NEW YORK (Reprise Records) - "Morph The Cat," the eagerly anticipated new solo album from
Steely Dan co-founder Donald Fagen, has been set for release March 7th on Reprise Records.
Featuring nine new songs written and arranged by Fagen, "Morph The Cat" is the multi-Grammy winning artist's first solo album since 1993's "Kamakiriad" and the final installment in a de facto musical trilogy that began with "The Nightfly" in 1982.
"'The Nightfly' is sort of looking from the standpoint of youth," Fagen explains. "'Kamakiriad' would be more about midlife. This new one is about endings, really."
"Morph The Cat" selections include the title track and the debut single "H Gang," which is scheduled for digital release on January 24th. Also featured are "What I Do," "Brite Nightgown," "The Great Pagoda Of Funn," "Security Joan," "The Night Belongs To Mona," "Mary Shut The Garden Door" and a reprise of "Morph The Cat." The album will be made available as both a CD and a CD/DVD in high-resolution audio and 5.1 Surround Sound.
Built around extended, richly textured jazz, soul and rock grooves, the themes of "Morph The Cat" range from impending mortality and assorted apocalyptic scenarios to homeland security and the ghost of Ray Charles. "I don't think you can escape the environment we live in now," Fagen remarks on his songwriting strategy. "If Steely Dan has survived - and I have survived as a solo artist - it's partly because we've reflected what's going on around us."
"Morph The Cat" was recorded in New York City and Kauai, Hawaii, with longtime Steely Dan engineer Elliot Scheiner at the boards. The album also features an extraordinary line-up of backing musicians, many of who have previously worked with Fagen and his Steely Dan partner Walter Becker on stage and in the studio. Included are drummer Keith Carlock, bassist Freddie Washington and guitarists Hugh McCracken, Jon Herington and Wayne Krantz. Fagen performs lead and backing vocals and plays keyboards.
Donald Fagen will appear in concert for a select series of North American dates in support of "Morph The Cat" this March. The tour is sponsored by ELS Surround, Panasonic's premium automotive audio system, which was designed in collaboration with Elliot Scheiner. Donald has also teamed up with "I Love All Access" to offer fans VIP ticket packages on the Donald Fagen Band '06 tour (info available on his website at www.donaldfagen.com). The itinerary is as follows:
March 1 New Brunswick, NJ State Theater
March 3 Westbury, NY North Fork Music Theater
March 4 Upper Darby, PA Tower Theater
March 6 Washington, DC Warner Theatre
March 7 New York, NY Beacon Theater
March 9 Boston, MA Opera House
March 10 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata
March 12 Ottawa, QC NAC
March 13 Toronto, ON Massey Hall
March 15 Cleveland, OH Palace Theatre
March 16 Detroit, MI Opera House
March 18 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre
March 19 Minneapolis, MN State Theater
March 22 Denver, CO Paramount Theater
March 24 Las Vegas, NV The Joint At Hard Rock Hotel
March 25 Temecula, CA Pechanga Theater
March 27 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern Theatre
March 28 Oakland, CA Paramount Theater
