Mountain Jam
"Mountain Jam" is an extended improvisational instrumental by the American Southern rock band the Allman Brothers Band, primarily based on the main riff from Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan's 1967 psychedelic folk song "There Is a Mountain."The composition originated during an early 1970 jam session at the Fillmore East involving Duane Allman and members of the Grateful Dead, evolving into a signature live closer for the Allman Brothers Band that showcased their virtuosic interplay and extended solos. [1]
First officially released on the band's posthumously assembled double live/studio album Eat a Peach in February 1972, the definitive version is a 33-minute, 41-second recording from their final performance at the Fillmore East in New York City on March 13, 1971, spanning the entire fourth side of the original LP and featuring a prominent drum duet by Butch Trucks and Jaimoe. [2] [1] [3] One of Duane Allman's last recorded performances before his fatal motorcycle accident in October 1971, "Mountain Jam" holds particular emotional weight, with Eat a Peach dedicated to him and the track exemplifying the band's raw energy and communal spirit amid tragedy. [2] [1]
The piece incorporates elements from other songs, including a snippet of the traditional hymn "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" toward its close, and became a concert staple throughout the band's career, often exceeding 30 minutes in live renditions that highlighted their jam band ethos. [1]
Its influence extends beyond the Allman Brothers, inspiring the annual Mountain Jam music festival in the Catskills region of New York, founded in 2005 by Radio Woodstock to celebrate eclectic music and community. [4]