Robby Krieger And The Soul Savages

In 2020, former Doors guitarist Robby Krieger released the stellar instrumental jazz-funk outing The Ritual Begins at Sundown, his first album in a decade. Krieger was never really idle: He amassed hundreds of credits for everything from production to songwriting to playing, but he maintains a relatively low profile. Robby Krieger & The Soul Savages marks the debut of his new quartet with keyboardist Ed Roth, bassist Kevin Brandino, and drummer Franklin Vanderbilt. This instrumental ten-song set dialogues in jazz-funk, soul-jazz, prog, and funky rock with swagger and a relaxed immediacy. Opener "Shark Skin Suit" is guided by a bubbling Hammond B-3 framing a synth vamp appended by fuzzy, strutting guitar that delivers meaty blues and R&B riffs atop the rhythm sections swinging groove. Kriegers solo crisscrosses R&B, jazz, progressive rock, and spidery R&B. It segues into the second single, "Samosas & Kingfishers." A modal Middle Eastern vamp is offered by organ, then underscored and appended by Krieger emulating the sound of a sitar. As rumbling tom-toms and fretless bass add dramatic circular rhythms, Krieger follows Roth onto the ledge and begins drifting into psychedelia on his slide. The trio shifts gears as Roth solos on electric piano in direct response to Brandinos loping bassline. Krieger offers taut, emotionally satisfying fills and accents. The intro to "A Day in L.A." recalls the Quincy Jones-penned theme to the Redd Foxx TV comedy Sanford and Son in the intro. The lithe swing illustrates contemporary jazz-funk. Kriegers multi-textured solo punches through the mix playing jazz and blues licks with a slide. "Kilzoni" is a set highlight. Kriegers jazz-rock chops bridge the fusion ambitions of Miles Davis In a Silent Way with Return to Forevers Romantic Warrior. While hinge track "Contrary Motion" is almost a straight-ahead rocker, "Never Say Never" is adorned by a funky shuffle driven by Brandino and Vanderbilt and a sparkling electric piano solo. Krieger stretches to provide psychedelic funk through the melody. While "Bouncy Betty" is a bumping soul-jazz stroll, "Ricochet Rabit" draws on Wes Montgomerys elegant influence in Kriegers elaborate chord voicings. Roth sits at an acoustic piano and swings the rhythm section hard. Closer "Math Problem," juxtaposes driving guitar funk, prog rock, jazz syncopation, and harmonic interplay between organist and guitarist, flanked by breaks from Vanderbilt. The bassist, followed by the frontline, dislocates the harmonic center moving toward the kind of groove-centric freedom articulated by Medesk, Scofield, Martin & Wood. Robby Krieger & The Soul Savages is hip, relaxed, and confident. The quartet sounds like theyre having an exceptionally good time and that translates to aural gold for the listener. ~ Thom Jurek