Toto, Steve Morse, Elliot Randall and the Brian Setzer Orchestra have all done fine versions of this chestnut from 1973’s Countdown to Ecstasy. Meanwhile, Steely Dan has performed “Bodhisattva” on every tour since the 1974, with the exception of 1996’s Art Crimes dates that featured Wayne Krantz on guitar.
It’s easy to see why this Donald Fagen-composed track has made all but one tour. “Bodhisattva” is a joyous jam of guitars, keyboards, and drums.
The post-’74 versions of “Bodhisattva” feature horn arrangements which supplant the original synthesizers; however, the most significant distinctions are around the guitar parts: Over the last several Steely Dan tours with Walter Becker, Jon Herington covered the mid-song and ending solos. He shares the fun on 2021’s Northeast Corridor with Connor Kennedy.
Herington’s solo is fleet-fingered and distorted with a passion most non-Steely Dan fans would not expect from this brainy bunch. Adding to that, the harmony parts include a guitar passage more closely resembling the original arrangement, with the horns taking a less prominent place in the mix. You can’t help but smile.
Connor Kennedy’s end solo doesn’t resemble that of the original version played by Jeff Baxter, nor what Walter Becker added on 1995’s Alive In America, but that’s just fine. “Bodhisattva” is just good, live rock ‘n’ roll.
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