Chas, the situation here is very similar. No-one in the club scene even advertises jazz.

There is a "snob" market. People in the horse industry and those affiliated with the University and several expensive private colleges have convinced themselves that "sophisticated people" like jazz.

Lots of my jobs are private parties where these "posers" react very enthusiastically about hard-line jazz performances.

I'm happy to get the work, because, as Chas says, the music is everything. So is playing with other musicians of similar commitment.

Clubs pay about what they paid in 1970, without adjusting for inflation.

As far as arranger keyboards go, I simply use
one when I absolutely have to, and usually only use drums and bass. My old MS-60's do fine, and I've had them for 14 years.

I use no Mp-3's or sequences of any kind. Laptops are a "no-no", so my expectations about what to include on new arrangers are not worth mentioning.

I just want to play!


Russ