Review: Gregg Allman

Gregg Allman. Photo from dedica.la

Gregg Allman: The Low Country Blues Tour
(Barbican 1st July 2011. Review by Adam Sieff)

The surviving Allman Brother is enjoying a new lease of life after his recent liver transplant. He was performing at The Barbican on Friday, in support of his new album Low Country Blues for indie label Rounder Records, his first as leader since 1997, and in advance of the publication next spring of the "unflinching story of his life in music" by Harper Collins. 

Playing B3, Acoustic and electric guitars and singing with real passion and deep feeling, Allman fronted a tight and hard grooving 8-piece band driven by bass legend Jerry Jemott (of Memphis Soul Stew fame) and powerhouse drummer Steve Potts. The repertoire featured mostly Allman staples like Melissa, Statesboro Blues, Whipping Post, Dreams and Midnight Rider plus a sprinkling of tunes from his excellent new back to blues basics album with guitarist Scott Sharrard and pianist Bruce Katz displaying drop dead chops and bags of taste. The horn section added oomph where needed and saxophonist/flautist Jay Collins blew hot solos all night. The packed house loved it, and rightly so - few UK bands can swing like this, and Allman's just about still got it too.

Gregg Allman's page at Rounder Records / Gregg Allman's website