Steely Dan Live 1996 Manassas 13/23: East St Louis Toodle-OO

[fibreoptix]

I wonder if they got some of their inspiration from The Fat Controller's theme on this one..? ;)

[jp0531801]

This is definately one of their odd ones, but its very great. It's Steely Dan!

[STIRKDAWG]

@jp0531801 ... actually, it's Duke Ellington!

[louswire]

After getting turned on to the Duke... this is kinda hard to put up with...

[mandobanjoguitar]

great video! why can't I save this to my favorites?

[LoveTOFU2]

Wow. Stellar playing all around. I saw lots of bands, but never saw one with all the guys reading music! One of the best bands ever...

[noritamaboy]

ぷぁっぷぁぷぁぷぁ～んぷぁぷぁん

[bminorscales]

Oh, and I neglected to mention: the solo by the pianist [again, wish I knew WHO] is off the chart. The high point of the whole piece, speaking as both a DAN FAN and an Ellington fanatic jazz geek who's [truth be told] forgotten more than you'll ever know about that subject.

[steelydanbowler]

@bminorscales Pianist John Beasley

[bminorscales]

@steelydanbowler

Thanks, steelydanbowler, for IDing the pianist as John Beasley. I'm impressed by his and the trumpet player's solos every time I watch this. Few modern players can do the Ellington work from that era justice, but these two guys truly do. Can you imagine Becker and Fagan auditioning trumpet players the way directors used to audition actors for parts in a Broadway play? Fifty guys in line awaiting their chance, all of them can do Miles in their sleep, & not one makes the cut.

[ThePhatboy3]

I'd love to hear the 'Dan do as take on 'The Entertainer' by Scott Joplin...

[bminorscales]

@ThePhatboy3 Yeh? Alas, that's about as likely to happen as a Dan version of "How Much Is That Doggie In the Window."

[ThePhatboy3]

@bminorscales

You cannot compare that trash with Scott Joplin. "The Entertainer" is in a different league and cannot be belittled in that way.

[bminorscales]

@ThePhatboy3

It seems you are saying that "East St. Louis Toodle-loo" is trash. If so, that's a knock on Steely Dan, since Becker and Fagan are on record as greatly admiring Duke Ellington. Seeing as how they incorporate a lot of jazz influence in their chord structures, they clearly take cues from jazz as a genre. Yes, "Entertainer" is in a different league, but not one that is in a higher rank, in the slightest. If you don't agree, I'd refer you to the Wikipedia Ellington entries.

[ThePhatboy3]

@bminorscales Absolutely not! I am saying that it would be interesting to hear their take on The Entertainer. It is a fine piece of music and so is East St Louis toodle-oo. Their interesting take on chords can really add a new dimension to their music. I was talking about 'That doggie in the window. You belittled 'The Entertainer'!

[bminorscales]

@ThePhatboy3

Fair enough. I misinterpreted your "in a different league" statement as referring to Entertainer v. Toodle-oo. I'll also admit to feeling that ragtime as a genre was hyped up in the 1970s when Joshua Rifkin was all the rage. After reflecting a moment, I wouldn't particularly mind hearing the Dan do a version of "The Entertainer," just as I never object to Ellington's mid-Fifties orchestra doing their uncanny takes on the pop chestnuts of the 1920s, i.e. "Ellington @ Bal Masque"

[ThePhatboy3]

@bminorscales I'm afraid your knowledge leaves me for dead. I can only say that I have lived, breathed and eaten (metaphorically of course) the 'Dan since I was a teenager and simply know want I like to hear. I'm sure they'd do a great rag.

[Deltron14]

Where is Donald on sax?

[TheMelodyman]

Skunk just did a direct copy of the original horn solo by Duke Ellingtons band.

[andyinoregon]

Mighty fine indeed, but I'll never forget Skunk Baxter's virtuoso performance of this tune on pedal steel during their 1974-75 Pretzel Logic Tour. They were one of the best live bands on the planet before they retreated to the studio.

[emusi123]

A classic echoed through any temporal or digital boundary, a twenties jewel ... thank you !

[RevieUp]

NICE. Thanks for posting that. Video attached attached is the usage of the song in my homemade documentary.

[Shieksghost]

Hmm, it's really missing that Bari sound, which Duke emphasized heavily on in the orignal recording, and the trumpet solo could use more Melody over just blasting high notes.

[Jermis909]

it's almost as if the trumpeter is paying too much attention to muting the trumpet to follow the melody.

[bminorscales]

@Jermis909

No no no. The trumpet soloist [wish I knew who] does his own masterful and obviously knowledgeable take on the classic versions of this solo. He's clearly got a deep respect for that approach and he honors it. How? First, he exhibits a thorough knowledge of the originals, and second, he has an individual interpretation of his own that is wholly in keeping with the spirit of the piece. One bad cat. Do your homework, Jermis.

[Jermis909]

@bminorscales I was not saying the solo was second rate or a poor rendition. Don't tell me to do my homework, when I said nothing "unknowledgeable".

[bminorscales]

@Jermis909

You say that "the trumpeter is paying too much attention to muting the trumpet to follow the melody," and then you back-pedal by saying "I was not saying the solo was second rate." Just for the record, this guy's mute work is excellent. By implying that the intent of his solo is to restate the melody of East St. Louis, you betray the fact that you don't really get what they are doing in this performance.

[phishdawg]

awesome cover

[ded666777]

great song

love duke ellington, love steely dan

[sakisei]

That's great.

Thanks for your sharing this.

[doedoe1]

that is So Awesome...... Love that the Dan can always play a different style..... Great Cover......