No Static At All: An Instrumental Tribute to Steely Dan

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Steely Dan's seamless blend of pop and jazz influences has made them a staple of the smooth-jazz format, and many of the genre's top performers cite the band as a major influence. No Static At All stands as an all-star instrumental tribute to the band, with eight instantly recognizable "greatest hits" and three lesser-known gems. The oddities are a brass funk jam of "Bad Sneakers" (featuring Eddie M on sax and Roger Smith on keys), the haunting electric-guitar-driven moods exploring "The Caves of Altamira," and a dreamy, reflective take on "Pearl of the Quarter." The hit parade includes a percussive retro-soul reading of "Do It Again," featuring Warren Hill and Jeff Lorber (alternating between Hammond B-3 and Fender Rhodes). The energetic, simmering, blues-infused "Peg" features guitarist Doc Powell, and a soulful, throbbing "FM (No Static at All)" boasts Lorber and guitarist Nick Kirgo. "Deacon Blues" sasses with the sizzling horn textures of Richard Elliot and trumpeter Tony Guerrero, and "Rikki, Don't Lose That Number" is both breezy and hypnotic in Warren Hill's hands. "Josie" comes as an unlikely crackling rocker with Chieli Minucci on electric guitar, Nick Kirgo on rhythm guitar, and Dave Koz on sax. And "Hey Nineteen" gets a bubbly, tropical twist with Michael Lington and trumpeter Guerero. Appropriately referring to all the glorious time traveling, a swinging jam of "Reeling in the Years" marks a journey that never quite grows old, no matter the presentation. --Jonathan Widran

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