Nearly Dan is led by Seattle saxophonist Jack Klitzman and includes a roster of professional musicians, with backgrounds in jazz, rock, rhythm and blues, country and swing. (Photo by David Bristol/Oregon Coast TODAY)Newport Performing Arts Center will welcome an acclaimed Steely Dan tribute band this Saturday, June 27, with Nearly Dan taking the stage for an evening dedicated to the music of one of rock’s most sophisticated and enduring acts.
Presented by the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts and sponsored by Rep. David Gomberg, D-Otis, the concert will feature the intricate arrangements, jazz-infused harmonies and memorable lyrics that have made Steely Dan a favorite among music lovers for more than five decades.
Formed by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, Steely Dan blended elements of rock, jazz, rhythm and blues and pop into a sound unlike anything else on the radio. Their meticulous approach to songwriting and recording produced a catalog of classics, such as “Do It Again,” “Reelin’ in the Years,” “Peg,” “Deacon Blues,” “Kid Charlemagne” and many others. Long after their initial success in the 1970s and early 1980s, their music continues to attract new generations of listeners while maintaining a devoted following among longtime fans.
Capturing that sound is no simple task. Steely Dan’s recordings are famous for their complexity, featuring intricate harmonies, unconventional chord progressions and performances by some of the finest studio musicians of their era. That challenge makes Nearly Dan stand out among tribute acts.
Led by Seattle saxophonist Jack Klitzman, the ensemble includes professional musicians with backgrounds in everything from jazz and rock to country and swing. Rather than attempting a note-for-note recreation of every recording, the group focuses on preserving the spirit and musical sophistication that define the Steely Dan catalog.
The result is a performance that honors the source material while remaining vibrant and alive.
Although Steely Dan eventually became known for touring, much of the band’s reputation was built in the recording studio, where Becker and Fagen spent countless hours refining their albums. Tribute acts such as Nearly Dan help allow audiences a chance to experience those songs live.
Saturday’s concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Newport Performing Arts Center, located at 777 W. Olive Street. Tickets are $35 for standard seating and $50 for premium seating. For more information, go to coastarts.org or call 541-265-2787.
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