Duane Allman + music = imediate connection to anyone listening. The reason, I believe, is that Duane played his heart and emotions. While many guitarists may hide behind their instrument, Duane played through his. It was his way of sharing joy, pain, sorrow, elation, --you name it. Duanes ability to capture the melody in a song was brilliant. He talked to us, not with incessant flailing of random thought, but with highly intelligent conversation. By intelligent, I don't mean scholarly dribble, I mean a soul connection of powerful emotion. Duane was not afraid of being naked (musically speaking) when he played. He played the music with the gray matter of his mind, yes, but more importantly, he layed before us the red matter of his heart.
There is a saying among preachers in the Gospel church. I don't know if Duane ever heard it but he surely followed it. It goes like this, "Start slow, let it grow, rise higher, catch fire." No one has done this better than Duane. The patience and maturity needed to welcome and greet everyone--the contactful interplay--the musical abandon--the trip to another planet. Why am I a fan of the great musician DA? He let me know that he was human like me in a language I understand. I still get on board with him and travel to that crazy planet with no name. I still wake up upon return wishing he was still here with us.
