The Allman Brothers Band – Alltel Pavilion At Walnut Creek Raleigh, NC 8/10/03

This is hands down perhaps the best live ABB recording I've ever heard - that's from a lifelong fan and ABB collector. It's clear some special chemistry is afoot from the opening number. The band is on scorching form, the crowd is ecstatic, the live sound is clear and raw, and Derek Trucks is on some kind of other plane! The whole band raises its game: Greg sounds fantastic, his voice to the fore where it's usually a bit too buried in the mix, Warren Haynes plays freer and dirtier than his usual kind of relentless exactness - his solos on Dreams and Whipping Post are inspired - and Branford Marsalis jams on the third set making the Brothers' cosmic jazz/ soul/ blues hybrid a reality. The set lists are beautifully put together with some rare live outings for older album tracks; disc 1 alone is an incredible set. Duane would've wept with joy, I kid you not - I did.