Warren Haynes

Recorded live at Warren Haynes’ 18th Annual Christmas Jam in Asheville, NC on December 16th, 2006 at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, The Benefit Concert Volume 8 is the third release in an on-going series documenting the annual concerts. The concert saw Warren Haynes put together a stellar lineup of musicians featuring Gov’t Mule, Dave Matthews, The New Orleans Social Club, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, The Taj Mahal Trio and The John Popper Project featuring DJ Logic. Warren Haynes also welcomed very special guests Randall Bramblett, Taylor Hicks, Branford Marsalis, Mike Barnes, Mickey Raphael, Brendan Bayliss, Kevn Kinney, Robert Kearns and Dave Schools.

Warren Haynes has been almost ubiquitous since he joined the Allman Brothers Band, and formed Gov't Mule with Allen Woody and Matt Abts. He's played and collaborated with everyone from the Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan to Little Milton and Taj Mahal. Fans might be surprised to learn that Southern soul was an early love. But they shouldn't be. Man in Motion is Haynes' first conscious effort and to fully indulge his love for this music, and his first solo record with backing musicians since 1993. Co-produced with Gordie Johnson, Man in Motion boasts a stellar cast: George Porter, Jr. on bass, Ivan Neville on organ, clavinet, and backing vocals, Ian McLagan on Wurlitzer and piano, drummer Raymond Weber, tenor saxophonist Ron Holloway, and backing vocalist Ruthie Foster.

For those who attended any concert on the Warren Haynes Band's tour in support of the brilliant Man in Motion, this three-disc package – one DVD and two CDs – is your keepsake. The set features stretched-out versions of all but one track from that album performed live at Austin's Moody Theater in 2011. In addition, his killer sextet offers readings of two tracks from Haynes' first solo album, Tales of Ordinary Madness, a new version of Gov't Mule's "Frozen Fear," and a host of great covers: from Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" and Jimi Hendrix's "Spanish Castle Magic" to Steely Dan's "Pretzel Logic." Haynes' live band is a crack outfit.

Live at the Moody Theatre contains a single performance that transcends virtually all the remaining tracks of its two CDs and one DVD. On "Your Wildest Dreams," Haynes' singing is as fiercely restrained as his guitar work and all the more powerful for that discipline. Close to the longest cut on the set at 11-plus minutes, there is nevertheless not a wasted note in the creation of an emotional impact that appears only sporadically elsewhere. A bonus track included on the DVD nevertheless comes close: performing only with bassist Ron Johnson and drummer Terence Higgins (on hand drum), Haynes' reading of "Patchwork Quilt," an account of his learning of Jerry Garcia's death, brings that moment alive in all its deeply bittersweet emotion.

Produced by Chuck Leavell, Warren Haynes' first solo album is a refreshing change of pace from his work with the latter-day incarnation of the Allman Brothers Band. Although the feel of this album is undeniably classic rock, with much of Free's bluesy swagger, it is also vaguely reminiscent of '80s rock at times (check out the Mr. Big-esque verse to "Fire in the Kitchen"). The focus on Tales of Ordinary Madness is clearly on Haynes' songwriting chops. For the most part, the songs on this record are tight and concise, focusing on immediate riffs, gritty vocals, and cool arrangements to sell them.

'Million Voices Whisper' is the third 'Fantasy' solo album ('Man in Motion' and 'Ashes & Dust') by the remarkable musician/songwriter Warren Haynes. Enlisting an All-Star core of support, New Orleans native Terence Higgins on drums, organist and keyboard wiz John Medeski, Mule bassist Kevin Scott, and genius guitarist Derek Trucks, Hayneshas been inspired to craft his best work, eleven original songs that establish a high bar in a genre that could easily be termed Modern Classic Rock. 'These Changes', (co-written with Trucks and TTB member Mike Mattison), and 'Real, Real Love' (co-written with Gregg Allman, his last work with Haynes before his untimely death in 2017) are absolute highlights. Jamey Johnson and Lukas Nelson join him 'Day of Reckoning' a song co-written with Lukas. All catchy, emotional thrillers brought to life by Warren's husky, soul drenched emoting. The album was produced by Warren Haynes. He brought in his Allman Brothers bandmate Derek Trucks to co-produce and play guitar on four of the songs on the album. Deluxe Edition features 4 bonus tracks. 2-CD Softpak.