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New York Shows Celebrate 30 Years of Aja and 40th Anniversary of the Band! A Kweevak.com Rock Report by Rich and Laura Lynch In their heyday, back in the 70's and 80's, Steely Dan was known as a studio band. They were an act that rarely, and reluctantly, took their show on the road. In 2007, you would have trouble keeping these guys off the tour bus. That's just how they roll! In fact, the band's 2007 Heavy Rollers Tour is scheduled to be the largest and most exhaustive Steely Dan tour to ever take place with much anticipated stops in North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Forty years ago, in 1967, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker met at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. The two students shared similar musical tastes and started penning and performing original songs. After college, Donald and Walter continued composing and briefly toured with Jay and the Americans. In 1972, they released their first album Can't Buy A Thrill under the name Steely Dan taken from a William Burrough's novel.
 Throughout the 70's, Steely Dan crafted inventive records and briefly toured. Fagen and Becker preferred performing in the studio to the rigors of the road. Steely Dan had many configurations as different session musicians played on their records giving each a signature sound. Steely Dan's style is a blend of complex jazz structures, R & B and rock with a dash of funk and pop. In the early 80's, the two founders parted ways and pursued other interests but would slowly drift back to collaborating with the release of new material and major tours. The latest Heavy Rollers Tour has Steely Dan performing around the world including a hometown stand at the renowned Beacon Theater in New York City. Sunday, June 10, 2007 was the first of a return three night engagement at the Beacon Theater. Many longtime fans were present and looking forward to seeing the legendary duo, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Around eight p.m., The Sam Yahel Trio played a short but imaginative set of music. Their covers and originals were a mix of funk and jazz exploring a wide range of tempos and textures. By nine, The Steely Dan Band was on the stage opening with a jazz tune with each horn player taking a quick solo over solid rhythms. At the opening of 'Time Out of Mind', Donald looking dapper in black and Walter dressed casually joined the band. Donald was playing a clavinet and the band's instrumentation was distinct yet funky. Fagen and Becker were supported by a group of accomplished players including a baritone and tenor sax, trumpet, tenor trombone, drums, bass, keys, guitar and two female vocalists. Fagen spent a good deal of the evening directing the festivities from the organ and Becker soared on many of his guitar leads. 'Godwhacker' was up-tempo flowing over a R&B groove with the ladies adding to Donald's vocals. The chunky bass lines propelled the jam as the horn section strutted their stuff. Many of the songs throughout the evening included innovative instrumentals, very polished yet structured, in other words not really spontaneous. Donald greeted the crowd with "good morning kids, how are you, we are going back to the 70's" with 'Bad Sneakers' which featured an engaging solo by Becker and the ladies aptly handing the hook. 'Two vs. Nature' started with the spotlight on the drummer who traded off with the sax player before the rest of the band joined in for an animated jazz journey. 'Hey 19!' rocked and was enhanced by heavy horns and expanded solos. Towards the end of the song, Becker rapped about their younger days in New York City. Walter supported by the ladies handled lead vocals on 'Haitian Divorce', which included some lively leads with the tune taking more of a rock than jazz direction. 'Peg' was familiar yet fresh with additional instrumental twists and turns. Steely Dan then slowed it down for a jazzy, soulful rendition of 'Babylon Sisters'. This concert was a celebration and a showcase in many ways. First it celebrated 40 years of Steely Dan music and 30 years since their groundbreaking Aja album. Five songs of the night came off of the disc. But mostly, this evening was a presentation of the prowess and power of New York musicians. With Fagen and Becker leading the troupe fans got to see an abundance of artists from the apple. The opening act was made up of three native New Yorkers as was most of The Steely Dan Band players. A final feather in the cap for New York was applied when Donald introduced a special guest to sing 'Dirty Work'. He then called out Phoebe Snow, who is still a powerful vocalist and she brought the classic up to a whole other level, making it one of the highlights of the evening. New York City's Snow was greeted by the crowd with a warm and appreciative standing ovation. She looked over at Fagen who nodded back and "mouthed" "I told you" or something to that effect reminding her that the hometown crowd still cared. In 1992, Snow toured with Donald Fagen's popular New York Rock and Soul Revue and she was featured on the group's album recorded live at the same Beacon Theater. So there was a bit of history repeating itself and the knowledgeable fans were happy to pay their respect. Next up was a funky interpretation of 'Josie', which segued into Walter introducing the talented Steely Dan Band. This was the second multi-night run in New York for the local boys but they also played multiple shows in Florida, Philadelphia and Boston. They are really going to settle in for the long haul in August when Steely Dan travel to Japan for two six-night stands in Tokyo and Osaka followed by a three-night stay in Fukuoka. When they close out their tour and this historic chapter of their career in September the party around the world will really be complete, because Karl Wallinger and his band will create the intriguing double bill as the critically-acclaimed World Party will open for Steely Dan on its closing Australia and New Zealand leg of The Heavy Rollers venture. The show that started strong went from strength to strength and closed with power. 'Aja' was solid and included an animated drum solo. 'Black Cow' and 'Kid Charlameigne' were slick and sophisticated although Donald's voice was fading. The audience went wild as the set closed. Steely Dan returned for their encore of 'Pretzel Logic' and the classic 'My Old School' and both songs had the crowd on their feet. Steely Dan and The Steely Dan Band were precise and polished, playing many fan favorites in arrangements that were creative and colorful. Steely Dan has taken their stand as a live band with multiple nights at the Beacon and other global venues.
SETLIST:
HEAVY ROLLERS BAND: Originally Published: 06/15/2007 on Kweevak.com |
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