credits donald fagen - vocals , synthesizer , synth-harmonica greg phillinganes - electric piano rob mounsey - synthesizer anthony jackson - bass hugh mccracken - guitar james gadson - drums jeff porcaro - additional drums roger nichols - drum/percussion programming starz vanderlocket - percussion randy brecker - trumpet dave tofani - alto sax michael brecker - tenor sax ronnie cuber - baritone sax dave bargeron - trombone valerie simpson , zack sanders , frank floyd , gordon grody - backup vocals title and lyrics the '' i.g.y. '' of the title refers to the '' international geophysical year '' , an event that ran from july 1957 to december 1958 .