On my regular jobs, many of them just work better on straight jazz guitar or piano.

Dining room jobs work with few vocals and piano or guitar only.

Cocktail hours and lounge work is better suited to an arranger at the minimal end, and with added players as the event or venue gets bigger and noisier.

My main job has both: a single in the dining room, outside events along with cook-outs and golf events...in a lounge for cocktail hour...everything up to a 9 piece group.


On an average week, I'll bring in several great players...everything from a percussionist to a UK professor on
flute and sax. Great fun, and a real way to break the monotony of listening to myself all the time.

Arrangers work fine for 1/2 my jobs. The rest work best done another way.

Whatever. The thing is to play learn and enjoy the process, wherever it takes you.


Russ