The Allman Brothers Band

Hittin’ The Note

Who would have thought the Allman Brothers Band had another great album in them. Even without Dickey Betts on board, Hittin’ The Note, released in March, may be the best thing from the band in 25 years. A big reason behind the revitalization is the arrival of two new extremely talented guitarists: Warren Haynes, who has a made quite a splash in recent years on the jam band scene and was previously with the ABB during the 90s, and the young and gifted nephew of the group’s drummer Butch Trucks, Derek Trucks. The pair skillfully maneuver around the melodies while Gregg Allman dropkicks his soulful vocal and B3 organ stylings into the mix. The bottom end is manned by no less than four extremely capable bodies: Butch Trucks, drummer Jaimoe, bassist Oteil Burbridge and percussionist Marc Quinones. Altogether, the Allman Brothers Band power through 11 samplings of Southern jam rock at its finest. From the backwoods blues of “Desdemona” to the spellbinding “Instrumental Illness,” the seven players interlock and burn with a gutsy and potent intensity. One of the more significant tracks on the disc is “Rockin’ Horse,” a no-nonsense rocker co-written by Allman, Haynes, guitarist Jack Pearson and the late Allan Woody. A former bassist with the ABB, Woody and Haynes recorded the song in 1995 with their own band, Govt. Mule. On Hittin’ The Note, another previously cut song, the Rolling Stones’ “Heart Of Stone,” underscores the group’s versatility. The way Allman croons through the verse, you’d think it was written for him. Inevitably, it’s a true testament to the durability that he and the band that bears his name have endured.

—Shawn Perry, Vintage Rock ~ Timeless Rock n’ Roll
http://www.vintagerock.com

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