Gregg Allman - Gregg Allman Live: Back To Macon, GA (2015) [HDtracks]

It seems that Gregg Allman and the city of Macon, GA, will remain inexorably linked together; it is a history that spans over four decades, and one that Gregg is well aware of. “Macon is a beautiful, enchanting place, and it truly was home for the Allman Brothers Band,” stated Gregg. “We played, lived, laughed and cried there, and I wrote many, many songs in that town. It’s always good to play Macon, man.” On January 14, 2014, Gregg Allman brought his solo band to Macon for a performance at the venerable Grand Opera House, a 1,000 seat jewel of a theatre that was built in 1884. It was in this intimate setting that Gregg Allman Live: Back To Macon, GA was recorded.

Gregg took to the Grand Opera House stage with a group that, as he put it, “is a real kick-ass band.” Featuring Scott Sharrard on guitar, bassist Ron Johnson, Ben Stivers on keyboards, drummer Steve Potts, Allman Brothers veteran Marc Quinones on percussion, saxophonists Jay Collins and Art Edmaiston and Dennis Marion on trumpet, these eight players formed one of the best solo units Allman had fronted in years.

Gregg summarized the experience of recording Gregg Allman Live: Back to Macon, GA thusly: “Macon is a wonderful town with wonderful people, and I still have some dear, dear friends there. Macon holds a special place in my heart; it comes with a lot of different memories, but the good ones are all that matter to me now. I’m so proud of this album; boy, we were smokin’ that night.” So sit back, relax and enjoy the magic that is Gregg Allman. - John Lynskey