According to "VOX" magazine, "the project is marked Top Secret, not even Warners execs have been invited in to hear a note and contributing musicians like Rick Derringer, Larry Carlton and Wayne Shorter have been sworn to silence" (Metal Leg can't confirm the above artists'involvement).

We've told you that Chris Parker was the only known drummer to work with Fagen at The Hit Factory, but now you can add the name Buddy Williams. Williams told Metal Leg that his playing might not make the album but nevertheless, "it doesn't matter because it's great just playing with those guys and the tunes are so challenging". In fact, Buddy was called into the LA studio in the mid-'70s to do some work on what became the "Aja" sessions. He was never told what he was working on, and never made the record. Buddy also noted that Fagen & Becker have so much great stuff "in the can," that there is probably 2-3 albums worth of great music put away.

One of the songs in the can will be finding its way onto the new Manhattan Transfer album. The track is titled "Confide In Me" and was written by Fagen. Mindy Jostyn has also been performing "Confide" with her band and also a version of "I'm Sorry" with a new bridge written by DF.

Donald flew back to New York in late December while Walter continues his production career working with Andy Laverne, a 42-year-old pianist from NYC for three days in early January.

Gary Katz has been in England producing a band out of Scotland called Arrival, and it's still unknown to us if Gary will have a role in Donald's project.

Donald had been showing up alternately on Tuesday nights with Jimmy Vivino's "Little Big Band" and Wednesday nights with "The Mindy Jostyn Band." On one Wednesday night in early October, Libby Titus, who was producing the shows, arranged for major record executives to hear Mindy, who she believes deserves a record contract. Amid the record honchos, Metal Leg noticed Irving Azoff, who managed Steely Dan as head of Frontline Management in the '70s. Donald, who apparently wasn't as impressed with the dignitaries as we were, joined Mindy on stage to back Mindy on her own tunes, as well as do a little Dan. Mindy did a soulfully great job singing and playing harmonica with her own band, featuring "Curious George's" Drew Zingg on guitar, and Graham Hawthorne on drums.

In addition to Mindy'swork, the surprise of the evening for us was the performance of Eric Warren, a jazz blues guitarist, blind since birth. Eric in the past has played with Elliot Randall, and Dr. John, but on this night, was on his own little island playing blues standards alongside one of his favorite musicians of all time -- Donald Fagen. Donald sang and Eric played his Steinberger guitar almost blowing the roof off the place. Although Donald, as usual, remained expressionless during Eric's three songs, he must have recognized the workings of a true bluesman.

Getting advance notice on when Donald would show up at Hades was pretty tough. You just had to go every Tuesday and Wednesday and keep an eye on the front door. But for Tuesday, October 22, we got the word that Fagen would definitely show. So, as a courtesy to our subscribers who live in the New York City area and have a listed phone number (and you know who you are), Metal Leg gave them a tip on a night they'll never forget.

The weather that night was horrendous with torrential, wind-blown rain that made driving nearly impossible. The staff at Hades was sure that only a few neighborhood people would show because of the weather and that supposedly no one else knew about the show. Metal Leg's editor and publisher made a frightening cab trip crosstown to the gig, and hoped that Donald wouldn't cancel.

As we wandered into the club, and settled at the bar, we started meeting our brave subscribers, one after another who braved the weather. And by showtime, Metal Leg subscribers made up about 80% of the people that packed this small club.

And as Donald made his way to the stage, you could feel the electricity in the air. Phoebe Snow came up for the first couple of songs and warmed up the audience for what was to come. Musically, the entire band was the tightest that they'd ever been. And after some R&B tunes, Steely Dan's "Black Friday" started the frenzy, with Jimmy Vivino's guitar and backup vocals demonstrating that practice makes perfect.

Then we noticed that Paul Shaffer (Late Night With David Letterman) and Noel Redding (bassist with the Jimi Hendrix Experience) had taken a table right in front of the stage. After a few more R&B songs, Paul and Noel took the stage and the audience screamed for "Purple Haze." Donald asked Paul for some lighter fluid to set his Melodica on fire, which got a laugh from the crowd, and then they launched into the song with Paul on vocals. Donald wasn't sure if the Melodica was the best accompaniinent to Hendrix so he just played a few notes at the beginning and end of the song, but it was still a sight to see.

Paul and Noel took their seats again and Catherine Russell was asked to come up to the stage to do backup vocals on the next two songs. "Chain Lightning" gave all the musicians on stage a chance to do a solo, resulting in a long version of this great blues song. But, then the best was yet to come, as we watched Paul Shaffer's jaw drop to his knees, the opening bars of "Home At Last" sent the crowd into ecstacy. The chorus was slowed down to a reggae beat, and Kevin Bents piano fills were brilliant. Donald maneuvered Jimmy's band through this complex arrangement as a philhamonic orchestra conductor would have done. In short, this was magic.

Paul's new wife wanted to beat the crowd out just as Donald was starting "Pretzel Logic." With his wife pulling him towards the door, Paul seemed to resist and he turned back for the end of "Logic." When asked about what he thought of the show, Paul replied on the way out, "I just wish I could have played on some of that Steely Dan stuff."

Hades, may you rest in peace.

Speaking of Burroughs and music, Donald Fagen contributed a "musical" backdrop to a selection called "A New Standard by Which to Measure Infamy" from a collection of readings by Burroughs on a recording called "Dead City Radio." The track runs 1 minute and 47 seconds and is something for those of you who enjoy "interesting" concepts in performance art.

NY area subscribers should have received a postcard with the concert news in mid-January. Other subscribers outside of the NY area who would like information on future shows should drop us a note with their phone number.

Issue 15 contents | Metal Leg overview | The Steely Dan Internet Resource

Last modified on 4/2/99