Jazz for aficionados

Hello Frogman - I did realize for whom your comments were intended. Appreciate you taking the time to explain. I asked strictly out of curiosity. Fagen is a case study in "supercilious" - though that hasn’t diminished my own enjoyment of his music. To my mind, that attitude has been something of a Steely Dan trademark, so not limited to Fagen alone.  I do appreciate how an emotional response to the artist (or lack thereof) independent of any artistic-merit considerations can affect "receptivity". I encourage your view of The Nightfly as a "masterpiece", however. FWIW - Michael Jackson would be good corollary in my own little universe. Thanks for the tip on Wayne Shorter’s "Atlantis". I note we are contemporaries given college being some 40 years in the past.

To Rok - I doubt "fusion" is free at Madame Dupree’s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voTU8qUeFKo

Cheers

Fabulous!  Definitely whore-house material....as if I knew...not!    Great chart and great feel.  Fabulous plunger solo on trumpet.  Once again, don't know where the "no more good new jazz" crowd is coming from.  Dee Dee sounds great and I never heard heard such an obvious Biily Holiday influence and even a bit of Leon Thomas type "yodeling" thrown in.  Good stuff!  All this talk about ladies of the night made me think of this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mxVo5mjK4eg

https://m.youtube.com/watch?list=PLO2wh9neLtRY6HqOq7kozUzaTKc1t4TRm&v=rctESG7Ht84

Ghosthouse, I agree with your comments re SD but I do think that Fagen's solo projects go even deeper into the sensibility that I am trying to describe and somewhat away from the R&R sensibility that, even with all the Jazz and other "inform"ation, was still at the heart of SD's music (Becker?).  My reaction is just a personal one and, to be clear, it has nothing to do with any knowledge of Fagen's personality as described in that interview; the vibe of his personality seems more obvious in the music of his solo projects, as expected.  Not sure about the MJ reference.  I get it in broad terms, but for me MJ is not in the gategory of great musicians so comparison to someone like DF seems a bit strained and, for me, different "rules" apply to MJ.  MJ was a fabulous entertainer in a genre unapolagetically "pop" and whose final product depended on the producer's (Quincy Jones) hand to a great extent; not the case with DF.  

Frogman - okay! I do think I get it. Not disputing anything you've said. We can let it rest.  Just brought up MJ as an example of a personal case somewhat analogous to yours (yes, imperfect) where someone's professional credentials (whether pop, R&B, musician or entertainer) just don't get me past subjective issues with that individual...not to mention taste (absence of) for the music style.  

You bring up QJ...I'll repeat again the great admiration I have for the "behind the scenes" talents in the studio...arrangers, producers, engineers (anything else?).   That would be a good thread: a listing of the standouts in each of these 3 areas.     

Speaking of arrangers, one of the greatest arrangers and band leaders of all time and one who doesn't get enough recognition.  Of course, it helps to have a band like this; incredible lineup.  Amazing groove from a rhythm section that doesn't have to play loud and amazing precision and warmth from the brass.  

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZLvqXFddu0

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hTFhcL-YrDU