Steely Dan’s jazz-influenced sound may place them a bit outside the mainstream of "classic rock," there’s not much doubt that the legendary duo is indeed "classic."

One half of the duo is set to release his first solo album in 14 years. Walter Becker’s new album is scheduled to be released in early June and he may even hit the road later in the year for a solo tour to promote the new disk.

The new album, Circus Money, is the follow-up to his 1994 album, 11 Tracks of Whack and features many musicians who are veteran performers of previous Steely Dan material.

This album could be a bit of a shift for Becker since he talks about the influence that Jamaican music had on the new tracks. Becker was fascinated by Jamaican music he was introduced to by a guitar tech he knows who is a big fan of that genre.

Before any real plans for a solo tour are made, Becker will be touring with his partner Donald Fagen this spring and summer under the Steely Dan banner.

Becker reveals that Steely Dan fans will have a few surprises in store for them during the tour, which includes reconfiguring their show, playing some songs they have not played and rearranging some old favorites.

With regard to any plans for a new Steely Dan album, Becker says there are currently no plans and he is not even sure that they have a label anymore, adding that he hopes they do not.

For more on this story, see Reuters.