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Donald Fagen: Morph The Cat

By Mike Perciaccante
March 10, 2006
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Donald Fagen's third solo CD, his first such recording in thirteen years, blends jazz, soul, funk and just about every other musical influence you can name on nine new songs whose subject matter runs the gamut. The eclectic songs on Morph The Cat cover some interesting topics: a romantic interlude with an airport security guard ("Security Joan"); a conversation with the ghost of the late Ray Charles ("What I Do"); mortality ("Brite Nightgown"); and a cult taking over the US government, leaving us with the harsh reality of the world we now live in ("Mary Shut The Garden Door"). Interestingly, this song was written after the Republican National Convention ran roughshod through Manhattan.

Morph The Cat is highlighted by the unique vision and storytelling that Fagen has perfected over the past 35 years. It sounds more like Steely Dan than either of Fagen's two previous solo excursions. The first single, "H Gang," has the chord changes and horn arrangements that Steely Dan fans have grown to know, love and expect.

Morph The Cat is a carefully constructed and arranged song cycle that is more textured, detailed and intricate than it first appears. Fagen delivers his usual sophisticated mélange of out-there lyrics, both vivid and haunting, creating both an audio tapestry and a remarkable theater of the mind. The music is so cool and vibrant that the only real way to hear the disc is to find the dual-disc version, turn off all the lights, turn up the volume and play the DVD side. This CD screams to be listened to in high-resolution audio and 5.1 Surround Sound.

This recording is essential listening for fans of progressive jazz vocalists whose arrangements incorporate the essence of the American musical art form—jazz, gospel, blues, rock and pop.

Track Listing

Morph the Cat; H Gang; What I Do; Brite Nightgown; The Grand Pagoda of Funn; Security Joan; The Night Belongs to Mona; Mary Shut the Garden Door; Morph the Cat (reprise).

Personnel

Donald Fagen

piano and vocals

Freddie Washington

bass, electric

Keith Carlock

drums

Walt Weiskopf

saxophone

Marvin Stamm

trumpet

Wayne Krantz

guitar, electric

Hugh McCracken

guitar

Frank Vignola

guitar

Ken Emerson

guitar

Ken Wessel

guitar

Phonus Quaver

vibraphone

Mark Patterson

trombone

Donald Fagen: Fender piano, piano, organ, melodica solo (8), vocals, backup vocals; Harlan Post Jr.: acoustic bass; Brian Montgomery: remedial bass guitar (9); Jon Herington: guitar, guitar solos (1, 2), chorus solo (9); ; Ted Baker: piano (2,5), whirly piano (3,6), Fender piano (7,8); Lawrence Feldman: clarinet (2), tenor saxophone (4,5), flute (7); Roger Rosenberg: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Gordon Gottlieb: percussion (2,4,6-8); Bashiri Johnson: percussion (4); Joe Pasaro: percussion (5); Jerry Barnes: backup vocals (1,5,9); Michael Harvey: backup vocals (1,6,9); Amy Helm: backup vocals (3); Carolyn Leonhart: backup vocals (3,8); Cindy Mizelle: backup vocals (3); Howard Levy: harmonica (7), harmonica solo (3); Illinois Elohainu: flute (8).

Album information

Title: Morph The Cat | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Reprise

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About Donald Fagen

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Instrument: Piano and vocals

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