Miami Mo..very well articulated. The right equipment is a necessity in this business. I guess the point, from my prospective, is, use equipment as a tool, not as a crutch.

One of the best live performances I ever saw was a TV performance recorded in Louisville on educational TV by Ray Brown (a mentor in my younger days), Victor Wooten and a legitemate upright player, Edgar Mayer. Three basses. They met 1/2 hour before the performance/filming...obviously, no practice time. It was fantastic. When I got to Louisville, Ray had just finished a lesson with a promising student...no charge. That's something he did in every city he visited, before every performance, until he passed on.

Obviously, depending on skill level, experience, the type of music and personal goals, the right amount of practice is a function of all of the above. I have noticed that probably because of the vast differences in individual instruments, reeds, mouthpieces, etc., the majority of players I've known who are obsessed with getting the right tone have been horn players.

Always enjoy your contributions,


Russ