Steely Dan’s ‘Aja’ set the bar for finesse in pop and rock music, and that bar hadn’t been cleared yet.

A thread involving Donald Fagen and Walter Becker runs through this look at the albums that have been in my car recently.

Walter Becker’s death invites a renewed appreciation of the unique contributions to music by Steely Dan.

Now on tour with a crack new band, Donald Fagen must choose which songs to perform from his extensive catalog. It’s a good problem to have.

Given the passing of a lot of musical heroes recently, Steely Dan’s impassioned, career-spanning turn was much appreciated.

‘Adult Entertainment’ is just that, with 12 songs of various styles, direct yet evocative lyrics and excellent playing from Jon Herington and company.

If Steely Dan seems like an obvious inspiration for Don Breithaupt’s Monkey House, there’s a reason. He joins Preston Frazier to discuss.

Four decades hence, it’s easy to hear the glory of Steely Dan’s diverse and calculating ‘The Royal Scam.’

No matter how much saxophonist Walt Weiskopf mixes things up for the vibes and organ-powered jazz ‘The Way You Say It,’ the craftsmanship shines through.

Jeff Young, a regular collaborator with Jackson Browne, Donald Fagen and Steely Dan, joins Preston Frazier ahead of a solo album release party to be held in Los Angeles.