I play an arranger in ANY appropriate format, regardless of who's listening. It's the quality of the music that matters.

Where arrangers get a bad rap is when really bad players use them in public. Then, they are pegged as less than stellar players and the instrument is criticized.

GUESS WHAT? IT "AIN'T" the instrument. An arranger is like a capo. Mostly, capos are used by low end players to use the few chords they know (finger positions) to get to the key they need.

But, a good player who needs an open bass note (like Vince Gill, for instance) can use one and actually improve his performance.

Since most who use capo's are mediocre players, capo's get a bad rap, as do the people who use them. I don't even own one.
But, I'd be damned if I would question the use of one by someone of Gill's ability and stature.

Again, an arranger used at a tool, not a crutch is a good thing.


Russ