Nigel,
I admire highly your great way to administrate and moderate the SZ forum.

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Regarding myself and left hand bass.
Years ago I played accordeon, and left hand bass was a part of it. But when swap to arranger keyboard, I find it really hard to play bass with left hand.
So I take the easy way out, autobass does the work. During the years the styles getting got more dynamic responding to what chords played.
But, I agree fully, bass and drums played 'correctly' really make the differences.