On October 19, 2025, Anthony Claiborne Jackson died aged 73. He was musician (electric bass, contrabass, guitar), bassist, regarded as “one of the masters of the instrument”. He performed live in more than 30 countries and recorded in more than 3000 sessions on more than 500 albums, with Al Di Meola, Billy Paul, Carlos Garnett, Roberta Flack, Patti Austin, Alex Bugnon, Michel Camilo, Jorge Dalto, Mandoki Soulmates, Will Downing, Carlos Franzetti, Jun Fukamachi, Eric Gale, Terumasa Hino, Garland Jeffreys, Chaka Khan, Steve Khan, Tania Maria, Harvey Mason, Michel Petrucciani, Buddy Rich, Lee Ritenour, Mike Stern, Hiromi Uehara, Grover Washington Jr., Monty Alexander, Peter Allen, Gabriela Anders, Ashford & Simpson, Fahir Atakoglu, Anita Baker, Bob Baldwin, Gato Barbieri, Thereza Bazar, Jim Beard, Bee Gees, George Benson, Warren Bernhardt, Randy Bernsen, Rory Block, Perry Botkin Jr., Ralph Bowen, Till Brönner, Peabo Bryson, Jimmy Buffett, Dina Carroll, Dennis Chambers, Sandeep Chowta, John Clark, Norman Connors, Chick Corea, Hank Crawford, Randy Crawford, Lou Courtney, Eddie Daniels, Michael Davis, Rainy Davis, Eumir Deodato, Devonsquare, Paul Dresher, Ned Rothenberg, Gene Dunlap, Eliane Elias, Pee Wee Ellis, Jon Faddis, Donald Fagen, Joe Farrell, Rachelle Ferrell, Barry Finnerty, Sonny Fortune, Hiroshi Fukumura, Four Tops, Henry Gaffney, Carlos Garnett, Stephane Grappelli, Urbie Green, Michael Gregory, Dave Grusin, Kit Hain, Delores Hall, Lionel Hampton, Gene Harris, Takehiro Honda, Lena Horne, Miki Howard, Bobbi Humphrey, Phyllis Hyman, Masaru Imada, Freddie Jackson, Joe Jackson, Rebbie Jackson, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Ryo Kawasaki, Earl Klugh, Kahoru Kohiruimaki, Wayne Krantz, Bireli Lagrene, Yusef Lateef, Webster Lewis, Dave Liebman, Reggie Lucas, Ralph MacDonald, Teo Macero, Madonna, Teena Marie, Sleepy Matsumoto, Maureen McGovern, Sergio Mendes, Pat Metheny, Bette Midler, Barry Miles, Russell Morris, Gerry Mulligan, Milton Nascimento, David “Fathead” Newman, Maxine Nightingale, Claude Nougaro, The O’Jays, Jeffrey Osborne, Phil Perry, Peter, Paul & Mary, Esther Phillips, Simon Phillips, Noel Pointer, Jesse Rae, Ernest Ranglin, Lou Rawls, Jess Roden, Diana Ross, Ray Russell, Sam & Dave, David Sanborn, Arturo Sandoval, Alejandro Sanz, Lalo Schifrin, Helen Schneider, John Scofield, John Sebastian, Doc Severinsen, Carly Simon, Edward Simon, Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel, Kathy Sledge, Lonnie Liston Smith, Steve Smith, Phoebe Snow, Bert Sommer, David Spinozza, Steely Dan, Jeremy Steig, Charles Sullivan, Ximo Tebar, Nino Tempo, John Tropea, Michal Urbaniak, Dave Valentin, Luther Vandross, Harold Vick, Roch Voisine, Martha Wash, Kazumi Watanabe, Sadao Watanabe, Frank Weber, Dave Weckl, James D-Train Williams, Vanessa Williams, Nancy Wilson, Bernie Worrell and Akiko Yano. As co – leader Jackson released three albums.
Tag Archives: Steely Dan
Rick Derringer
On May 26, 2025, Richard Dean Zehringer aka Rick Derringer, died aged 77. He was musician (guitar), singer and composer, member of McCoys, DNA, Derringers, Derringer Bogert and Appice, recorded and performed with Edgar Winter, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, Ringo Starr, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Johnny Winter, Richie Havens, Thomas Jefferson Kaye, Dan Hartman, Bette Midler, Todd Rundgren, Eddie Schwartz, Donald Fagen, Eye to Eye, Kiss, Bonnie Tyler, Barbra Streisand, Neil Sedaka, Rosie Vela, Grayson Hugh, Peter Frampton, Joe Bonamassa, Ronnie Montrose and Jon Anderson. As leader, Derringer released fourteen studio and two live albums.
David Sanborn
On May 12, 2024, David William Sanborn died aged 78. He was musician (alto saxophone, piano), one of the most highly regarded session musicians. He recorded and performed with some of the best-known artist of the modern music including Albert King, Little Milton, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Al Jarreau, James Brown, Bryan Ferry, Michael Stanley, Eric Clapton, Bobby Charles, Cat Stevens, Roger Daltrey, Paul Simon, Jaco Pastorius, the Brecker Brothers, Michael Franks, Kenny Loggins, Casiopea, Players Association, David Bowie, Todd Rundgren, Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat, Tommy Bolin, Bob James, Pure Prairie League, Kenny G, Loudon Wainwright III, George Benson, Joe Beck, Donny Hathaway, Elton John, Gil Evans, Carly Simon, Guru, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel, Kenny Garrett, Roger Waters, Steely Dan, Ween, the Eagles, Grateful Dead, Nena, Hikaru Utada, The Rolling Stones, Ian Hunter, and Toto. As leader, Sanborn released 25 albums.
Wayne Shorter
On March 2, 2023, Wayne Shorter died aged 89. He was musician (saxophone) and composer. He was member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and Miles Davis’s Second Great Quintet, and then co-founded the band Weather Report. Many of the Shorter’s compositions have become jazz standards and his work earned critical praise worldwide. In 1970, he won “Down Beat’s” annual poll-winner, winning the critics’ poll for 10 consecutive years and the readers’ poll for 18 consecutive years. Shorter recorded and performed with Donald Byrd, Billy Childs, Pino Daniele, Lou Donaldson, Benny Golson, Gil Evans, Toninho Horta, Norah Jones, J. J. Johnson, Don Henley, Wynton Kelly, Michael Landau, Lionel Loueke, Grachan Moncur III, Milton Nascimento, Michel Petrucciani, The Rolling Stones, Masahiko Satoh, John Scofield, Esperanza Spalding, Steely Dan, Bobby Timmons, Kazumi Watanabe, Buster Williams, Herbie Hacock, Tony Williams, Joe Zawinul, Freddie Hubbard, Joni Mitchell, Lee Morgan, Jaco Pastorius, Carlos Santana and McCoy Tyner. In 2008, “The New York Times” described Shorter as “probably jazz’s greatest living small-group composer and a contender for greatest living improviser”. In 2017, he was awarded the “Polar Music Prize”. As leader, Shorter released 28 albums.
Bill Callahan & Bonnie “Prince” Billy: Blind Date Party
On December 10, 2021, “Drag City” label released “Blind Date Party”, album by Bill Callahan and Bonnie “Prince” Billy. It was recorded in 2021, and was produced by Cooper Crain, Daniel Quinlivan and Emmett Kelly.
Personnel:
- Bonnie “Prince” Billy – vocals, guitar
- Bill Callahan – vocals, harmonica, handclapping
- Azita Youssefi – vocal, instrumentation, recording
- Dead Rider / Todd Rittman – vocal, guitar / Andrea Faught – keyboards, trumpet / Matt Espy – drums
- Six Organs of Admittance / Ben Chasny – guitar
- Meg Baird – vocals, guitar
- Cassis Berman – vocals, acoustic guitar, bass
- Bill Mackay – vocals, acoustic guitar, requinto, engineer, mixing
- David Pajo – vocals, guitar, instrumentation, engineer
- Cory Hanson – vocals, guitar
- Matt Sweeney – vocals, guitar, arranger
- Richard Bishop – acoustic guitar
- David Grubbs – vocals, electric guitar, organ, handclapping
- Todd Rittman – vocals, guitar, bass, drums, engineer, mixing
- Alasdair Roberts – vocals, guitar, synthesizer, cello, drum programming
- Tyler Nuffer – steel guitar
- Charlie Saufley – guitar
- George Xylouris – vocals, bouzouki, lute, lyre, laouto, drums, bells
- Cooper Crain – organ
- Will Oldham – vocals, synthesizer
- Tony Crow – keyboards
- Ben Chasny – vocals, bass, drums, programming
- Joshua Abrams – bass
- Danny Kiely – bass
- Evan Backer – bass guitar, drums
- Greg Sweeney – drums
- Brian Kotzur – drums, engineer
- Ty Segall – instrumentation
- Mick Turner – vocals, instrumentation
- Matt Kinsey – vocals, instrumentation
- Sean O’Hagan – vocals, instrumentation
- Sean Sylvester – instrumentation, backing vocals
- Drew Miller – saxophone
- Rob Frye – tenor saxophone
- Cheyenne Mize – fiddle, backing vocals
- Heather Lockie – viola
- Elsa Madeline Oldham – Jew’s harp
- Jacob Duncan – woodwind
- Elisa Ambrogio – vocals
- Haley Fohr – vocals
- Livy O’Hagan – backing vocals
- Eli Crews – engineer
- Michael Tully – artwork
- Ethan Swan – design, booklet editor
Track listing:
- Blackness Of the Night – Cat Stevens, Yusuf Islam
- OD’d in Denver – Hank Williams Jr.
- I’ve Made Up My Mind – Dave Rich
- Red Tailer Hawk – The Other Years
- Wish You Were Gay – Billie Eilish
- Our Anniversary – Smog
- Rooftop Garden – Lou Reed
- Deacon Blues – Steely Dan
- I Love You – Jerry Jeff Walker
- Sea Song – Robert Wyatt
- I’ve Been the One – Little Feat
- Miracles – Johnny Frierson
- I Want to Go to the Beach – Iggy Pop
- Night Rider’s Lament – Michael Burton
- Arise, Therefore – Palace Music
- The Night of Santiago – Leonard Cohen
- The Wild Kindness – Silver Jaws
- Lost in Love – Air Supply
- She Is My Everything – John Prine
Paul Griffin
On June 14, 2000, Paul Griffin died aged 62. He was musician (piano, keyboards), performed and recorded with hundreds of musicians including: King Curtis, Bob Dylan, Steely Dan, Don McLean, the Isley Brothers, Van Morrison, the Shirelles, Dionne Warwick. Dion DiMucci, George Benson, Tom Rush, Wilson Pickett, Michael Franks, John Denver, Peter, Paul and Mary, David Clayton-Thomas, Gloria Loring, Melba Moore, LaVern Baker, Janis Siegel, Solomon Burke, Jackie Lomax, Marlena Shaw, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Don Mclean, Carly Simon, Juddy Collins, Cheryl Lynn, Gloria Gaynor, Stephanie Mills, Donald Fagen, Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Garland Jeffreys, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt and Laura Nyro.
Jim Hodder
On June 5, 1990, Jim Hodder died aged 42. He was musician (drums, percussion, vocal), member of the bands The Bead Game and Steely Dan. As session drummer he recorded and performed with Linda Ronstadt, Sammy Hagar, The Rowans and David Soul.
Ralph MacDonald
On December 18, 2011, Ralph Anthony MacDonald died aged 67. He was musician (percussion, steelpan), songwriter, arranger, record producer, and philanthropist. His best known compositions are “Where Is the Love”, a “Grammy Award” winner for Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway duet), “Just the Two of Us” (recorded by Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr.), and “Mister Magic” (recorded by Grover Washington Jr.). MacDonald was member of the bands Desperadoes Steel Orchestra, Steelband Panorama, and Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band. He recorded with many famous musicians including David Bowie, Aretha Franklin, Art Garfunkel, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, Carole King, Miriam Makeba, David Sanborn, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Luther Vandross, Amy Winehouse, Bob James, Ashford and Simpson, and The Brothers Johnson. As a leader MacDonald released ten albums.
Jeff Porcaro
On August 5, 1992, Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro died aged 38. He was a songwriter, musician (drums), and record producer, best known as the drummer with Toto. He was one of the most south after session drummers in popular music, played on hundreds of albums and worked with numerous artists such as Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, George Benson, Greg Lake, Seals & Crofts, Les Dudek, Joe Cocker, Steely Dan, The Jacksons, Tommy Bolin, Jackson Browne, Leo Sayer, Boz Scaggs, Carly Simon, Eric Carmen, Valerie Carter, Lisa Dal Bello, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Colin Blunstone, Larry Carlton, Allen Toussaint, Dave Mason, Warren Zevon, Ruben Blades, Bim, Jerry Williams, Al Stewart, Marc Jordan, Rickie Lee Jones, Janne Schaffer, Lowell George, Aretha Franklin, Jon Anderson, Luis Miguel, Love and Money, Patti Austin, Mariya Takeuchi, The Brothers Johnson, Peter Frampton, Bee Gees, Char, Christopher Cross, Randy Crawford, Al Jarreau, Amii Ozaki, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Eye to Eye, Donna Summer, Elton John, Melissa Manchester, Donald Fagen, Herbie Hancock, Don Henley, Michael McDonald, Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Russ Taff, Chicago, David Gilmour Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Peter cetera, Earth Wind & Fire, roger Hodgson, David Benoit, Dr. John, Steve Porcaro, Nik Kershaw, Poco, Clair Mario, Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, Madonna, Jude Cole, Sandy Patty, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Bolton, Cher, Dire Straits, Richard Marx, Bonnie Raitt, Rod Stewart, B-52’s, Go West, 10CC, Roger Waters, Paul Young, and David Crosby. In 1993, Porcaro was posthumously inducted into the “Modern Drummer Hall of Fame”.
Steely Dan: Everything Must Go
On June 10, 2003, “Reprise” label released “Everything Must Go”, the ninth Steely Dan studio album. It was recorded 2001 – 2003, at “Sear Sound”, “Skyline Studios” and “River Sound” in New York City, “Hyperbolic Sound” in Maui, “Bearsville Studios” in Bearsville, and was produced by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. It was the last studio album with founding member Walter Becker before his death in 2017.
Personnel:
- Donald Fagen– lead vocals, organ, synthesizer, piano, Hohner Clavinet, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, solo synth, percussion, horn arrangements, arrangements
- Walter Becker– lead vocals, bass, solo guitar, percussion, arrangements
- Jon Herington– guitar
- Hugh McCracken– guitar
- Ted Baker – piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer
- Bill Charlap– piano, Fender Rhodes
- Keith Carlock– drums
- Gordon Gottlieb – percussion
- Walt Weiskopf– alto and tenor saxophone
- Chris Potter– tenor saxophone
- Roger Rosenberg – baritone saxophone
- Tony Kadleck – trumpet
- Michael Leonhart– trumpet
- Jim Pugh– trombone
- Ken Hitchcock – clarinet
- Tawatha Agee– backing vocals
- Ada Dyer – backing vocals
- Michael Harvey – backing vocals
- Carolyn Leonhart– backing vocals
- Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals
- Catherine Russell– backing vocals
- Brenda White-King – backing vocals
- Sam Berd – technician
- Art Smith – drum technician
- Sam Berd – piano tuner
- Tom Doherty, Roger Nichols, Dave Russell, Elliot Scheiner – engineer
- Suzy Barrows, Tom Doherty, Steve Mazur, Keith Nelson, Todd Parker, Matt Scheiner – engineer assistant
- Elliot Scheiner – mixing
- Joe Peccerillo – mixing assistant
- Darcy Proper – mastering
- Larry Alexander – editing
Track listing:
All tracks by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen.
- The Last Mall
- Things I Miss the Most
- Blues Beach
- Godwhacker
- Slang of Ages
- Green Book
- Pixeleen
- Lunch With Gina
- Everything Must Go
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