RECORDING January 2023 - 55

Aja
Steely Dan is sacred ground for a lot of
musicians. Whether studying the songs and
musicianship or just using the mixes to test out
a new set of speakers, their catalog, which
goes back to the 60s, still holds the test of
time today. Released in 1977, their sixth studio
album Aja featured almost 40 musicians
and eventually became their most successful
selling album.
A " collision of jazz and pop, " college
classes have focused on the complexity of the
performances and arrangements. " Playing on
pop stuff, you didn't want to get too crazy
back then, but they wanted it to get a little bit
more energetic, " says Gadd. " I was out in
LA doing something else, and Gary Katz, who was producing Steely Dan at
the time, found out I was out there and asked me to come in. They had been
trying this song with different drummers, and for some reason, they hadn't
found what they wanted. They were a pop band, and Aja was something
completely different. I think they had a hard
time communicating (to other drummers) exactly
how far out there they wanted them to
go. Since they had been rehearsing it with
the band, the music (charts) was there, so my
Army days really paid off to help me read
that thing! I think it was a couple of hours.
Unlike a lot of their (Steely Dan's) previous
albums, we played it live in the room, with
the overdubs added later. "
In July 1978, Aja won the GRAMMY Award for Best Engineered Recording
- Non-Classical and received GRAMMY nominations for Album of the Year
and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
The Leprechaun
The Leprechaun is the ninth solo album
by Chick Corea, released in 1976. The album
was recorded during Chick's time with
the jazz fusion group Return to Forever. The
Leprechaun, however, is a bit more out on
the ledge. Specifically, " Night Sprite " is a
favorite among jazz musicians, and many a
YouTuber has tried to decipher how Gadd is
playing what he's playing. If you've never
heard it, look it up, drop the needle in the
middle of the track and hang on!
" None of the drum parts were written, " said Gadd. " I always read Chick's
piano scores, so I knew what he was playing, then I could pick and choose
what accents I would play. I had to come up with ways that I wouldn't have to
turn pages. I'd have the first page taped up on my left, and then it would go
across the front (of my drums) and over to the other side. I'd have it hanging
from some cymbal stands or tape it up between some microphone stands. The
pages were everywhere. It was challenging music, but in a good way. The
music just played me. "
Chick was awarded the GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Performance by a
Group for the album and the GRAMMY Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement
for " Leprechaun's Dream, Pt. 1 " at the 19th Annual GRAMMY Awards
in 1977.
Steve Gadd's Setup
YAMAHA RECORDING CUSTOM BLACK FINISH
Bass Drum: 20 " x 16 " RBB2016 *w/ Lifter &
Internal Muffle Pillow
Tom 1: 12 " x 8 " RBT1208
Tom 2: 13 " X 9 " RBT1309
Floor Tom 01: 14 " x 13 " RBF1413
Floor Tom 02: 16 " x 15 " RBF1615
YAMAHA HARDWARE
Cymbal Stands: CS755 or CS-745 (x5)
Snare Drum Stand: SS-950 (x2)
HH Stand w/ Clutch: HS1200D or HS-1000 (2 leg)
Double Foot Pedal: DFP9500C or DFP-9310
Drum School: DS-840 (3 leg-round top)
Double Tom Holder: WS-904 (x2)
ZILDJIAN CYMBALS
16 " K Custom Session Crash
18 " K Custom Session Crash
18 " K Dark Crash Thin
18 " K Custom Session Ride
14 " K Custom Session Hi-Hats
LP PERCUSSION
LP SG Cowbell or LP Mambo
Bell (Model #LP229SG)
Bass Drum Cowbell Holder
REMO HEADS
Bass Drum: Ambassador on the beater
side/Ported resonant head.
All other drums are fitted with white-coated
Ambassador drumheads on top, and clear
Ambassador heads on the bottom.
STICKS
Vic Firth SG Signature Sticks &
SG Signature Brushes
RECORDING January 2023 55
RECORDING January 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of RECORDING January 2023
