I am out of town, but cannot WAIT to call my wife and ask her when my "self-playing" keyboard turned itself on, and I can find out what it "self-played" ...

I think I can understand chas' apparent resentment towards AK players (not to put words in his mouth because he certainly can speak for himself - but that's the feeling I get), because here are a lot of us - some with little formal music education - out playing, entertaining people and making some money, while a lot of really talented jazz players are playing for themselves, or for no one at all... and SERIOUSLY, I thought about this last night when I went into this 'Louisiana Style' restaurant next to the hotel and here was this 17 piece band playing some of the BEST big band jazz and funk you would want to hear. ... during a break I spoke with the PIANO player and found out they all do this as 'rehearsal night' ... they do not get paid, but get dinner and a few beers ... I really thought it was a shame ...

Another thought I have that some people might not quite understand, is that when we compliment someone's performance it is within the context of what it is ... we are not measuring it against the best musical performances in history ...
Case in point: I played a gig a couple of weeks ago where people were listening to me for upwards of three hours - playing bossa to Buffett, old time RnR, Great American Standards etc., etc. ... when I finished, I received countless compliments including "you are a very talented individual" and some even asked if I had CDs they could buy ... when I went home, I didn't think "boy that performance was worth a Grammy, or should have been a concert in front of tens of thousands of people", but I used my God given talent to the best level that I could and I was proud of what I had done ...

If someone thinks I am wrong for feeling that way, that's on them ...

But, MAN, I wish I had the talent to play with those guys - and gals - last night ...

And I can't wait to hear "Take Five Cha Cha Cha" ...