Steely Dan & The Shuffle Diplomacy

The tour will feature both greatest hits and deep cuts. Walter Becker and Donald Fagan will also be bringing back the classic-albums-in-full concept for select cities along the routing. In addition, fans will once again get the chance to help determine select nightly set lists through an online vote. In 2009 Steely Dan performed 1977’s Aja, 1980’s Gaucho and 1976’s The Royal Scam with one album per night accompanied by additional tunes.

An announcement about the tour declares that Shuffle Diplomacy Twenty Eleven will include special guests “and an idealistic strategy for World Peace.”

Jazz artist Sam Yahel will be hitting the road with the group as the tour’s main support act.

Becker and Fagen’s band, which has now been dubbed the Miles High Big Band, includes drummer Keith Carlock, guitarist Jon Herington, bassist Freddie Washington, keyboardist Jim Beard, and Michael Leonhart, Walt Weiskopf, and Jim Pugh on horns. The backup trio, now known as the Embassy Brats, features Carolyn Leonhart, Cindy Mizelle and Catherine Russell.

The Shuffle Diplomacy begins July 2 at Seattle’s WaMu Theater. The tour wraps up with a six-night residency at New York’s Beacon Theatre Sept. 13-14, Sept 16-17 and Sept. 27-28.

The Dan will also be hitting up Los Angeles (July 8-9); Indianapolis (July 15); Cincinnati (July 19); Atlantic City, N.J. (July 30); Atlanta (Aug. 6-7); Highland Park, Ill. (Aug. 12-13); St. Louis (Aug. 24); Milwaukee (Aug. 27-28); Omaha, Neb. (Aug. 31); and Upper Darby, Pa. (Sept. 9-10).

Information regarding which shows will feature classic album performances has not yet been announced.

Select dates are on sale now. A number of shows go on sale to the general public Friday, March 11. Tickets for additional performances will go on sale March 12, March 18, April 8, and April 27.

Reviews from the 2009 Rent Party trek included a write-up from the New York Times that praised Fagen for being “deep in the music … a cross between Count Basie and Ray Charles.” The Chicago Sun-Times also had some very nice things to say. “This was different. This was live. This was vibrant. This was a cascade of color carried along by Fagen, Becker, eight brilliant supporting musicians and three superb backing vocalists.”

For more information, click here for Steely Dan’s official website.