Marian McPartland/Steely Dan - Marian McPartland`s Piano Jazz Radio Broadcast

Artist:

McPartland, Marian

UPC:

727489204827

See Also:

Dorough, Bob Brubeck, Dave Short, Bobby Dave Brubeck/Marian McPartland - Marian McPartland`s Piano Jazz Radio Broadcast Marian McPartland/Teddy Wilson - Piano Jazz With Teddy Wilson *

Description:

Personnel: Marian McPartland (piano); Donald Fagen (vocals, piano); Walter Becker (guitar); Jay Leonhart (bass guitar); Keith Carlock (drums).
It isn`t hard to imagine how some jazz purists will react upon seeing the name Steely Dan on one of Marian McPartland`s Piano Jazz releases; they`re likely to ask, "What, in God`s name, is a pop/rock group doing in McPartland`s presence?" But even though Steely Dan isn`t a jazz act per se, they have always had jazz influences -- and it would be a mistake to think of this CD as strictly a pop/rock disc. Actually, the original material of Steely Dan leaders Donald Fagen (vocals, acoustic piano) and Walter Becker (electric guitar) takes somewhat of a back seat to instrumental straight-ahead jazz when they join forces with pianist McPartland, bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Keith Carlock. Some longtime Steely Dan enthusiasts might be disappointed to know that only three Fagen/Becker songs are performed: "Josie," "Black Friday" and "Chain Lightning" -- you won`t hear "Peg," "Do It Again," "Rikki, Don`t Lost That Number," "Deacon Blues," "Hey Nineteen" or "Reeling in the Years." Nonetheless, there are many enjoyable moments, and McPartland has no problem finding common ground with Fagen and Becker -- common ground that includes a healthy appreciation of Duke Ellington`s repertoire. Between three songs associated with the Duke ("Mood Indigo," Mercer Ellington`s "Things Ain`t What They Used to Be" and the lesser known "Limbo Jazz"), W.C. Handy`s "Hesitation Blues" and the standard "Star Eyes," Steely Dan`s encounter with McPartland is dominated by straight-ahead jazz -- not the jazz-influenced, soul-minded pop/rock that made Steely Dan famous during their `70s heyday. This intriguing CD may not have as many Steely Dan classics as some of their die-hard fans would like, but their appearance on Piano Jazz is full of pleasant surprises and reminds us just how much jazz means to `70s pop/rock icons. ~ Alex Henderson

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Conversation
2. Limbo Jazz
3. Conversation
4. Josie
5. Conversation
6. Mood Indigo
7. Conversation
8. Star Eyes
9. Conversation
10. Hesitation Blues
11. Conversation
12. Things Ain`t What They Used to Be
13. Conversation
14. Chain Lightning
15. Conversation
16. Black Friday

Album Information

Release Date:

03/15/2005

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Jazz Instrument

Subgenre:

Piano

Label:

Concord

Catalog Number:

TJA 120482

Original Release Year:

2005

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Runtime:

53 : 22

Portions copyright 2005 Muze Inc. All rights reserved.