Former Doors’ guitarist hits road with eclectic musical mix

The Doors made no sense on paper and total sense onstage, didn’t they?

They were a sum of seemingly ill-fitting parts: a jazz drummer, a classically trained pianist on keys, a frontman who fancied himself as much of a poet as a singer and a guitarist weened on flamenco more than rock ’n’ roll.

About that six stringer, the great Robby Krieger, his fingerstyle playing and background in Spanish folk music distinguished The Doors every bit as much as Jim Morrison’s outsize presence.

His playing was tasteful, accomplished, highly nuanced and understated — a welcome, necessary counterbalance to the bluster of the Lizard King.

These days, the guitarist is touring with a lineup dubbed Robbie Krieger’s Jam Kitchen, which also features bassist Arthur Barrow and keyboardist Tommy Mars, best known for their work with Frank Zappa, horn player Larry Klimas, who has played with Manhattan Transfer, Neil Diamond, Chicago and others, and drummer Tom Brechtlein, whose credits include Chick Corea, Al Di Meola and Robben Ford.

If Krieger’s playing is all over the place, so is his taste in bandmates.

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476. Follow on Twitter @JasonBracelin.