Music often runs in the family. There are a fair number second generation artists on the scene. This week we have another example, it’s the new release by Devon Allman called The Blues Summit.

Guitarist Devon Allman is the son of the late Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers Band, but his parents were divorced when Devon was an infant, and he was raised by this mother. He started playing guitar, and had not considered his father to be an influence. The younger Allman did not meet his father until his teens, but they quickly bonded, playing together occasionally with Devon Allman and sitting in with his father’s band. But Devon Allman wanted to maintain his musical independence, and formed his own group Honeytribe, which released two albums in 2006 and 2010. He also formed a group with another son of a member of the Allman Brothers Band, Duane Betts, son of Dicky Betts But Devon Allman has released a series of solo albums under his own name, and the new one The Blues Summit is the latest. It’s hardly solo, though, with a number of notable guests including vocalist and harmonica player Jimmy Hall, known for his work in the 1970s with the southern rock band Wet Willie, plus blues singer-songwriter Larry McCray, and singer Sierra Green. The band is a tight one with bassist Justin Corgan, drummer John Lum, and keyboard man John Ginty, who is a veteran of WVIA’s Homegrown Music series.

The Blues Summit is a mixture of bluesy rock, plus some Memphis style soul and funk. The prominent horns on several tracks provide the link to Memphis soul. Most of the material is original by Allman, with two co-written with Larry McRay. There’s also a version of a classic Willie Dixon tune, and one by Jimi Hendrix.

Opening is a Memphis-soul flavored original co-written by Allman and McRay, called Runners in the Night. It features a guest appearance by young blues guitar sensation Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. Allman does the lead vocals. The result is very classy. <<>>

More like classic blues-rock is another Allman-McRay co-composition, Blues is a Feeling, with veteran blues-rocker Jimmy Hall doing the lead vocal. <<>>

Featuring another notable contemporary blues figure is Peace to the World with Robert Randolph with his bluesy pedal steel guitar. Hall again does the lead vocal. The song’s sound and lyrics evoke a previous turbulent time, in the 1960s, when achieving peace was on the minds of many. <<>>

Sierra Green is the lead vocalist on a Devon Allman original called Real Love evoking a classic Philly soul sound including with the string section. <<>>

The band has some fun with a tune called Gettin’ Greasy with It written by Larry McCray. Except for the shouted chorus, it’s an instrumental with a great driving boogaloo- influenced beat. <<>>

Allman and company cover a venerable Chicago blues standard, Wang Dang Doodle by Willie Dixon, first recorded by the late Koko Taylor, and covered by many others over the years. Jimmy Hall does the vocal, while the band serves up the track in the classic style. <<>>

The Jimi Hendrix tune that Allman and band cover is Little Wing. Allman himself does the vocal. This is one instance in which the band does not really add much to the tune. <<>>

The album ends with another instrumental, Midnight Lake Erie written by Allman. The rather ominous mood of the tune makes it a bit of a downer, compared to the rest of the album. <<>>

Devon Allman’s new release The Blues Summit is a first-rate blues-rock album with top-notch playing, excellent original material, a great guest list, and a classic sound. Devon Allman is not a very flashy guitarist, but his playing is tasteful and always right on the money for the style. And the blend of styles on the album while not particularly adventurous, does provide a number of different facets to the music, keeping it interesting and engaging.

Our grade for audio quality is close to an “A.” The sound is rather clean for a rock and blues album, and while the dynamic range is not great, it’s fine for very electric music like this.

The now-53-year old Devon Allman, carries on the blues rock tradition of his father, the late Gregg Allman, in what I think is the best album of his career.

(c) Copyright 2025 George D. Graham. All rights reserved.
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<<>> indicates audio excerpt played in produced radio review

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