That fluid bass line announces Black Cow within seconds, and few covers dare to chase it. The Low Darts do. The five-piece classic rock, pop, and soul band, led by keyboardist and vocalist Colman Connolly, filmed a live cover of the Aja opener that respects every layer of one of Steely Dan’s most refined recordings.
Steely Dan built Black Cow on feel and finesse. The track opened the 1977 album Aja, with Chuck Rainey laying down a melodic, syncopated bass figure and Victor Feldman coloring the intro with electric piano and vibes.
Carry the Chuck Rainey bass line
Rainey’s part walks the line between groove and melody, popping and sliding through the verses without ever crowding the vocal. The bass essentially leads the song.
Luke Foote takes that role on stage, locking with drummer Sean Byington to hold the loose, confident pocket the original floats on. You can hear how the rhythm section anchors the arrangement across the band’s live music section.
Shape the smooth keyboard textures
Feldman’s electric piano and the song’s horn-and-synth swells give Black Cow its cool, late-night sheen. Those textures reward a player with a producer’s ear.
Colman and Sebastian Rodriguez handle the keys and the harmony vocals, recreating the chordal color that defines the track. Colman’s training in audio production and trad piano sharpens that work, the same foundation described in Colman Connolly’s musical roots. Watch the clip above, then catch their take on an earlier Steely Dan single. To bring this polish to your room, book The Low Darts for your next show.