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Pic: Adrian Seal
Nearly Dan are back at The Stables, thank heaven! The prestigious 10-piece tribute act from
Staffordshire are here again to reveal more ‘Dan’ nuances, Steely Dan that is. It’s a much changed set from their last visit albeit with the welcome, unchanged line-up. ‘The Boston Rag’ is the surprise
choice to get us underway.
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, the real Steely Dan, have released a new album since Nearly’s last trip to Wavendon, so it seems only right and proper to throw in a little
‘Everything Must Go’. ‘Godwhacker’ is one hell of a track but the Nearlys have its measure firmly within their sights.
Frontman Steve Hayes keeps us all amused in between songs. Gary Davies tinkles
the ivories gently in his usual economic but nevertheless deadly effective fashion. Guitarist Rob Rolph is a little on the quiet side tonight, though.
The first half brings tasty cuts from Steely Dan’s
meaty 1977 ‘Aja’ set including ‘Black Cow’ with its ‘you should know how all the pros play the game’ choice-cut instruction. But the highlight is definitely ‘Time out of Mind’ from ‘Gaucho’.
We’re soon moved to exchange ‘water into cherry wine’ or better still a pint in the bar at half-time, listening to all this high brow Middle England jazz, funk, soul, class music is thirsty business, you know!
The Nearlys are particularly well-tooled up in the brass department. Tonight, the trio of alto sax, tenor sax and trumpet is as strident as ever, just what you need with this strong material. Vocally, the
Nearlys have the Kate Robertson and Diane Davies in midfield supporting the boys playing upfront, their combination is simply brilliant.
The ‘jazz with conversation’ gives way to stunning versions of
Steely standards ‘Kid Charlemagne’, ‘Bodhisattva’ and the encore ‘My Old School’ as we race to the finishing line with this formula one class act. Wonderful!
FIRST HALF: The Boston Rag;
Godwhacker; Dr Wu; Black Cow; Aja; Don’t Take Me Alive; Time Out Of Mind. SECOND HALF: Rikki Don’t Lost That Number; The Nightfly; Green Flower Street; Green Earrings; Peg; Hey Nineteen; Reelin In The Years;
Josie; Kid Charlemagne; Bodhisattva; ENCORE: My Old School.
Review by Alan Howard. Photo by Adrian Seal, Midtownstudios,50 Acton Mews, London
E8 4EA Tel:0845 166 9032 Fax:0207 241 5663 Mob:07973
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