What she meant was, "Don't leave me without paying".

chas

I now want to pursue the things I set aside while I pursued music for 45 years.
I don't feel I've retired to do nothing just different priorities.
But at 60 I consider myself young enough to still change. I may decide to move the music back into the forefront. But for right now I enjoy the freedom of choice, I don't have to work.

[This message has been edited by mikeathome1 (edited 01-02-2010).]

You always bring something decent to the party, Diki...

I tend to disagree in that I think you can have a conversation as a Solo.

My first thought is that I converse with the audience. I see first hand the effect of my interacting with them musically. I intentionally have no set lists to work from because I think that's a bit limiting. How do I know what to play? Its a feel. I'll read the room and get a sense what's going to work well on a given day and go that direction.

I also feel like I have a conversation directly with my KB. Different styles, instruments, tempos, etc. are also done a lot on the fly depending on what mood they're/I'm in that day.

Where I think we're on common ground is that there's a lot of arranger players who don't sound very inspired. That may be due to several factors. Talent, attitude, work ethic, personality, etc.




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Bill in Dayton

Diki, your reference to the "conversation" between musicians is beautiful. At it's best, it is an unspoken dialogue that results in something much greater than the sum of it's parts.

It takes players of similar abilities and commitments, but when it happens, there's nothing like it.


A very clear, elegant way of putting things that really "nailed" a great aspect of being a musician.


And my old friend, Taike! I just realized that old Kentucky ham is old wrinkled andd smells bad, but people really dig it.


Now, WHERE'S THAT LIST OF NURSING HOMES? (LOL).


Be well, all!


Russ

Diki.....a great post.....a really great post. It's got me thinking now about "direction" rather than giving up music altogether. I can see now why subconsciously I've been dragging on buying a new arranger. There is no real pot of gold at the end of that path anymore.

Yesterday, I was at a party with friends. There is an all-lady singing group that also attends, and we get together and have fun...me playing piano for their sing-a-long.
That was MY "conversation!" Much more satisfying that my OMB!

Bill.....I think you missed Diki's point if you don't mind me saying so.

I don't mind at all, Lucky...

Maybe I worded it poorly but Diki clearly says the spontaneous interaction doesn't happen with arranger players because all you interact with is the arranger, which is a one way deal.

I interact daily with my audience and that effects - in real time - what and how I play.

As the leader of my own quartet for the last 11 years, I do understand what Diki's line of thinking is. I interact differently with them than I do when I'm flying solo of course.

Ironically, sometimes I feel like I'm more creative by myself than when I'm with the band, lol...

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Bill in Dayton

I remember the bad gigs. Members drunk. Some one not showing up. Arguments over what song to play. Arugments over which one in the band does the extra hot chick like and it goes on and on. Probably now with the drugs like meth it's even worst in some cases.

Just a while back I got a call for a Thursday nite show in the park for the City that I live in. They said a local scheduled band couldn't play because the drummer was sick.

Now I know there are many drummers in this town that aren't working every Thursday nite. Couldn't they get a replacement for one night?

I couldn't stand working with a group like that.

Is it absoulutely necessary for the drummer to hit every accent for every note perfectly for a 2 hr gig in a park. Now if this was for an Ed Sullivan show that might be different. Is he still on TV?

People love hearing my sax playing with sequences. Soul Seranade, Harlem Nocturn even Yakety Sax and many standards like "Darn That Dream." I get great compliments on my vocals also. No one yet has said I love your keyboard and the way you play it. And I don't have to fight over a woman. I get the pick of the litter. Ha! Ha!

No need to get up-set, this is just something I know that went on with many bands in New Orleans. I worked with 4 musicians that went on to work with Al Hirt and One with Pete Fountain.

Not bragging, just didn't want folks here to think I played with some band in a garage and was making comments like this. Been there Bought the T-Shirt!

I'll stick with my OMB. I sit-in with several groups on my trips back to New Orleans. If you're ever around N.O. look up my old sax friend Jerry Jumonville. He still plays with bands around the French Quarter.

Now don't get me wrong, PLEASE, but I do seem to sense some kind of elitism going on here, namely in the sense that arranger players see themselves as being IT while other musicians (drummers, guitar players, etc.) are of a much lesser caliber.

Brickboo, perhaps you haven't found the perfect drummer yet but, believe me, they're out there. Even on Thursday nights. Perhaps sax players never get sick.

I think the attitude of "I lead, you follow" seems to stick its head out here. Correct me if I'm wrong but I always thought that one follows the drummer, not the keyboard player, as the drummer is the anchor of the band.

On numerous threads there've been people berating the drummer, guitar player but never themselves. Yet there are more guitar players out there playing with others than there are arranger players. Why would that be?

I think -and this is strictly my opinion- that way too many OMB arranger players actually believe that they're leading an entire orchestra just because an arranger comes with a lot of voices thus they see no need to play along with others. Doesn't that sound like egotism? Could it be that drummers and guitar players just don't wish to put up with such?

Diki's post has a lot of truth in it. I, for instance, have never met a musician that wouldn't want to or wish he/she could jam with others. Except here on SZ.

Regards

Taike

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Bo pen nyang.

I know there are much, much better keyboard players than me out there. Ask Cassp, I've been negative with him about my own kb skills, but he says I'm wrong. No elitism here, lol...

I've played in bands a long, long time and I've never seen one where everyone followed the drummer. That's NOT to say we're not all keenly aware of the tempo, but as the kb player/lead vocalist...if I decide to push the tempo a tad, my guy knows how to follow me. In my quartet, we've worked together for 11 years or so and me, the drummer and bass player all move as one. The sax player does his thing...

That said...

I don't think its elitist if someone decides for whatever reason to play with only an arranger, as opposed to other instruments. Its just different.

I've played in bands since I was 17. That's 32+ years of working in that format. I've done that and continue to a few times every month. Working with an arranger the last five years has been awesome as it is at least as cool but in a different way.

My band won't/can't rehearse. That limits what we can do detail wise on our tunes. We've come up with an approach where we're able to work in tunes in a way that the audience enjoys and dances to. Not all the ideas I have for material can work in the band, but almost anything I think would work CAN work in the solo mode. The learning curve for me with a new tune is much shorter than it is for my band. The band will get through it, the guests will dance, but its very simplistic. As a Solo, I can produce a much more polished tune much faster. That's one advantage of working by myself. Typically, I think my solo work is more polished and complete sounding. Can't say that for the band, especially with new material. However, it is 4 actual musicians interacting on stage. The interactions are different

One's not better or worse, just different...


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Bill in Dayton

[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 01-02-2010).]

???????? I think this would be a good time to throw this in the mix. I thought you did a great job with these two songs which I downloaded a while back:

Personality.wma
Petir Fleur.wma

Lucky