Originally posted by Taike:
Now don't get me wrong, PLEASE, but I do seem to sense some kind of elitism going on here, namely in the sense that arranger players see themselves as being IT while other musicians (drummers, guitar players, etc.) are of a much lesser caliber.
Brickboo, perhaps you haven't found the perfect drummer yet but, believe me, they're out there. Even on Thursday nights. Perhaps sax players never get sick. 
I think the attitude of "I lead, you follow" seems to stick its head out here. Correct me if I'm wrong but I always thought that one follows the drummer, not the keyboard player, as the drummer is the anchor of the band.
On numerous threads there've been people berating the drummer, guitar player but never themselves. Yet there are more guitar players out there playing with others than there are arranger players. Why would that be?
I think -and this is strictly my opinion- that way too many OMB arranger players actually believe that they're leading an entire orchestra just because an arranger comes with a lot of voices thus they see no need to play along with others. Doesn't that sound like egotism? Could it be that drummers and guitar players just don't wish to put up with such?
Diki's post has a lot of truth in it. I, for instance, have never met a musician that wouldn't want to or wish he/she could jam with others. Except here on SZ. 
Regards
Taike
I know there are much, much better keyboard players than me out there. Ask Cassp, I've been negative with him about my own kb skills, but he says I'm wrong. No elitism here, lol...
I've played in bands a long, long time and I've never seen one where everyone followed the drummer. That's NOT to say we're not all keenly aware of the tempo, but as the kb player/lead vocalist...if I decide to push the tempo a tad, my guy knows how to follow me. In my quartet, we've worked together for 11 years or so and me, the drummer and bass player all move as one. The sax player does his thing...
That said...
I don't think its elitist if someone decides for whatever reason to play with only an arranger, as opposed to other instruments. Its just different.
I've played in bands since I was 17. That's 32+ years of working in that format. I've done that and continue to a few times every month. Working with an arranger the last five years has been awesome as it is at least as cool but in a different way.
My band won't/can't rehearse. That limits what we can do detail wise on our tunes. We've come up with an approach where we're able to work in tunes in a way that the audience enjoys and dances to. Not all the ideas I have for material can work in the band, but almost anything I think would work CAN work in the solo mode. The learning curve for me with a new tune is much shorter than it is for my band. The band will get through it, the guests will dance, but its very simplistic. As a Solo, I can produce a much more polished tune much faster. That's one advantage of working by myself. Typically, I think my solo work is more polished and complete sounding. Can't say that for the band, especially with new material. However, it is 4 actual musicians interacting on stage. The interactions are different
One's not better or worse, just different...
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Bill in Dayton
[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 01-02-2010).]
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