Just tell the sax player to hire a rhythm section out of HIS pay! You'd be amazed at how fast they start to like the drum machine!
And he probably has no idea whether you are using style mode or a sequence with markers... He just wants to be in a full band, but not at HIS expense! Never tell them HOW you are doing anything. It only confuses them... (or encourages him to get his own arranger, and drop YOU!)
The less they know about the process, the better.