I think, as Don alluded to, that the designation 'Pro' or Professional denotes a level of expertise over and above the 'amateur' level. Proficiency, not the ability to make a buck, should be the measure of a Professional. Legends such as Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, even the great Billie Holiday, all died broke or at least much poorer than most of you guys, but no one would ever question whether or not they were Professionals. The kid that cuts your grass for money is NOT a professional landscaper. If he cuts enough lawns, he can actually make a living doing it.....but he still isn't a professional landscaper.

What's sad about this post is that, like all others before it, no matter what the original point or premise was, it always deteriorates into a defense of arrangers and/or arranger players. I love stuff like "well Keith Jarrett played one, I think he even bought it". Really, well did you ever see him play one in concert, on a stage, in a recording? No, I didn't think so. This entire post is so far south, mainly because in their eagerness to defend the honor of arrangers and arranger players, almost everyone missed the gist of the post. The fact that in the world of professional musicians, very few use arrangers, is merely a fact (for whatever reason), not a criticism of your choice of equipment. Even when a poster acknowledges it's value in a OMB act, it's ignored and the battle lines are still drawn. Sad that our (misguided) emotions won't (or can't) allow for any kind of meaningful discussion about arrangers that doesn't shower the instrument with praise and glory. Oh well.

chas