This is smooth. This is smooth rock jazz. And this is Aja, the second track from the Steely Dan album also called Aja. The album was released in September 1977 to critical acclaim. It won the Grammy Award for best engineered (i.e. sounding) recording and Aja has become one of my reference tracks.
I only discovered Aja two years ago. I have been reading about it for decades in Hi-Fi magazines as this song was always being used to test equipment. But, for me, it was a magical moment the first time I heard Aja and, hence, the musicality and dexterity of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.
I also love this YouTube video of Jamel_AKA_Jamal listening to Aja for the first time. He expresses his feelings so simply and beautifully. Music should always be enjoyed like this. Each time I listen to Aja, I’m a bit like him. It’s pure joy.
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