Classic Albums: Steely Dan - Aja

What a thrill. Steely Dan was one of my very tippy-top Most Important Bands when I was younger - I was (and can still be) stunned by the musicianship here. This is a must-see for Steely Dan fans of any ilk.I have experience with a number of instruments, but never having been a drummer, I don't think I understood quite the importance of Steve Gadd's work on Aja to drummers in general (though the very mention of the name "Steve Gadd" has always inspired in me the fear of...mastery unsurpassed). I know that drum part has always amazed *me*, but I didn't realize where it stood in the overall annals of drumming until I read the reviews of this video. And I understand the...incensation?...of drummers at the omission of Gadd from this video. It seems crazy. If I step back, however, and consider all the possibilities, I see that there's any number of reasons why the man may not have been given his due in this video. Did Fagen and/or Becker have a falling-out with him? Did he for some reason refuse to allow mention of his name in the video? You know how various musicians are (or at least were, once upon a time) fairly the property of their record companies? "Michael McDonald appears courtesy of BlahBlahBlah Records"? Maybe they couldn't get that permission from Gadd's overlords at the time?And I'm sure there are other possible roadblocks that I don't even know about to Gadd getting a proper mention (and video coverage) in this video. I'm just saying that it could be due to political issues between Fagen and Becker and Gadd, or between Fagen and Becker and Gadd's record company (if he was affiliated with a particular one when this video was made); it's possible Fagen and Becker wanted like crazy to showcase his playing, but...weird complicated goings-on prevented it.The mutual friend I share with Fagen and Becker seems to have cast me off lately, along with a lot of other people including some friends of 40 years and more, but I might try to get in touch with him to ask him about this. He may be able to shed some light if he's so inclined. And I'd just love to be back in touch with him, so...I'll give it a shot, and if he responds, tells me anything about the Gadd situation, and doesn't forbid me to disclose it, I'll update this review accordingly.

There are a handful of musicians who have lived on this planet over the last few hundred years who are obviously not human, at least in the brain itself. While I don't pretend to have an exhaustive list, Bach, half of the Beatles and George Martin, and Steely Dan are examples of this highly developed life form. Some folks might add many more "fusion" musicians. Anyway, when you watch Fagen and Becker interact with each other and describe various aspects of a track or song, you get the impression that they only have to use 10% of their brains to produce some of the most sophisticated music ever recorded. The fact that most of their songs are completely accessible to the average listener is astounding. But the most impressive part of this documentary is the apparent calm. There is never a harsh word, always a compliment, and the two of them remind me of boy geniuses restoring an antique car. These guys seem to love music, humanity, and each other. I really hope that I never find out otherwise.

Loved the album. Fantastic insight into their artistic process. Now I need to go listen to it.

This is an excellent documentary about one of the greatest albums ever recorded. But to not even mention Steve Gadd's performance on the title track is simply inexplicable. I know this has been mentioned in several other of these reviews but it is important for viewers to understand that, although they might think they are watching something comprehensive, there is in fact something of immeasurably enormous significance that has been left out!! To not even mention, let alone explain, that the track Aja features one of the most celebrated drum tracks in popular music tarnishes what would have otherwise been an exemplary documentary. The interviews with the other drummers, the great Bernard Purdie and Rick Marotta who also made such important contributions to the record, are terrific and at least Jim Keltner gets a mention. But Gadd barely gets a name-check?? The genius of Gadd's performance on this track is not in question. It is simply sublime. One of his greatest ever performances (and Gd knows there are a thousand of them to choose from) and unarguably one of the greatest recorded drum performances of all time. It doesn't take much of a search on YouTube to find countless breakdowns and analysis of his performance on this track. Drummers have been obsessed with it ever since its release over 40 years ago . And the now well-known fact that Gadd came in and pretty much sight-read the whole track and nailed it within a couple of takes only adds to its legend. Much of the cultural significance and musical achievements of this masterpiece of a recording are well covered in the documentary. But the fact that it also captured one of the finest musicians of his or any other generation at the peak of his powers laying down one of the most legendary drum tracks ever recorded is sadly omitted. So ultimately an opportunity lost. Disclaimer: If you are not a drummer or don't know much about drumming you might think this review is loaded with hyperbole, but trust me, talk to a few drummers who know what they are talking about and you will discover that it is not!