Steely Dan opened their 2008 tour at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Fla. on Monday before heading to New York for a six-night run at the Beacon that starts Friday and runs through June 21.  Tour ends Aug. 24 in Saratoga, Calif.
A cool part of the the first two New York shows is the presence of the great jazz pianist Bill Charlap and his trio. Donald Fagen, judging from his sound, always struck me as a Bobby Timmons or Horace Silver kind of guy - maybe the rip from "Song for My Father" on "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" was the clue - but the Dan is allowing the table to be set elegantly by having Charlap on board. His last album is a true gem.
Steely Dan, meanwhile, treated the Clearwater folks to this set:   

Royal Scam / I Got the News / Everything You Did / Show Business Kids / Two Against Nature / What a Shame About Me / Babylon Sisters / New Frontier / Hey Nineteen / Black Friday / Green Earrings / Glamour Profession /  Parker's Band / Josie / Peg / Kid Charlemagne / FM

Walter Becker's new solo album - his second - was released this week. Video is below.