The Mark Masters Ensemble’s 'Everything You Did: The Music of Walter Becker & Donald Fagen'

On The Mark Masters' Ensemble’s latest album Everything You Did: The Music Of Walter Becker & Donald Fagen, which was released on July 16, 2013 from Capri Records, has Masters succeeding in bringing his own brand of synchronicity and jazzy sentiment to the music of Steely Dan core members, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen’s music. With Masters as the bandleader and arranger, the rest of the ensemble includes tenor saxophonist Billy Harper, trumpeter Tim Hagans, baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan, bassist Hamilton Price, drummer Peter Erskine with special appearances by John Mitchell on the bassoon, Sonny Simmons on the English Horn, bass clarinetist Brian Williams, Anna Mjöll on vocals, Gary Foster on alto saxophone and Dave Woodley on trombone.

“Do It Again” starts off almost magically as if the listener is watching a dream sequence in a movie or television show. Then, Mitchell’s bassoon lets loose and Simmons’ English horn along with Erskine’s drumming in the background kicks things up a few notches. Then, Hagans’ trumpet, Smulyan’s baritone sax and Harper’s tenor sax chime in with Price’s bass rumbling in the background. “Show Biz Kids” has a trumpet solo from Hagans. In addition, its catchy big band rhythm is also aided by Harper’s tenor sax play and Erskine’s skillful drumming. “Black Cow” has a bass clarinet solo from Williams with Erskine’s faint drumming. Then, Price’s penetrating bass accompanies Mjöll smoky and seductive sounding lyrics, which include, “In the corner of my eye, I saw you in Rudy’s, you were high. You were high, it was a cryin’ disgrace. They saw your face.” “Aja” has a trombone solo from Woodley, which helps the big band feel given by Hagans’ trumpet, Harper’s tenor sax, Smulyan’s baritone sax with Price playing bass in the background. “Fire in the Hole” begins with reverberating notes and a futuristic tone. It also has an alto sax solo from Foster that might remind listeners of Kenny G. Its smoky tone might also make listeners imagine hearing this song in a movie where the lead has lost the love of his or hers lives and is roaming the misty streets, lost in thought as to what to do next.

Everything You Did: The Music of Walter Becker & Donald Fagen from the Mark Masters' Ensemble reinvents the work of an iconic jazz rock band. The ensemble puts their unique signature on band classics giving them new life and rhythm.