The Allman Brothers Band

Here is a band that has crossed genres many times, especially into Jazz. Even thougfh they are know as a Jam band, they certainly have written some challenging to play music that demands top notch musicianship. In addition, they have written music that goes well beyond the 4 minute mark and material that is not in common signatures. I've listened to the band for sometime, but it wasn't until I tried playing some of their material, recently in a jazz/funk band I play, did I realize how complex they can be.

I'm sure Micky will have a lot to say about that... The ABB are his favourite band of all times, but he's always had reservations about suggesting them here.

Raff wrote: I'm sure Micky will have a lot to say about that... The ABB are his favourite band of all times, but he's always had reservations about suggesting them here.

Speaking purely as a member (and one who loves the Allman Brothers) and not a member of the Admin Team, I'd have to say this is not a band I'd be happy to see here. To my mind, despite their occasional jazz leanings, they fit perfectly into the southern rock pidgeon hole - sure, they were famous for extended jamming sessions (one only has to hear the Filmore album to see this), but these were primarily blues/southern rock jams.

One of the greatest bands to come out of the States to my mind, but in my opinion, they have no place here.

Jim Garten wrote: Speaking purely as a member (and one who loves the Allman Brothers) and not a member of the Admin Team, I'd have to say this is not a band I'd be happy to see here. To my mind, despite their occasional jazz leanings, they fit perfectly into the southern rock pidgeon hole - sure, they were famous for extended jamming sessions (one only has to hear the Filmore album to see this), but these were primarily blues/southern rock jams. One of the greatest bands to come out of the States to my mind, but in my opinion, they have no place here.

I concur - though I'm no expert, I think ABB would be a stretch.  But I accept whatever decision is made.

As a roadie for the band, I say no. Great band, not prog.

StyLaZyn wrote: Negoba wrote: As a roadie for the band, I say no. Great band, not prog. Of course they are not Prog, but they have some serious Prog moments. Is the Who Prog? No. Are they here, yes. Did they have Prog moments? Yes. Look at some of the other entries here and not seeing how the ABB should be included would be biased from the ABB side.

See how far that argument will get you.

Boston had prog moments, but they've been dismissed many times on this site.  Prog moments doesn't make a band prog.

mr.cub wrote: Hmm...love the group to death, but I don't think they belong here. The argument that other bands included here aren't prog but have prog moments does not seem to cut it to me. It appears to be an open door for allowing many more groups in on the same argument. The best way is to look at it from a band by band perspective. Sure the Allman Brothers had extreme jazz leanings (Micky considers Duane to be a jazz guitarist and I agree 100%) with progressive elements in their jams, but I feel they are too well schooled in the blues to be considered. I personally don't like to label them as a Southern Rock Band because they never felt the need to rock hard like their followers and they melded jazz and blues in such a sublime manner. At their core, this was a revolutionary blues outfit that merged other genres to become something more...

Yes... I did talk to John briefly about the ABB but have never seriously considered an addition for them to be plausible.  We have on occasion pushed the envelope and added some groups.. in fact used our bully pulpit here to get the site to reconsider their... and the music world at large as it were.. opinions of the group.  The most obvious example of that is one that I and the J-R team did push through.. Steely Dan.  Steely Dan had aspects that made them a natural for this site once you got 'tags and labels' and the evil of commerical success... often IN SPITE of themselves where 'popular' songs were often mocking and even direclty insulting of their audiences.  Prog elitistism like some groups could never dream of hahaha.

back to the Allman... yes... they are a J-R group in the first years of their existance... and that even carried past Duane's death to an extent with some of the musicians that filled the holes of Duane and Berry's death.   12 bar blues or redneck rock characteristic of later 'southern rock' bands that the Allmans did in fact inspire were not part of their package.   What many call 'jams' were nothing more than Mile Davis inspired flight of musical fancy and make no mistake .. MIles Davis was the PRIMARY influence of this band musically) If Duane or Dicky had blown a trumpet rather than a Les Paul...  they would not be labelled as a meer blues group.  So yes...   if my humble opinion... and it is borne out in print and studies of music... the Allmans were J-R... but that mean they need to be here.   Hell if I know...  I do think this site can be educational and much like the Hendrix debate I see this sprang from....  education and getting people to open their eyes and ears and maybe consider things that they may not have heard.. or thought of can be a good thing.

If the site ... the J-R team decides to add them.. I'll be a happy camper.   If they don't... I'd understand. 

that's my two cents hahhaha

Seen the open-mindedness of some of our members, I believe we should refrain from even thinking about it.... It's not particularly pleasant to read things like, "you have compromised your integrity". 

Raff wrote: Seen the open-mindedness of some of our members, I believe we should refrain from even thinking about it.... It's not particularly pleasant to read things like, "you have compromised your integrity".