Bass Player: Chuck Rainey

Steely Dan started off as a band but songwriters Donald Fagan and Walter Becker quickly learned that they could get better results if they relied upon session musicians. The list of bass players they worked with throughout their existence was incredible but one of the mainstays was Chuck Rainey. As Walter Becker once said, ‘Once I met Chuck Rainey, I felt there was really no need for me to be bringing my bass guitar to the studio anymore’. Rainey’s session credits include Louis Armstrong, Gato Barbieri, George Benson, Donald Byrd, Joe Cocker, Larry Coryell, The Crusaders, Aretha Franklin, Cannonball Adderley, Randy Brecker, Fats Domino.. the list really is endless.

This is a full transcription of Rainey’s bass part for the tune ‘The Fez’ from Steely Dan’s ‘The Royal Scam’. Ain’t ne’er gonna do it without the Fez on.