Hi Randy ,
I think you’ve nailed it.
Singers have got it over us, they use the keyboards for backing.
Their voice is the focus of the song.
Same goes for someone like yourself, who uses keyboard for backing your sax.

When you listen to some arranger songs all you hear is the backing, the lead instrument playing the melody gets lost in the blur of sound.

For me , it should be about the melody, the backing in the background to compliment rather than dominate.

Look forward to hearing more.