Mark Masters (ldr/arr.); Tim Hagens (tpt); Ryan Dragon (tmb); Price (bs); Peter Erskine (dms); Billy Harper (ten); Gary Smulyan (bar); Hamilton Price (bs); Peter Erskine (dms) + Oliver Lake, Gary Foster (sax); Sonny Simmons (cor anglais) and others.
(Review by Lance).
Subtitled Playing the Music of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen you don't need to be a genius to work out that this is a Steely Dan tribute.
The arrangements by Masters are faithful to the spirit of the originals whilst, at the same time, bringing to the fore the jazz elements that were ever underpinning the Steely Dan versions.
Great soloists abound, shooting out of the ensembles like Usain Bolt from the blocks. Most prolific are Billy Harper on tenor reliving some of his halcyon moments with the Jones-Lewis Band and Tim Hagans on trumpet.
Other notables include my number one baritone player Gary Smulyan and Gary Foster who is featured sensuously on Fire in the Hole.
Do it Again, perhaps Dan's best known number, has John Mitchell on bassoon and Sonny Simmons on cor anglais for an almost classical rendition.
All in all a rather splendid CD that should appeal to jazz fans and Dan fans alike.
Mark Masters Ensemble - Everything You Did is available on Capri Records.
Lance.
Lance.
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