I was referring more to when, as my original post said, to getting together with other musicians to jam. Naturally, if you can’t put even a rhythm section together (bass and drums), well, you’re going to have to introduce some basic arranger parts or work on that left hand bass!

But what I intended to convey was, if you ARE jamming with a band (as I suggested, find a group with no keyboard player but is already rehearsed with each other, and see if they’ll let you sit in from time to time) don’t under any circumstances turn on the auto stuff and demonstrate how you don’t need them!

The truth is, you DO need them far more than they need you! They are your window into the real world, the world where, if you mess up, there’s a discussion about it, not some blinking lights!

And, in truth, I’m not even really talking about jazz. Playing rock well, or blues, or reggae or country, they ALL will improve when you work with others, even if it’s only now and again. As Russ points out (but in a different context) it’s the interaction between musicians that makes any form of it work.

But if you DO find a self contained group that will let you play, don’t EVER show them that you can make them redundant. They are doing you a favor, not the other way round!