Quote:
Originally posted by bruno123:
I have read all the above posts, just about all are valid. But -----

After playing with live muscians for many years I did a job with an electric drummer, my guitar and voice. I learned quickly that the drummer did not follow me, I HAD to follow it.

My emotions and feel had to be put on hold. If I became excited for a moment I had t back off. If I am playing an up-tempo, let's say at 175, toward the end of the song I should be a bit higher, it's a natural feel. I do not feel this is true for latins or some contempory music. When the excitement comes the tempo must vary to compliment the emotions -- it can go back to the original tempo, but it should change to reflect.
The change is very small and should be felt. The dancers should not be aware of a change in tempo.

This can not happen with the arranger keyboard unless you program it in a sequence. But then your emotions must be turned on as the arrangement dictates. your emotion are now not yours anylonger.

My little bit, John C.



Practice, practice, practice in bands. We did that so that the song was always performed the same.

Me personally having performed during the disco era and Beach Music years, I can say that it was critical that once the "machine" (as in band) fell into the pocket, the tempo better not vary. That style of musician had superb chops (Usually of the fusion type) and the dancers were fabulous in those days and, they would trip all over each other if the tempo varied. We were not, after all, playing dramatic music but dance music.

In my mind, I believe the most powerful and saleable combo now that could make use an arranger kd would be keyboardist using sequences while playing one part live, drums and female vocalist. The keyboardist and drummer should be able to sing also. To me styles should be used only for requests of songs that are not sequenced or, off the cuff type things. But that's just my opinon.

There are drummers that can absolutely and without trouble follow these instruments, but they (the drummer) need(s) a click track. You should be able to asign the metronone out of one of the unused outs, send it to a headphone amp and then to a earpiece for the click track referrence. Anyhoo thats how we used to do it with sequencers.

The beauty of live drums is that the raw power is restored to the mix. Imo yamaha styles are kind of over produced for live work. I am not saying the styles are not good, just that live drums add a little roughage (to coin a word ?) and helps spontaneity.

Danny


[This message has been edited by pianodano (edited 03-20-2005).]