Donald Fagen will lead Steely Dan through a five-date run with Steve Winwood, embarking on a European tour through Scotland, Ireland, and England from February 20th through the 28th. Tickets for the 2019 run go on sale this Friday, September 7th, at 10 a.m. (local) here.
In September of last year, the world lost Steely Dan guitarist and co-founder Walter Becker. Steely Dan was one of the most important bands to come out of the ’70s, with Donald Fagen and Walter Becker’s unique approach to pop music—a slick combination of jazz, off-center chord progressions, meticulous arrangements, and introspective lyrics—leaving an indelible stamp on the world of music.
In honor of such, the fourth-annual Brooklyn Comes Alive has organized a special tribute to Steely Dan. Returning to Brooklyn’s beloved Williamsburg neighborhood for an all-day music marathon on September 29th, a number of high-profile artists from across the live music spectrum will pay tribute to this remarkable group and to Becker.
For this special upcoming Steely Dan tribute set, Joey Porter, resident keyboard virtuoso for the Colorado funk act The Motet and Brooklyn Comes Alive veteran, will serve as musical director, bringing the same care and attention that he has to his past BCA performances—Porter earned high praise when he brought his fan-favorite tribute to Herbie Hancock to BCA last year, making it one of the most buzzed-about performances of the festival, plus he joined the rest of his Motet brethren (and more) in honoring Jamiroquai during a packed performance at Music Hall of Williamsburg.
Porter has tapped a number of other beloved players from the live music community (many of whom have become staple performers for Brooklyn Comes Alive) to join him in honoring the prolific catalog of Steely Dan. Representing two-thirds of The Nth Power, both bassist Nate Edgar and guitarist Nick Cassarino will be on hand for the performance, as will Porter’s bandmate, vocalist Lyle Divinsky. Turkuaz‘s drummer Michelangelo Carubba and vocalist Sammi Garett will also perform, as will Snarky Puppy percussionist Nate Werth, saxophonist Chris Bullock, and trumpeter Mike “Maz” Maher. Returning to Brooklyn Comes Alive on the heels of 2017’s outstanding tribute to iconic ’90s female artists, charismatic singer Hayley Jane and Kung Fu guitarist Tim Palmieri round out the all-star lineup.
[H/T JamBase]