Bass Player: Walter Becker

The Fagan/Becker partnership was the brains, heart and soul behind the band Steeley Dan who, despite their legendary status, recorded just 9 albums between 1972 and 2003. The two men did, however, work on other projects together including Fagan’s second solo album, the Grammy nominated ‘Kamakiriad’ (Japanese for ‘praying mantis’).

On this track, Becker channels his inner ‘James Jamerson’ to play a funky, sixteenth note groove that has all the hallmarks of a great Steely Dan track. These guys wrote some great bass parts over the years and this one is no exception. A website request from Paul ‘Papa Bull’ Hornsby, a legend on the S. Wales Jazz scene and leader of a number of Big Bands including Les Bon Oeufs which, during the late 80s and early 90s, featured Bilbo (Rob Palmer) on electric bass. Paul subsequently took up the bass himself (on top of the saxophones, clarinet, flute and piano that he already played). Also, see the track from Paul on the Bilbo’s Bits and Bobs page.

Just a small caveat. Bilbo transcribed this at Paul’s request and all the discographies list Becker as the bass player but we are convinced that some of the notes are synths/samplers. Was this bass line played or programmed? Who cares@ It grooves beautifully!