I played at a local retirement community last night for their dinner and a show evening using my new solo rig:





Originally I had just been using a digital piano with bass pedals and singing which was incredibly enjoyable. Then I got hired to do a 60's themed party and decided to use an arranger keyboard to make things a bit more exciting, and that was a blast. I don't really care for arranger styles that are way overpacked with so many tracks that they end up being a jumbled mess, as well as not leaving any room for a real musician to play along. So I got the idea to use a drum machine along with the piano & bass pedal set-up. I found and purchased an old Roland CR-1000 which is cool in that it has a good number of preset rhythms and 4 each of intro, variation and ending per rhythm and is much better for live play than anything being made today. But because of THIS post, I hooked up my old GEM WK2-MIDI Arranger module only to find that I didn't need the Roland CR-1000. When used simply as a drum machine, the WK2MA has more (and far better) rhythm choices, the same number of intros, variations and endings, plus tap tempo and some other goodies. That prompted me to connect a MIDI cable from my digital piano to the WK2MA to try out the arranger section. What fun!

So my current solo rig, while being a bit of a bear to haul and set up, allows me to play solo piano on a real 88 note weighted action keyboard, and when the mood calls for it I can-

• add a bass player with my left foot
• add a drummer via the WK2MA
• add a full band via the WK2MA

And another neat thing is that my digital piano, a Roland RD700GX has the ability to play mp3's and .wav files (also smf's) from a USB memory stick so I even recorded some songs at home on my DAW that included background vocals for live vocal harmonies.

All in all I have a very versatile rig. The only drag is setting up and tearing down. I am wondering if anyone has tried the Korg PA588? I was seriously considering a PA800 but I just can't deal with 61 lightweight keys, at least when playing legit piano. And I had thought about the PA2X Pro but that is a lot of money and still doesn’t have weighted keys. Same goes for the Audya, plus from what I have read on this forum, the Audya doesn't have things like a real sequencer or much in the way of sound editing and that is a deal breaker for me. I had disregarded the PA588 at first because of the lack of a harmonizer and several other things but since I have yet to hear a harmonizer that sounds anything as real as real voices I quit using one. I would rather have no harmony than robo-voice harmony anyway. Don't get me wrong, I dig harmonizers, I had a lot of fun with the Genesys Pro harmonizer and it could sound very good, but again not like actual live (or recorded) vocals.

Anyone having any experience with the Korg PA588, I would appreciate your thoughts and opinions.

Thanks,

Dave


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Wm. David McMahan
LearnMyKeyboard
JazzItUp Band
The Modulators

[This message has been edited by WDMcM (edited 07-15-2009).]

Nice looking setup Dave Lots of work, but organized and clean lined. Can just imagine how great you sound.

Thanks Jim! Yes it is a bit to set up. Not nearly as fast as using my WK8SE, similar in size to your PA800. But I just couldn't get used to playing those lightweight keys, at least when playing in a piano oriented style, which I tend to do more often than not.

I should point out that before the gig actually started, I did tidy up the cable runs. Can't stand having cables all over the place.

Dave

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Wm. David McMahan
LearnMyKeyboard
JazzItUp Band
The Modulators

Looks like the best of both worlds, Dave. Your foot gives you control of the bass line, and you're not locked into the busy multiple tracks
some arranger styles use.

I was using left-handed bass with a Nord C-1 a lot, but can't right now. I'll be back to that ASAP.


Russ

Hi Russ,

Given that I finally decided what to use and how to use it the day before the gig and hooked everything up the morning of the gig to run through a song or two, the show went off without a hitch. I can't tell you how much fun and satisfying it is to have full control of not only the chordal part (live piano/strings/brass/etc.) but also the bass player (old lefty) and being able to reach up with my left hand to control the drummer (not easily done when playing left hand bass lines). I certainly did use some auto styles on the gig as well which was fine, but playing everything live, with the exception of drums although I use fills and variations quite a bit, just feels better to me. And I'll tell ya' I think the audience hears a difference to. Then again it may be my choice of songs that I do live. The best response was when I did Hey There after talking some about Rosemary Clooney. I just played piano and bass pedals and sang the tune, also bringing in some strings towards the end for dramatic effect. As I was performing this song, I looked around the room and many folks had their eyes closes, slowly swaying back and forth to the tune. It does my heart good to know that these seniors are enjoying what I am offering and maybe bringing back some good memories of days past.

Don't mean to sound so sappy, sorry.

Dave

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Wm. David McMahan
LearnMyKeyboard
JazzItUp Band
The Modulators

Nothing like it ... that's great ...
t.

You said it. Over the years I have played in many bands doing clubs, concerts and festivals for 20 to 20,000 people and have had my share of great times. But I have never been as satisfied after a gig as when I play a senior center gig. To see even one person in the audience touched by what I am doing is, well, let me put it another way. When I played Bewitched, I saw several people in the audience mouthing along to the words, and I got choked up to the point where I had to go into a solo for a few bars until I regained composure. Goofy huh?

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Wm. David McMahan
LearnMyKeyboard
JazzItUp Band
The Modulators

Not goofy at all! I love playing for those audiences as well. When I see their lips moving I know I'm right on with my selections.