Aja by Steely Dan, 1977
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
I spent this past week listening to Aja, a jazz-rock masterpiece of an album from 1977. I’d never heard Steely Dan before, but I can solidly say that this is one of my favorite albums so far! I think it certainly deserves its spot as 145 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums list.
I especially love the incredible variety of musicians; nearly 40 instrumentalists are apparently credited, which, given there are only 9 tracks totaling under 40 minutes of music, is something special. I’d never really been exposed to jazz-rock as a genre before, but it’s pretty much exactly what I expect (which I love): standard 70s rock with some fun jazzy twists and turns, usually in the form of interesting chord progressions.
Overall, this really is one of my favorite albums so far, and it was an absolute pleasure to listen to.
My top 3 songs:
1. Deacon Blues
Deacon Blues is a super groovy song that actually reminds me of some of George Benson’s music, especially the many guitar riffs throughout and the instrumentals leading in and out of vocal parts. That being said, the complex background instruments are my favorite part; they both embellish the vocalists and shine by themselves, especially when settled into the nice, comfortable bass and drum groove that continues throughout the song.
Lee Ritenour also played on this tune.
2. Aja
The title song is really an amazing track, and I’d say (knowing no other Steely Dan music other than this album) that it’s Don & Walter’s magnum opus. The complexity of Aja was incredible, especially its various tempo changes and instruments. So many instruments are featured throughout this track, some in special vignettes and others in more typical solos.
My favorite part of this masterpiece, though, is Steve Gadd’s drumming. As a drummer myself, I can only say WOW. I’d obviously heard of Gadd before, but I’d never appreciated just how damn good he is until I heard this song. His fill section/solo is absolutely perfect, and does everything right; it feels like the next natural extension of the song, yet also almost feels like an entirely new song. He's really something.
3. Peg
One of the three singles from the album, Peg is a really fun and upbeat song that I just love. It really exemplifies what it means to blend jazz and rock, in my mind. It feels like a funky jazz track with some terrifically cool chord progressions, but it also features vocals that remind me of many rock songs I enjoy. The usage of the sax throughout serves not only to accentuate the vocals/rhythm section, but also to drive the song forward by itself in a really fun way.
