Steely Dan Teams With Orchestra At The Hollywood Bowl

Jazz-rock legends Steely Dan did something last night they’ve never done over the course of their 40+ year career as they were backed by an orchestra. Walter Becker, Donald Fagen and the rest of the band helped open the Hollywood Bowl’s season on Saturday night along with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra at the historic Los Angeles venue.

Steely Dan is in the middle of “The Dan Who Knew Too Much Tour” and have stuck to very similar setlists at each stop. On Saturday, the addition of the orchestra led to a handful of changes as four of the 13 songs performed were 2016 debuts. The Dan opened with just the tour’s second “Green Earrings” and followed “Aja” with the year’s first “Caves Of Altamira.” Next up was “Hey Nineteen” featuring a rap from Becker in which he shouted out Steely Dan’s roots in Los Angeles and thanked arranger Vince Mendoza for putting together the charts the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra used on Saturday night.

The set rolled on with the tour’s second versions of “The Royal Scam” and “Deacon Blues” as well as the 2016 debut of “Night By Night.” From there, Steely Dan and the orchestra tackled “Time Out Of Mind” ahead of the year’s first “Third World Man” and rarity “Home At Last.” The band and symphony then ended the evening with three big hits: “Josie,” “Bodhisattva” and “Kid Charlemagne.” Fireworks lit up the sky as Steely Dan and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra worked through “Bodhisattva.” Steely Dan resumes their tour with Steve Winwood tonight in Las Vegas.

Videos

[Bodhisattva | Captured by Emily Strecker]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkwK0ddgHFg

[Josie | Captured by Sunnyd100]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysf930nAVVw

[Aja | Captured by Kenny Jones]

[Night By Night | Captured by Bradley Haines]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdePXwawTHo