland, Otis Rush, Skip James, and B. B. King.
T Bone Burnett, the producer of the CD, did an amazing job of duplicating that wonderful sound and feel of the great blues masters. Some of the musicians on the CD will be easily recognized by Southern rock fans, including guitarist and vocalist Doyle Bramhall II of the band Smokestack. Doyle played as second guitarist to Eric Clapton from 2004 to 2009. Tickling the keys is the gris gris man from N'awlins...Mac Rebennack, better known as Dr. John.
Gregg’s singing is a little understated, but, then again, that is T Bone being honest in recreating the ambiance of the original sound of those blues records. That famous growl of Gregg's can be found on songs such as “Blind Man” and also on “My Love is Your Love.”
The liner notes tell us that, back at a 1959 B. B. King concert, Duane and Gregg Allman, then ages 10 and 11, were in attendance. After listening to the music and witnessing the crowd reaction, Duane turned to Greg and said, "We got to get some of this."
They certainly did. One only has to think of the early Allman Band records that featured such songs as “Stormy Monday,” “Statesboro Blues,” “Hoochie Coochie Man,” “One Way Out,” “You Don't Love Me,” and “Trouble No More” to realize that whatever it was that worked its way into Duane and Gregg came out in their own unique way. Unquestionably, ABB is the granddaddy of all the Southern rock bands, and though Duane is no longer with us, what makes the ABB to this day stand apart from their Southern brothers is that they always play the blues.
Since this album was recorded before Gregg underwent his recent liver transplant surgery, I am reminded that he needs to stay healthy because we listeners still need him singing the blues, whether it's with The Allman Brothers Band brothers or as a solo artist.
Low Country Blues will not make you get up and shake your fanny, but it will grow on you. It will create that nice groove, maybe prompt you to kick back and pour a shot of whiskey, sip it real slow, and just let the music work its way into your heart and soul. We all have the blues...it's part of life.
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