Steely Dan's "Aja" - A Perfect Album?

Video Description

From the hypnotic grooves of “Black Cow” to contributions from jazz legends Wayne Shorter, Steve Gadd, and Victor Feldman, Steely Dan’s 1977 masterpiece Aja reigns amongst the best—and best-produced—albums of all time. In this episode, Peter and Adam break down Fagen and Becker’s jazz-infused harmonies, their precision recording process, and the album’s audiophile-worthy engineering. Tune in for stories, stem breakdowns, and a brand new segment where Kaleb Kirby and Bob DeBoo join us to play through Aja hits. Whether you’re a Steely Dan devotee or just here for the yacht-rock controversy, get ready to kick off the new YHI season with one of the 70s’ most iconic sonic journeys. show notes: (00:00) Intro & avoiding nautical references (03:11) Introduction to Aja (1977) and its Grammy nods (06:01) "Black Cow" keys analysis (Joe Sample & Victor Feldman) (07:36) Isolation of Paul Humphrey's drum tracks (11:01) Breakdown of Victor Feldman's Rhodes solo (14:37) Deep dive into title track "Aja" (18:11) Analysis of Wayne Shorter solo w/Steve Gadd "comping" (25:49) "Peg" analysis (27:27) Breakdown of McDonald's background vocal arrangements (30:23) Album sequencing discussion (31:31) Chuck Rainey's bass contributions across the album (33:11) "Home at Last" analysis (35:35) "Deacon Blues" discussion (39:44) Snob-o-meter rating (42:34) Preview of Open Studio member exclusive content 🔵 Subscribe to @OpenStudioMusic – and enjoy new performances from your favorite OS artists, every week 🟠 Open Studio Members - Check out the Nerd Nook for this episode in The Hang: https://openstudiojazz.com/community/c/as-seen-on/steely-dan-s-aja-a-perfect-album-d3df681a-ce88-49b7-ad4a-50ae1cf9a4c4 ABOUT OPEN STUDIO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ As the premier online jazz education platform, with an ever-expanding course library and 20,000+ members, Open Studio (OS) has everything you need to excel and thrive on your jazz journey. Featuring everything from beginner to advanced lessons, engaging courses from A-list instructors, step-by-step curriculum, real-time classes and a thriving and incredibly supportive community, OS is the perfect platform to level up your jazz playing, whether you’re a total beginner, or an advanced pro-level improvisor. Try OS Membership today! → https://osjazz.link/about Looking to drop a question? Want to listen to the audio pod? Look no further! https://youllhearit.com/ Check out AJA by Don Breithaupt https://amzn.to/3QdcO5P Listen to the album https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfGibfZATlGogmBx443IFoYCguGNu6vtp&si=YMYlXeu6z-hwzx1e