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It's an unlikely partnership: Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek and blues slide guitar master Roy Rogers.
Unlikely, but it works.
“We're both enjoying the difference of the music and just the camaraderie we have on stage,” Rogers said. “People are saying, ‘Why are these people playing together?' They get it when they see the show. It's one of those things.”
The relationship began several years ago when Rogers sat in with Manzarek during a show in Healdsburg. The impromptu set went so well they played together a few more times before heading into the studio to record 2008's “Ballads Before The Rain.”
“It's all ballads and very diverse,” Rogers said. “We do everything from Eric Satie to a Miles Davis song off of “Sketches of Spain.”
The prolific Rogers has more than a dozen albums, not including his three with Norton Buffalo. He also teamed with Shana Morrison for an album and played on others with Bonnie Raitt, Sammy Hagar, Dan Hicks and others. But even for someone as creative and explorative as himself, Rogers seems surprised to have hit it off so well with Manzarek.
“I wasn't a Doors fan when I was a kid,” said Rogers. “I was a blues aficionado. I wanted to go see Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters.”
The metamorphosis may have come during the Healdsburg gig.
“I appreciate their recordings,” Rogers said. “It just encapsulated the time. Those four guys were a magical moment in musical history. There is no question about it. I have a better appreciation now.”
Manzarek still occasionally performs with Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger in a band called “Riders on the Storm.” Drummer John Densmore is the other surviving member of the Doors.
Manzarek was unavailable to comment for this article because he was in Los Angeles earlier this week working on a movie about the Doors, which will be narrated by Johnny Depp.
Manzarek lives in Napa and Rogers in Nevada City. The two team up for occasional shows within driving distances of their homes, along with a few dates in Seattle. Saturday's seated show at the Crystal Bay Casino will begin with a question-and-answer session from the audience. Rogers said the questions lead the direction of the performances. People always ask about Doors singer Jim Morrison, who, like so many rock stars from his era, died at the age of 27.
“The show is not just a rehash of the Doors,” Rogers said. “We do a couple of Doors tunes. He does a wonderful solo version of ‘Crystal Ship,' which is on the record. And ‘Riders on the Storm,' and we'll do some blues that I do, some John Lee (Hooker) and Wolf stuff. I never knew that Ray was a Chicago boy. He went to those South Side Chicago places like (Paul) Butterfield and (Charlie) Musselwhite. It's very upbeat and we're jostling onstage. It's just the two of us.”
In 2009, Rogers released one of his most-acclaimed solo albums, “Split Decision,” and he said he likely will have another one out in 2011. But for now he is focused on another collaboration with Manzarek, projected to be recorded in May, mixed in June and released by the fall.
“This one will be the exact opposite,” Rogers said. “We're going to make a blues-rock oriented record. It's going to be quite unique. We're in the process of writing it now. We've had two or three sessions and I'm very excited about this material. Lyrically it's quite different and we're coming up with some great musical chops so it's going to be fascinating to see how this ends up.”
Unlikely, but it works.
“We're both enjoying the difference of the music and just the camaraderie we have on stage,” Rogers said. “People are saying, ‘Why are these people playing together?' They get it when they see the show. It's one of those things.”
The relationship began several years ago when Rogers sat in with Manzarek during a show in Healdsburg. The impromptu set went so well they played together a few more times before heading into the studio to record 2008's “Ballads Before The Rain.”
“It's all ballads and very diverse,” Rogers said. “We do everything from Eric Satie to a Miles Davis song off of “Sketches of Spain.”
The prolific Rogers has more than a dozen albums, not including his three with Norton Buffalo. He also teamed with Shana Morrison for an album and played on others with Bonnie Raitt, Sammy Hagar, Dan Hicks and others. But even for someone as creative and explorative as himself, Rogers seems surprised to have hit it off so well with Manzarek.
“I wasn't a Doors fan when I was a kid,” said Rogers. “I was a blues aficionado. I wanted to go see Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters.”
The metamorphosis may have come during the Healdsburg gig.
“I appreciate their recordings,” Rogers said. “It just encapsulated the time. Those four guys were a magical moment in musical history. There is no question about it. I have a better appreciation now.”
Manzarek still occasionally performs with Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger in a band called “Riders on the Storm.” Drummer John Densmore is the other surviving member of the Doors.
Manzarek was unavailable to comment for this article because he was in Los Angeles earlier this week working on a movie about the Doors, which will be narrated by Johnny Depp.
Manzarek lives in Napa and Rogers in Nevada City. The two team up for occasional shows within driving distances of their homes, along with a few dates in Seattle. Saturday's seated show at the Crystal Bay Casino will begin with a question-and-answer session from the audience. Rogers said the questions lead the direction of the performances. People always ask about Doors singer Jim Morrison, who, like so many rock stars from his era, died at the age of 27.
“The show is not just a rehash of the Doors,” Rogers said. “We do a couple of Doors tunes. He does a wonderful solo version of ‘Crystal Ship,' which is on the record. And ‘Riders on the Storm,' and we'll do some blues that I do, some John Lee (Hooker) and Wolf stuff. I never knew that Ray was a Chicago boy. He went to those South Side Chicago places like (Paul) Butterfield and (Charlie) Musselwhite. It's very upbeat and we're jostling onstage. It's just the two of us.”
In 2009, Rogers released one of his most-acclaimed solo albums, “Split Decision,” and he said he likely will have another one out in 2011. But for now he is focused on another collaboration with Manzarek, projected to be recorded in May, mixed in June and released by the fall.
“This one will be the exact opposite,” Rogers said. “We're going to make a blues-rock oriented record. It's going to be quite unique. We're in the process of writing it now. We've had two or three sessions and I'm very excited about this material. Lyrically it's quite different and we're coming up with some great musical chops so it's going to be fascinating to see how this ends up.”
