Diki et al: Whoa! I’m not the one complaining! I like what arrangers do for me. I’m quite satisfied with the sound of my ‘board and as long as the crowd likes my (automation enhanced) sound and I keep getting callbacks, I see no need to change my style. My message remains that whatever works for you…. Work to perfect your abilities and go for it. The theme of my post ALSO REMAINS that automation, i.e., MIDI and the tools that are associated with MIDI CAN serve us. Our challenge (if we elect to!) is to tastefully employ that automation to enhance our sound.

Also remember that first and foremost, the majority of us obviously love music or we would not be chasing this rainbow in the first place. There is certainly plenty of room for all of us and our performing or entertaining styles. Some of us want to be technicians so we can play blistering solos, and others of us just want to create great sounding music. With today’s keyboards and arranger technology, every one of us who aspires to make music and a salary at it to boot has an avenue to do so. The rest, of course, is purely up to each one of us. And I am quite confident that (with and without automation), the cream will continue to float to the top.

One final thought….. I am beginning to wonder if maybe WE aren’t our own WORST enemy. People on this forum are continually musing “why aren’t arrangers as big in the U.S. as they are in Europe”? Based on the posts herein, maybe it’s because of the reluctance of some of the guys on this very forum to just acknowledge their true benefits?

R/I