Aja (song)

"Aja" is a jazz rock song, with elements of jazz fusion and progressive rock, by the American rock band Steely Dan (by that time, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen) from the album of the same name, their sixth studio album, released in 1977. Composers Becker and Fagen play guitar and synthesizer, respectively, with studio musicians playing the other parts. Fagen sings lead vocals. Production duties were handled by Gary Katz; the album was released through ABC Records. Musically, it is tonally sophisticated and a structurally complex work that was praised upon release as the most ambitious track the duo had ever attempted. The song's lyrics voice the interior monologue of a man who runs to the title character to escape the stresses of his life "up on the hill." Fagen claimed that it was inspired by the relative of an acquaintance, who had married a Korean woman named Aja. He has described the song as being about the "tranquility that can come of a quiet relationship with a beautiful woman."

Despite its complexity, and unlike most of the other tracks on the album, it took only a short time (less than a day) to record the basic rhythm track for "Aja", which Steely Dan credited to the musicians' quick learning, without long rehearsals. Denny Dias's guitar work, including a solo, marked the last appearance on a Steely Dan record by any other founding member of the group. On the other hand, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter and drummer Steve Gadd made their first appearances here. Both played solos during the instrumental break that solidified its reputation, solos considered among their finest work; Gadd's, the first drum solo in a Steely Dan song, in the song's tag, was recorded in just two takes. Jazz critic Ben Sidran later called the recording session "a moment when ... pop music suddenly took a turn left."

"Aja" is the longest song the band recorded before they disbanded in 1981,^[a] running approximately eight minutes. Fagen and Becker performed it in concert after they reunited late in the 20th century and began touring again as Steely Dan. They released one live version on the album Alive in America. Many artists, including Woody Herman, have covered it on Steely Dan tribute albums.

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