My friend Bobby from Bobby’s backing tracks asked me to play bass on ‘Ruby Baby’  by Donald Fagen.

Donald Fagen's first solo album

How could I say no to that? It has the wonderful Fran Merante on drums and you have to check out all the other fantastic backing tracks that Bobby has produced over the past few years at http://www.bobbysbackingtracks.com/ I thought I share my bass part with you.

The original is of course impossible to beat but here is my transcription of the fantastic part by Anthony Jackson.

Anthony Jackson

BTW, the original line up is Jeff Porcaro on drums and additional drums by James Gadson (!) as well as Larry Carlton on guitar, Greg Phillinganes playing the piano solo, Randy and MichaelBrecker making up the horn section…it makes me feel hazy just writing their names in a row…what a Killer line up!

PS: Funny coincidence….a few days before Bobby asked me to play ‘Ruby’ I used the track to set up my studio speakers…after all these years (released in 1982) this album is still hailed as, amongst other things, a sonic milestone by engineers and musicians alike.

Redtenbacher’s Funkestra keyboardist Hannah Vasanth is now more likely to be found on somewhat larger stages alongside the likes of Rihanna, she’s also a mean writer and producer, check out her MySpace page to learn more and hear her in action.