The songs of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, aka Steely Dan, stood alone in 1970s rock; cryptic, pungent lyrics and sophisticated, detailed music deeply influenced by, in Becker and Fagen’s own words, “the best jazz players of the ’50s and ’60s”.
Any Dan aficionado will tell you there has always been a strong jazz element in Becker and Fagen’s songs, and the duo always sought to call upon the talents of top-drawer session musicians from the jazz and contemporary music world, including Michael Brecker, Bernard Purdie, Larry Carlton, Freddie Washington, and Steve Gadd.
Chris Ingham’s Steely Jazz re-examines the comprehensive Dan canon, illuminating the singular melodies, rich harmonies and exploring the small jazz group possibilities of an incomparably opulent songbook.
Featuring well-known compositions like Rikki Don’t Lose That Number and Josie, alongside classic tracks and deep cuts from the masterpiece albums such as Aja, Gaucho, Countdown to Ecstacy, and Katy Lied, Steely Jazz is a fresh and exciting celebration of two giants of 20th Century popular music.
In Harry Greene, Paul Higgs, Geoff Gascoyne, and George Double, Chris has assembled a stellar group of musicians to perform Becker and Fagen’s material.
A must must for all Dan fans!
Chris Ingham (Piano/Guitar/Vocals) Paul Higgs (Trumpet/Piano/Melodica) Harry Greene (Tenor Saxophone/Guitar) Geoff Gascoyne (Double Bass) George Double (Drums/Vocals)