Let's face it...it all boils down to musical "Talent"...and that includes feeling and creativity.

If you have little or none of the above, or have never tried to learn or earn them, playing with styles/SMF/live players isn't going to help.

Rico obviously has talent and the other included qualities, and, instead of just talking about them...he shows us.

Fine job, Rico.

I enjoy playing several times a month with a bunch of talented "live" players (number varies) and also I enjoy playing my Tyros4 arranger keyboard equally as much, whether stripping a style down to the basics, or using it full-blown (again, the number of players varies, only this time it is my choice).

A lot of times I learn cool new things from the "live" player interaction, and, in as many instances, I learn fresh material from using the Tyros4, especially playing genres I don't normally get to do with "live" players...also, with the arranger, I enjoy having the freedom to play any time I feel like playing, no matter what the hour or day.

Both situations have their benefits, and negatives..it's entirely up to the player to make the most of each position.

Donny said it best..."just make good music and people will enjoy it, bottom line", and I would emphasize the words "make" and "good".

How we successfully accomplish that goal, is no-one's business but our own.

Ian