Warren Haynes, “Warren Haynes Presents The Benefit Concert Vol. 16’’ (Evil Teen Records): Since the late 1980s, Warren Haynes has made a tradition of his Christmas Jam, an annual event in Asheville, North Carolina, benefiting the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Haynes has also made a tradition of releasing albums from the concerts, usually years after they were recorded. Volume 16 of the series continues in that vein, presenting the 2014 show in more formats _ from CD and DVD to vinyl and Blu-ray and beyond _ than you’ll find Christmas jelly bean colors. The album includes 10 songs, the film, 16. A who’s who of jam bands and Southern rockers _ from Haynes’ own Gov’t Mule and Bill Kreutzmann’s Billy & the Kids to Jason Isbell, Hard Working Americans, Col. Bruce Hampton, Duane Trucks, Paul Riddle and many others _ perform spirited renditions of songs from the Marshall Tucker Band (``Can’t You See,’’ ``Southern Woman’’) Neil Young (``Cinnamon Girl,’’ ``Tonight’s the Night’’) the Grateful Dead (``Shakedown Street’’), The Band (``The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’’) and more. They may not have much, if anything, to do with traditional Christmas songs, but it’s the thought that counts _ and the millions of dollars raised so far for a great cause.
AP