Key-tar solo or GTFO!!

I love Derek more than I love any living musician I guess, and I may be changing the meaning of the thread, but I don't feel like Derek ever OWNED an ABB solo in the way the originals did. Maybe I'm thinking too much about composition. "Midnight at Harlem" on the Crossroads DVD is, for me, THE Derek solo, the way "Blue Sky" or "Jessica" are pure prime Dickey solos or "Statesboro" can only be Duane.

Maybe I just don't own enough live recordings, but I feel like Duane and Dickey have immortal ABB solos that are STATEMENTS, that define those songs, that can't be matched. Just like Chuck' s piano on "Jessica."

all three are fine guitarists but in terms of ABB material they are simply reinterpreting Duane & Dickey.

I have wept and seen others do the same during a Blue Sky solo by Dickey...

Duane's solo & playing on You Don't Love Me / Soul Serenade from the Dreams boxset is one of the best recorded performances I have ever heard.

Love and hate these types of topics.

I think it's very valid point about Derek taking the slide where it's never been. I would rank him #1 either though Duane is my all time favorite musician.

I made this comment to a very good guitar player. His response was name one iconic guitar solo that Derek ever created.

Forgot to answer your question properly

1) Derek
2) Duane
3) Dickey

Chuck Leavell should be in the top 3.

Amazing how we think alike in some ways.

Duane,
Dickey,
Berry,
Jaimoe,
Butch,
Gregg

In that order

Duane and then there's everyone else

Duane was the best Blues player they ever had period....Dickey was the second best blues player they had....the rest play way too modern for my tastes when playing blues.....and for all the other stuff....Duane paved the path all the others walked except Dickey he paved is own path...all the others that have come along are disciples not ground breakers

A couple of points to address with this topic, Duane was the man and Dickey was a close second. Everyone else stands in line behind those two. Now there have been some great soloists since the originals, number one being Chuck Leavell and Gregg being possibly the "worst". I always felt as though Gregg had it in him, but all of his solos were built around the same core.....a little work would have gone a long way. I think Derek's "Non-slide" solos have improved dramatically over the years and was/is by far the best bottleneck player since Duane. At times you might have thought it was Duane, especially on "Statesboro"...That being said, I think the last incarnation would have 100% better had he handled ALL of the slide work. Warren is competent, no doubt, but a talent like Derek's does not come down the pike but once in a lifetime...

1) Duane
2) Dickey
3) Chuck
4) Jack P.
5) Berry

Then, there is everyone else....

A couple of points to address with this topic, Duane was the man and Dickey was a close second. Everyone else stands in line behind those two. Now there have been some great soloists since the originals, number one being Chuck Leavell and Gregg being possibly the "worst". I always felt as though Gregg had it in him, but all of his solos were built around the same core.....a little work would have gone a long way. I think Derek's "Non-slide" solos have improved dramatically over the years and was/is by far the best bottleneck player since Duane. At times you might have thought it was Duane, especially on "Statesboro"...That being said, I think the last incarnation would have 100% better had he handled ALL of the slide work. Warren is competent, no doubt, but a talent like Derek's does not come down the pike but once in a lifetime...

1) Duane
2) Dickey
3) Chuck
4) Jack P.
5) Berry

Then, there is everyone else....

All great points....I know how much you want Gregg to let it loose in the B3 but I really think he feels more comfortable sketching out his solos. I don't think improvisation is really his "thang" since he's claimed complete boredom during the long guitar solos....probably why he misses verses I think he loses concentration when the guys go off

Chuck Leavell should be in the top 3.

without a doubt!

I have wept and seen others do the same during a Blue Sky solo by Dickey...

Funny you say that. I started crying first time I saw Derek live. It was the weirdest damn thing. It was '08 I believe. In Philly. I think Ratdog was opening for ABB and he came out to play with them and I heard that tone and just started crying. I was embarrassed and my wife (then girlfriend) thought it was cute or something.

Crazy how heavy music can get. I was done playing baseball for a few years. Was listening to a lot of rap and pop (which I still and always love), and I bought SONGLINES and it took me back to high school and reignited my passion for guitar. And I needed a passion in my life. Derek just blew my mind. I started playing guitar for the first time in about 13 years and really dug in. Took weekly lessons and just loved it. All because of "discovering" Derek and rediscovering the guitar-based music that drove my life for such a long time.

Then, like 8 months later there I was at that concert and damn if I didn't start crying.

I made this comment to a very good guitar player. His response was name one iconic guitar solo that Derek ever created.

He was born in the wrong era for that. Jimi Ray Clapton could come out and play today and no solo would be "iconic" just because guitar gods are more niche than when they were literally creating the electric blues-rock craft.

Duane
Dickey
Chuck
Warren
Gregg

Duane
Dickey
Warren
Derek
Mike Lawler

Duane, Dickey & BO

Jack P
Chuck
Gregg

Warren & Derek

What's a Gregg solo that would put him in people's top 3?

A couple of points to address with this topic, Duane was the man and Dickey was a close second. Everyone else stands in line behind those two. Now there have been some great soloists since the originals, number one being Chuck Leavell and Gregg being possibly the "worst". I always felt as though Gregg had it in him, but all of his solos were built around the same core.....a little work would have gone a long way. I think Derek's "Non-slide" solos have improved dramatically over the years and was/is by far the best bottleneck player since Duane. At times you might have thought it was Duane, especially on "Statesboro"...That being said, I think the last incarnation would have 100% better had he handled ALL of the slide work. Warren is competent, no doubt, but a talent like Derek's does not come down the pike but once in a lifetime...

1) Duane
2) Dickey
3) Chuck
4) Jack P.
5) Berry

Then, there is everyone else....

All great points....I know how much you want Gregg to let it loose in the B3 but I really think he feels more comfortable sketching out his solos. I don't think improvisation is really his "thang" since he's claimed complete boredom during the long guitar solos....probably why he misses verses I think he loses concentration when the guys go off

A couple of things or opinions about Gregg. Gregg does not "stretch out" his solos, because that takes work or practice. Most if not all of his B3 solos are built around the same solos we heard on LAFE. Take IMOER for example.....as late as their last show he was playing the same notes (or pretty damn close) he was in 1971. Soloing takes work, writing songs takes work, digging deeper into the catalogue and playing those songs with your new band takes practice, discipline and work (which for me explains why his set-lists don't vary that much). I think Gregg became a star because his brother did most of the work and when Duane passed and the burden fell on him?...Disaster. Dickey carried the torch for awhile and I'm guessing the pressure eventually took its toll on him as well. Then 1989 rolled around and Warren became the man who did the work....and what happened when WH left in '97?...Once again the pressure fell on Dickey and in '99 the roof collapsed, again. Enter Mr. Haynes to do all the organizing again. My final guess is that both Derek and Warren had been done for quite a while by the time they had finally had enough.....Gregg was bored with the very thing the fans craved, improvisation. No new material, limited practice, getting crap about "stretching out" and dealing with a guy whose name was on the Marquee but would not put in the time was the straw that broke the camel's back. Gregg a great soloist?...Please. maybe if he had put in the work.

I almost think it's not fair to separate the soloist from the people playing behind him, particularly the bass and rhythm guitar in this band. I think of Dickey's long solo in Whipping Post from At Fillmore East and the ways Duane and Berry push him. Or the way Gregg's organ cuts in to help Duane's Soul Serenade solo in YDLM from A&R float. That said, my top five would look like this:

1. Duane
2. Derek
3. Dickey
4. Warren
5. Chuck

A couple of points to address with this topic, Duane was the man and Dickey was a close second. Everyone else stands in line behind those two. Now there have been some great soloists since the originals, number one being Chuck Leavell and Gregg being possibly the "worst". I always felt as though Gregg had it in him, but all of his solos were built around the same core.....a little work would have gone a long way. I think Derek's "Non-slide" solos have improved dramatically over the years and was/is by far the best bottleneck player since Duane. At times you might have thought it was Duane, especially on "Statesboro"...That being said, I think the last incarnation would have 100% better had he handled ALL of the slide work. Warren is competent, no doubt, but a talent like Derek's does not come down the pike but once in a lifetime...

1) Duane
2) Dickey
3) Chuck
4) Jack P.
5) Berry

Then, there is everyone else....

All great points....I know how much you want Gregg to let it loose in the B3 but I really think he feels more comfortable sketching out his solos. I don't think improvisation is really his "thang" since he's claimed complete boredom during the long guitar solos....probably why he misses verses I think he loses concentration when the guys go off

A couple of things or opinions about Gregg. Gregg does not "stretch out" his solos, because that takes work or practice. Most if not all of his B3 solos are built around the same solos we heard on LAFE. Take IMOER for example.....as late as their last show he was playing the same notes (or pretty damn close) he was in 1971. Soloing takes work, writing songs takes work, digging deeper into the catalogue and playing those songs with your new band takes practice, discipline and work (which for me explains why his set-lists don't vary that much). I think Gregg became a star because his brother did most of the work and when Duane passed and the burden fell on him?...Disaster. Dickey carried the torch for awhile and I'm guessing the pressure eventually took its toll on him as well. Then 1989 rolled around and Warren became the man who did the work....and what happened when WH left in '97?...Once again the pressure fell on Dickey and in '99 the roof collapsed, again. Enter Mr. Haynes to do all the organizing again. My final guess is that both Derek and Warren had been done for quite a while by the time they had finally had enough.....Gregg was bored with the very thing the fans craved, improvisation. No new material, limited practice, getting crap about "stretching out" and dealing with a guy whose name was on the Marquee but would not put in the time was the straw that broke the camel's back. Gregg a great soloist?...Please. maybe if he had put in the work.

Hey BigV I never said Gregg's a great soloist....... I said he likes to have them written(sketched)out.
He's literally has played the same solos in Hot lanta and E Reed every time they play them. I actually don't think of Gregg as a soloist at all....so a great soloist isn't even a thought...He fills in space when they want him to..... so he writes out what he's going to play....even in Don't want you know more he plays the same solo...for him its a written part of the song....I think it falls in line with him being a song writer so writing a solo part fits in to his overall musical MO....i.e direction...even as a guitarist he played strictly rhythm...there are no Gregg guitar solos from the 73 - 75 era when he would strap one on for a few tunes

not everyone is a improviser.....As far as work....if soloing isn't something you want to explore then ya probably don't practice it very often.

So seeing a Jimmy Smith type solo ain't gonna happen....

How did you get I said he was a great soloist???? nowhere did I say that

Saying one has the ability to rate Best from something that involves subjective preference of style and declare wrong others personal ratings based also on same subjective preference interpretive thought method; well it seems kind of "Elevating Oneself To Supreme Expert". Particularly when all players in the pool are technically proficient. But I am glad you have your preferences, that is what is all about.

OK I will give my opinion.

1- Duane
2- Duane
3- Duane

I think that just about nails it.

Saying one has the ability to rate Best from something that involves subjective preference of style and declare wrong others personal ratings based also on same subjective preference interpretive thought method; well it seems kind of "Elevating Oneself To Supreme Expert". Particularly when all players in the pool are technically proficient. But I am glad you have your preferences, that is what is all about.

You're right of course. In my OP I was making what I expected to be unconventional choices and wanted to spur some discussion and debate so I threw in my bravado about being 100% right and inviting scorn and whatnot. However, at this level we are debating what is largely personal preference. I do believe there is such a thing as good art and bad art - even though that too can be argued to be subjective - I don't subscribe to the school of thought that we can't declare James Joyce is a greater artist than Nicolas Sparks (apologies to any Sparks fans on the board) - even though there are many people who personally prefer Sparks.
However, to your point when we're comparing Duane Allman to Jack Pearson - the correct title would be something live Favorite ABB Soloist as you're in to the realm of preference at that stage. Adopting the persona of Wrestling Villain for the OP amused me at the time - but you are right to call out that preference would have been a better way to shape the question.

Oteil is one HELL of a soloist.

Agree agree agree!

My question ,is about who plays the best solo during a song, or someone who is a soloist and just plays stands alone without a band who can carry a song or tune own their own.
The question of the topic is kinda confusing to me .

Trucks
Haynes
Betts

I admit im still an abb newbie. I would love for you guys to point or link me to some pearson stuff. I love dereks solo in a stormy monday and rocking horse. Of course his midnight in harlem.

Warren, I know you guys heard his beautifully broken with the prince intro.

You can't lose what you never had is in my rotation. I think its one of dickeys best.

I admit im still an abb newbie. I would love for you guys to point or link me to some pearson stuff.

Jack's tenure unfortunately never made it on any official ABB releases, but he has guested on a number of shows since. He absolutely slays "Dreams", the version from the Fox Box might be my favorite. Here are a few albums you can hear some great Jack Pearson:

The Fox Box
One of the first big Instant Live releases of the Warren & Derek era of The Allman Brothers was their 3-night stand at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta in September 2004. Over the 3 nights they played a lot of Hittin' The Note (naturally), and nearly everything off of their first 4 albums. No repeats, except 3 unique versions of "Dreams" with a different soloist each night. The whole Fox Box is worth picking up, but Jack Pearson sits in on a few tunes the first night, including an insane version of "Dreams".

Rosemont, IL, & Clarkston MI, 2005
Warren had an emergency and had to sit out a few shows in 2005. Jack Pearson and saxophonist Ron Holloway subbed and they are both fantastic shows.

Wanee Fest 2005
I think this is the right year, but Jack again subbed in for Derek this time who was touring with Clapton.

Gregg Allman: All My Friends
Jack was the house band guitarist for the Gregg Allman tribute concert a few years ago and he has some tasty moments.

Johnny Jenkins, Blessed Blues
Jack's guitar is all over Johnny Jenkins' 1996 album, his first in years.

Naturally you will want to grab some Allman Bros shows from 1997-99. There are a number of quality Beacon shows from that era

Here are a few to give you a taste (you can rip these shows from Youtube):

Gotta be Jack P for me at the top, just as I hear "the best of everyone else" in his playing.

Dickey has always played great melodies. You can sing his solos, and I don't think you can say the same of any of the others. Plus his 71 tone is up there in the pantheon of great tones.

Duane played with fire and a freedom to his inventiveness that was second to none. He wrote the book that everyone else quotes from.

Warren had/has some great chops and brings a good attitude to the stage, to me he brought the passion and emotion of SRV style "throwing down" onto the Abb stage. A bit overshadowed by Derek towards the end, but in 90s mode he was a great foil to dickey - they hit some great heights...

Derek is definitely the most technically accomplished of any slide player living or dead at this point, IMHO. That said, while I love his playing, I do find the "start at a whisper and end like a wailing banshee" story, while great, wasn't different enough to what warren did during the last Abb incarnation. I loved hearing Derek and dickey, or jack and dickey, or jack and warren. All different approaches. But towards the end, with Derek and warren it was getting very samey - minor pentatonic shredding at the end of each solo. No fault of there's though, I think that's just what happens what you play the same songs for 15+ years! Only so many pictures to paint.

In terms of sheer creativity tho, it's jack P every time. 100 versions of dreams and every one different. The jazzier ones (high falls/Lizzie) were made for him. Any beacon or summer 98 show will attest to that. Just great playing, smooth tone, effortless improvisation, pure creativity, those recordings are killer. I can listen to them any time and enjoy them. Probably will be the soundtrack to the next 50 years of my life 🙂

J.

Ps show recommendations: 3/14/98, 3/20/98, 6/30/98, 7/2/98, 7/4/98 - all good. 9/20/97, 10/3/97, 10/5/97 are all good too...

Pps Dan toler was a great player too, he has some wonderful moments on brothers of the road

Ppps Jimmy herring is amazing... 9/23/00 is up there with any Abb show from any era. Check out that mountain jam. The hills are alive!!!

Chuck Leavell should be in the top 3.

This.