I just don't get this "sound" thing getting "old," "dated" etc.

If you go to a lounge and like this great pianist, do you expect the Grand he is playing to have a different sound every so often and if it doesn't you won't go to hear him play anymore.

My tenor sax sound is still the same as when I started back playing again and I get many complements. People even have the nerve to ask me to play my sax more and leave the keyboard and vocals rest a while.

I used to listen to Pete Fountain as a kid 100 years ago on TV. His sound never changed and many a clarinet player has envied his style and sound. No one has ever asked him to change his sound I bet.

I think to most people it is what and how the musician is playing a tune. If he plays bad the sound won't matter. If he plays even just average and the people like what and how he playing they will enjoy him and his music.

Spalding what you did here IMHO is great "funk" keyboard.