I'm wondering if the jazz and songbook standards players out there would like to bat
around some topics particular to our needs-
possibly need for a separate forum? or at least we can talk here about our special needs. Of all the Jazz keyboard guys I know in Miami FL (and NW Connecticut in summer), I am aware of none who use an arranger kbd for solo/duo work, as I do. Seems all they want for most part is a portable piano, and the more sophisticated of them will use the following: LH bass split, layer
of strings on piano, Rhodes sound, Jimmy Smith
organ sound. That's about it..if rhythms are wanted some might use an old drum machine.
Maybe it's because I'm a converted saxman and not a legit pianist---but I like to use the bass and
drum parts in an arranger piano rather than play
LH bass..and I employ the transposer frequently-
so PSR's that require going onscreen are out for
me (someone said the T2 doesn't behave that way--true?) I also use a limited amount of sounds..but many more than the average jazz
guy..to the above listed I add vibes, marimba, 2 or 3 guitar sounds, muted trumpet, brass section, flute, piccolo, cello, voices, and a small
sprinkling of others. I'm still a long way from more advanced users who create trax and loops, use full arrangements, import sounds and styles, etc.
I'd like to learn some of that, but basically I want
a board that's most ideal for me for live gigs: which means under 40 lbs, synth action or a
real light action if semiweighted, ease of switching keys, sounds, styles, variations on the fly rather than going into menus, really
good-sounding built-in sounds for the ones i use
most, really good chord recognition for bass,
drum variations that progess logically through the 4 usually offered, and lotsa cookin' rhythms that are not stiff in Swing, Bop, Fox, Funk, Bossa, Latin, Blues, Shuffle, etc..the ones jazz
players use..don't care about the other sounds
and stylesat all. I have been using a Korg is35
and a Technics kn2600 for past 2-3 years, and
recently got a Gem Genesys Pro, which i am trying to love but not succeeding( thought i would and was beguiled by the future recording
possibilities, which I would need to learn) and am wondering now if a T2 or SD1+ or a light 76-key controller with a midjay or other outboard box would be better or worse for me for my gigs. But
enough about me, what about you other jazz
guys who use arrangers..are you like me or tekkies who know do it all w/sounds/styles/trax and play many other kinds of music..and if you do do you use a separate board for your jazz gigs? Or..whatever else any other Jazzer wants to kick around..let's start the forum here?
Miami Mo