I’d like to meet ONE pro that had anything bad to say about arrangers. I’ve never met one. EVER.

Maybe what sucks isn’t the arranger?

I’ve taken arrangers to first call sessions, and played with live bands for 30 years. Never ever had one ‘pro’ put them down. They just say ‘That sounds good. What is it?’, and I say ‘A Roland G70, BK9 (whatever)’ and they go ‘Never heard of it. Sounds cool’ and we get on with business.

You know what I don’t EVER do? I don’t ever play the auto accompaniment to a ‘pro’. A) they can tell how much it sucks (hate to burst anyone’s bubble, but to a pro no auto accompaniment is worth a damn compared to a real band of pros!) and B) I don’t want him to think I’m gunning for his, or anyone else’s job.

THAT’S what pros hate. You, taking their job with an inferior machine.

So, if you want a ‘pro’ to like your arranger, don’t use it as an arranger!