TRANSCRIPT:
I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
Steely Dan is a perfect example of how jazz shapes rock music. From the 1970s onward, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker infused their rock songs with complex jazz harmonies, sophisticated chord progressions, and tight, syncopated rhythms.
Songs like "Peg" and "Kid Charlemagne" feature jazz-inspired horn sections, walking bass lines, and subtle improvisation, blending rock’s accessibility with jazz’s sophistication.
They often brought in top jazz session musicians, creating solos and textures that mirrored small jazz ensembles. Their lyrics, with wit and urban irony, are structured with a precision reminiscent of jazz phrasing.
Steely Dan shows that rock doesn’t have to sacrifice complexity or musical depth—jazz can expand the palette, enrich textures, and elevate the art form. Jazz is woven into their DNA.
This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible by The ETV Endowment of South Carolina.