In today's music, I just love to be able to play the old music I Love, my way, not the way some young music producer thinks it will sell records. I do it primarily to please myself, and if by chance there is someone in the audience that likes what I am doing( and there's always someone), well, that's great! Meanwhile, here in the east coast DJs are making the big bucks, without even knowing what the chord C is made of; so I don't feel guilty about using an arranger. My forte is not necesarily my arranger but my music and the way I play it which helps me create the right background for my singing. Arrangers are wonderful tools that allow you to do it your way, all by yourself w/o the tribulations that go along with playing in a band(the pay is better too). The other great advantage of the arranger is the ability guitar(and other musicians)players have to make a transition from their instrument to the Keyboards; I played the guitar for 35 years professionally and It took me less than a year to play the K/B well enough to go out and gig with it. I developed Carpal Tunel Syndrom in my left hand from playing the guitar all this years and was forced to make the transition to survive in music, thanks to the arranger I am still able to make a living in this wonderful field.
Reagards, Mario