The mutual love affair between Steely Dan and jazzers has flourished for decades, and while Masters has previously recorded projects centred on Ellington and Gershwin, this is the one that’s been brewing for 35 years. Like Maria Schneider, Masters arranges with an orchestral vision, so instruments more associated with classical music come to the fore: there’s a bass clarinet growl on ‘Black Cow’ and most notably that ever familiar theme to ‘Do It Again’ comes in on cor anglais, bringing a whole new colour. This more ‘classical’ sound can straitjacket the Dan’s dirtier edge. But to counter this, there’s the inventive Erskine urging away behind whatever the ensemble is doing, while Hagans and Harper too are encouraged to solo with abandon. Some may miss the wit and word play of the lyrics: Mjoll’s vox mostly lends a sultry vocalese, but she does sleaze her way through the twisted lyric of ‘Black Cow’. Some Steely fans may find the arrangements over complex: much of their funk ’n’ groove vibe is dissipated. But it reflects well on the original material that even with such radical re-workings, Becker and Fagen’s talents shine through.