|
In the ongoing lore of Steely Dan perhaps there is no one more connected to everything that was and is that group than recording engineer, producer and inventor Roger Nichols who sadly left us in 2011. I don't believe that there could be a much more fanatical fan base than those who worship Steely Dan and seem to want to know every little detail about everything. Which means, for some of us, a constant stream of communications and unsolicited 'stuff' coming our way. That alone drives me nuts - and makes me try even harder to avoid all of it. But still, some stuff gets through. Recently, one such fan sent me a message with an attached photo of me with a most distorted/contorted face. When I saw it, I had no idea when or where that could have happened. Not too long after that, a friend in Germany wrote me about a newly presented version of the now famous song "Second Arrangement" - one of several tunes that never got completed for the "GAUCHO" album - but, much more than that, it was the track that had been accidentally erased by an assistant engineer! Anyway, one thing led to another and the next thing I knew.....
That same friend in Germany sent me a very Special Steely Dan Video which had been put together with the gracious permission of Roger's beloved wife, Connie Nichols and with the incredible energy and love of his two daughters, Cimcie Nichols and Ashlee Nichols. Within that very warm and special video, which features a live version of "Josie" with the unmistakable groove, sound and soloing of drummer Dennis Chambers, Cimcie somehow included many personal memories, both familial and Steely Dan-related, and, at about 51-seconds, suddenly I began to see a succession of faces all making the same kind of expression - with the help of the fingers of both hands pulling one's mouth apart - that I had seen in the photo that was sent to me. Suddenly, it all made sense - but I still don't recall Roger asking all of us to consent to taking photo portraits like that! Once I had seen all of these very amusing photos, I decided that I would attempt to make a collage of all of the musicians and engineers, and lucky for me, I was able to come to a round number 12. What can I say? Except, Cimcie you did an incredible job - so great!!! Now, you can view all of the photos right here in the aforementioned collage and here's what you will see. Row 1: Donald Fagen - Walter Becker - Gary Katz Row 2: Roger Nichols - Hugh McCracken - Elliot Scheiner Row 3: Bernard Purdie - Chuck Rainey - Rick Marotta Row 4: Don Grolnick - Steve Khan - Paul Griffin BIG LOVE, Steve |
|
|
 |