My favorite old softee...UD hit it out of the park on another thread when he said that he was a MUSICIAN who played arranger, not an arranger musician.

We all own arrangers, and, during a recent injury, my arrangers kept me working. I also use them for roughs on the film scores I do. But, like Dave, I think that arrangers are a tools and that we all use them in vastly different ways.

Look at the differences between us. It's a lot more than age, education, location...whatever. And, it's our differences that make this group and music in general work.


In a perfect world, here's how I would like to celebrate some of our differences, musically:

* With CHAS, I's strap on a big L-5 and just enjoy the sophisticated groove, with just the right amount of funk.
That unspoken, delicious communication would happen instantly.

* With DON, I'd use a double-neck with a 12 and 6, a volume pedal, plus a small portable Nord. We would click automatically, with little or no rehearsal required. It would be my pleasure to back him to make him sound as good as I could. In fact, we're working on doing that soon.

* CHICO would be a delight. I'd use several of my Gianinni nylon string guitars and revel in one of my favorite kinds of music with one of my favorite people.

* DAVE McMahan-I'd just strap on a Parker Fly and try to keep up. I'd feel comfortable just walking onto his B-3 oriented jobs or with his bigger band (the one he came to Kentucky with a few years ago). He is a "players player" and we'd quickly hit that pocket that makes music worth playing with others.

* DIKI is intense and talented. He's a "pro's pro" here, and we'd have no problem hitting a groove personally and musically.

* With UNCLE DAVE I'd bring a 335 and a Nord Electro and just "relax and enjoy". It would feel as if we'd worked together all our lives. He's a great musician, plus a killer entertainer and friend. That's be "one for the books".

* ANDREA would be a pleasure to work with. He is not a "full timer", but writes and plays with such calm sophistication that I'd finish the night relaxed, refreshed and pumped up!

* TONY is such a delightful guy, and so "pro-music" that the enthusiasm would instantly rub off. His play list would be completely familiar, and we'd "get over"; no doubt.

* NIGEL would probably be embarrassed to have "the old guy" on the bandstand, but WHAT FUN! The only thing I would have to work on is the arrangements all good show bands use.
I'd crank up a PSR-probably throught a Small 85 SuperChamp lined out into the house system. I'd also bring a Nord Electro to switch to keys when he switched to guitar.

* I'd just sneak up on RORY'S stage with whatever he'd let me get by with, and try not to embarrass him too much.

* With IAN, I'd be perfectly comfortable letting him call the shots and just "trading fours". A couple of hours spent that way would be "tasty"!

* With DONNY and FRAN I'd wear the hat (Yes, DAMNIT, The CHICKEN Hat), wear a heavy disguise, enjoy the hell out of myself and, forever...DENY, DENY, DENY, DENY!!!!!!(LOL)

I could go on. The folks mentioned her are in no particular order, and there are LOTS more.

My point is, as Dave said, it's the music that matter. I suspect that we could "sit in" with each other...no rehersal, and KILL!

My recent injury just brought lots of things into focus. Now, all the petty little arguments about which arranger...which type of music....it all seems so pointless. And, my "superior" attitude about styles of music now just seems embarrassing.

I'm still a hard-line jazzer.

But do have an appreciation for other musicians and many (notice, I didn't say ALL) kinds of music.

AS LONG AS WE AS MUSICIANS SHOW EACH OTHER THE RESPECT AND COURTESY WE EACH DESERVE.

From here on out, I'm gonna do just that!

Hey, I'm glad I can still play ANYTHING! Music has been GOOD to me.

You folks are a neat part of that life-long journey.


Thanks, so much,


Russ