Warren Haynes' musical journey began even before he ever picked up a guitar. "I was singing in my bedroom, trying to emulate all my favorite soul singers," he recalls. "Those early impressions and influences are very deep and tend to stay with you."\n \nThat streak of soul runs strong through his new album, Million Voices Whisper.\n \nIt's the first solo album in almost a decade from the revered Allman Brothers guitarist and founder of Gov't Mule, and it's a change from his last, more acoustic-oriented solo effort. Sounding as energetic and focused as ever, Haynes this time powers through a set of soulful blues-rock accompanied by members of his current all-star band. They include John Medeski on keyboards, longtime drummer Terence Higgins (of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band), and Gov't Mule's new bassist Kevin Scott.\n \nMillion Voices Whisper also features guest appearances from Lukas Nelson and Jamey Johnson along with Haynes’s Allman Brothers Band compatriot Derek Trucks on multiple tracks including “Real Real Love,” a song whose lyrics were initially started by Gregg Allman that Haynes finished to honor his friend.