Arriving like a perfect combination of everything that the late Ray Manzarek brought to the Doors — this free-form, jazz-inflected sense of freedom — and the gnarled dangers of Roy Rogers’ slide blues, “Just Like Sherlock Holmes” is a fine valedictory.
Check out Rogers, midway through, as he bursts forth with a furious moment of improvisation, edging almost into math rock. Manzarek, always the steady centerpoint in the roiling magic that was Jim Morrison’s band, handles it like the pro he always was: “Sherlock Holmes” never misses a beat — and neither does Manzarek.
The track leads off Twisted Tales, a second collaboration between Rogers and Manzarek completed just before the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer succumbed to cancer. It’s Manzarek’s first collaboration with Rogers since Translucent Blues from five years ago. That initial project debuted at No. 6 on Billboard’s blues chart, and went to No. 1 on the Americana roots list.
Twisted Tales also includes work from drummer Kevin Hayes (Robert Cray), bassist Steve Evans (Elvin Bishop) and saxophonist George Brooks (John McLaughlin). Rogers has earned eight Grammy nods for a performer and producing career that has included work with John Lee Hooker and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott.
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