So that's the point you were trying to make?

Your words "look down on" were the one that piqued my reply...believe it or not, there are people who look down on jazz musicians and do not appreciate them in the slightest...in fact, they are disappointed the poor players are unable to play the melody correctly through the whole tune.

I'm sure people can look down at arranger players in kind of the same way...they think they can't really play a legitimate instrument like a piano/organ, so they have to use an arranger.

Is either group wrong? Maybe, maybe not.

Now, I'll swing in a little closer to your point again.

Both situations respond well to educating people on how to enjoy them...doesn't always work, but I'm sure it helps....I've pointed out things that are interesting in jazz to people that never would listen at all, and many of them stayed with it.

The arranger is similar...I've brought many a piano/organ player (some extremely competent) into the arranger fold, by educating them on how powerful this instrument has become, and the benefits of using one in their performance.

I'm sure George and Frankie can say the same thing about the benefits of educating people about arrangers.

I believe jazz players, by their very nature, may not be interested in using auto-accompaniment or SMF; too restricting, but there are a few converts, one being Oscar Peterson and his PSR-9000 Pro and CVP-109.

So, bottom line for me, and strictly my own opinion, is that educating people is the key to successful arranger sales, and how the are used and enjoyed.

I can only speak for my region, but we did a real successful tour before Christmas...I'm not at liberty to release any sales numbers, but suffice to say, they were very high.

I'll do a followup in February, or March.

It's working.

Ian