I came across this amazing short video by the “Nerdwriter” through the “Daily Music Break” newsletter this week.
I learned a new term, the “mu chord”, watching this. This essentially involves adding either a 2nd or a 9th to a traditional major triad and is apparently mostly attributed to Steely Dan. The intro to Deacon Blues is perhaps the best example.
The video also highlights Larry Carlton’s subtle guitar frills and the compressed mid-range horn arrangements by Tom Scott that allow the excellent saxophone solo by Pete Christlieb to jump out of the mix. He’s also responsible for the sax solos on Natalie Cole’s “Unforgettable” and on “FM (No Static at All)”.
The drumming is provided by Bernard Purdie (the most recorded drummer) who has played with James Brown, Aretha Franklin (musical director for 5 years in the 70s), and a host of others.
His legendary Purdie shuffle (triplets against a half-time backbeat) can be seen in this video and heard on the Steely Dan songs, “Kid Charlemagne”, “Babylon Sisters”, and “Home at Last”.