"thou doth protest too much". Whenever someone is OVERLY defensive about something, ....well, you know the rest. This thread was never about who was or wasn't a good entertainer, but about two observations/opinions of mine that -
1) most arranger performances (in style mode) sound 'robotic' to me with a 'factory new-car-smell' to them. Going from a Brazilian Samba to a Country tune to a Big Band number all in the space of 10 minutes sounds completely unnatural to me in any public music venue other than probably a Nursing Home. If you think differently, fine - that's just MY opinion.
2) that playing arrangers exclusively COULD have the effect of curbing your desire to improve your playing skills. Why bother when you can just wait for next wave of technology to do it for you. Again, just my opinion.
Because someone is able to make a living in a very limited segment of the music business doesn't automatically mean that they're good at it. Self-proclaiming how good you are (something few true pro-level musicians do) may be true in YOUR mind but may not be rooted in fact. Many so-called musicians and entertainers have an exaggerated sense of their talent and abilities; most true pro's are rather modest (ie. I've never heard Rory Hoffman tell us how good he is).
So, bottom line, even though I own four arrangers and have been tinkering with them for 30 years, if I express the opinion that, despite the great advances in sound and automation technology, they STILL sound 'sort of robotic' to ME, and that I, personally, don't consider them a legitimate TRADITIONAL musical instrument, then I should not post or express an opinion on this forum. Really?
I know that there are some members here who are well liked by some, but that doesn't mean every word out of their mouth is gospel. I happen to totally agree with Mirza's post but because it doesn't represent our version of reality, he's essentially told to 'sit down and shut up'. Oh well, can't teach a old dog new tricks.....or even get them to listen to a new idea. Whaddya gonna do.
chas
Chas, we all have opinions, and that's fine, but if you are passionate about something you are going to stand up for it not be defensive of it, like you are of your opinion.
To answer your comments,
1) they can sound robotic, if you just turn them on and do nothing more than change chord using a single finger - boring I agree you. You are able to do so much more, with variations, pauses, inversions, MP3's etc not to mention changing the style mid song, live music should be ALIVE not played robotic-ally, couldn't agree more.
2)It COULD, yes, or it COULD inspire you, it is just a mental state. Are you a glass half full or a glass half empty person?
I have never heard a great musician called themselves good at all. They are still trying to better themselves, and improve; but kicking themselves over their last stuff ups, even if no one heard them.
Well, I am glad you stuck with it for so long, but may be you need some lessons or something. NOT, how to play music, you know how, but how to play like a guitarist or how to play like a flutist or violinist etc. To incorporate that into your music to help others hear the other instruments NOT just styles.
I don't know what other instruments you play, I play classical piano started at age 10, @ 17 started banjo, @ 28 started mandolin and 5 string electric bass. My first arranger was a Yamaha DSR1000 or something. This does NOT make me an expert nor do I have an EGO, I am constantly learning and growing, and still making mistakes; blame my classical piano teacher, who kept at me to "get it right".
My voice on this honored forum is worth very little to anyone. I have not the credentials like some here, nor the years of input that some have helped other here, just MY opinion.
At the end of the day CHAS, my thoughts are please don't give up, but get out more and find a way to break through the brick wall you seem to have about your playing or others playing arranger KB's; Be the one that shows them how to really play these instruments of awesomeness that they can be if you/we choose.
Allan
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