Sun 29 Jun 2008
Carsten, 200 % DANizen
Posted by admin under Introduction 2 Think Fast , SD Tours '07/'08No Comments
We mentioned Steelydoc before, he won a C$ sticker with his WB and DF license plates. But Mizar5 is now proud to present yet another Steely Dan ‘pro’, because that’s what you might like to call these very devoted Steely Dan fans who, well… just read for yourselves what Carsten (47) from Danmark in Europe has to say! We start with a letter from May 29th and take it from there, showing you pictures of some familiar and unfamiliar Steely memorabilia and a review of a concert from the Steve Lukather’s No Jazz Tour. Carsten, of course, has also won a C$ sticker.
(click images!) Way back when in seventy seven / eighty seven a friend introduced me to Aja which immediately blew me away and I have been a fan ever since. Shortly after I bought Katy Lied and Royal Scam. I was very fascinated by the incredible musicianship, the perfectionism, the amazing drum grooves, the horn arrangements, the bass lines, the fabulous guitar solos, I simply enjoyed every single note. At that time I had started playing the drums, and of course all of the great Steely Dan drummers have since been a big influence. Then came Gaucho and The Nightfly, both incredible albums, and I stayed an enthusiastic fan for some more years.
At that time I was also enjoying music by Lee Ritenour, Larry Carlton, Tom Scott, Dave Grusin, Little Feat, Average White Band, David Sanborn, George Duke etc. Still… Steely Dan was my main influence. From mid 80’ I slowly moved into a more jazzy period and Steely Dan went a little in the background. It was now Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Herbie Hancock, Michel Camilo, various Big Band music etc. that had my main attention. Of course I loved Kamakiriad and Alive in America when they were released but it was not until 2000 when Two Against Nature was released that I kind of rediscovered Steely Dan. Then I wanted to know more.
From 2000 and ’til today I have tried to find out more and more about Donald and Walter, the music, the background, the lyrics. In my first period (late 70’s and ’til mid 80’s) it was only about the music, I tried hard but I didn’t really understand much of the cryptic lyrics. I had Katy Lied and Royal Scam, but none of the earlier albums. I believe that is the reason why I today still consider Katy Lied, Royal Scam, Aja and Gaucho as my “The magnificent four”.
Since 2000 I have studied the history since Bard College, bought all the remaining early albums, read Brian Sweet’s several times, Dandom Digest, Blue Book, Yellow, searched the internet to keep myself up to date, Mizar5, Radio Dupree, various outtakes, some bootleg recordings, bought all the Tribute CD’s that I have been able to find, searched at lot on related and earlier involved musicians… what have they been doing over the years, what are they involved in today and so on… so yes.. I am back as a 200% Steely Dan Fan, and for sure… I am DAN’ish.
I must admit that over the past two years or so, I have almost only been listening to all sorts of Steely Dan, bootlegs, tributes, early recordings etc. I will love to share my interest and enthusiasm for Steely Dan and related stuff. And I love the new era, 2vN, EMG, MTC, am thrilled about Circus Money and hopefully there will be a new Steely Dan album soon and some concerts in Europa. Nowadays, when I have a little spare time from listening to Steely Dan, it will most probable be Robben Ford, Mike Stern, John Scofield, Tower of Power or other various kinds of jazz.
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Pictures: Zitadelle, Berlin (2007); A Circus Money stand at Carsten’s house; Is there gas in the car?; He Got The Steely Dan T-Shirt (and more).
Yesterday, Saturday June 28th, my brother and I went to see Steve Lukather and his band, we were both blown away by the incredible musicianship of the whole band. I had heard Stab In The Back but I hadn’t bought the album so we were both unprepared and had no special expectations, but Steve and the other band members simply blew us away, it was a fantastic concert. When Steve introduced “Stab In The Back” he said that it was dedicated to Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. After the concert both my brother and I bought the CD, talked to all the band members and got the CD signed (I send you a scanned copy), it was a great night. By the way, I saw TOTO (with the great Jeff Porcaro) back in 1989 in Copenhagen.