Gregg Allman has one of the most distinctive voices in American music. Going back to the thrilling tracks of the early Allman Brothers albums — including my favorite, Live at the Fillmore East — Allman’s vocals have made him a rock star and a staple of classic-rock radio.

But I’ve always heard a blues singer.

Low Country Blues, out Jan. 18, gets Allman back to the roots he and brother Duane shared as they set out from Macon, Ga., on the unpredictable adventure that became the Allman Brothers Band. This stripped-down collection of covers (and a few Allman originals) was produced by T-Bone Burnett, who seems to possess an inexhaustible appetite for interesting settings that push established musicians past their comfort zones.

In this case, Allman was joined by Dennis Crouch, who only plays acoustic bass, and Jay Bellerose, who played drums with calfskin heads that deliver an old-school sound appropriate for the material. Doyle Bramhall II had a tough job: how not to sound like any of the amazing guitarists associated with Gregg Allman over the years (Duane and Derek Trucks come to mind). His playing adds another fascinating chapter to Allman’s recorded legacy, which sounds reinvigorated here.

Sahara Smith - “The Real Thing”

Sahara Smith, who headlines KXT 91.7’s Concert on the Square tomorrow night, recently released her debut record, helmed by T-Bone Burnett. This track, the lead single, shows her smoky vocals and understated, bluesy style. Reminiscent of Lucinda Williams, Bonnie Raitt, and early Sheryl Crow, Sahara Smith is a rising star in the roots music world. Click here to reserve your tickets for Concert on the Square.  

Sahara Smith - “The Real Thing”

This 21-year-old starlet just released her debut record Myth of the Heart, which was crafted under the watchful eye of Fort Worth native T-Bone Burnett. Her sultry vocals and understated, powerful band help create a stunning first record. She kicks off the KXT 91.7 Concert in the Square series on September 23rd at the 8.0 in Fort Worth. Tickets are available here. 

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - “Nothin’”

This song, from the heralded Raising Sand record, has more than one Texas connection. Produced by Fort Worth native T-Bone Burnett, it is also a cover of a song by Townes Van Zandt, with the wonderful blend of Krauss and Plant’s vocals. Burnett’s searing guitar turns this into a song that carries the weight of Van Zandt’s original, with an entirely new sonic palette.

Jakob Dylan - “Nothing But The Whole Wide World”

Mr. Zimmerman’s son follows up his first post-Wallflowers solo record Seeing Things with Women & Country, an EP that previews his upcoming full-length of the same name. This song features the background vocals of Neko Case and Kelly Hogan and the production work of Fort Worth native T-Bone Burnett.