Unfortunately,you are not ging to see many 8 piece bands in the casino lounges or shore venues ... but I have seen as many as 5 - 6 piece groups using back-up tracks ...
Those audiences want the music to sound like the original recording, hence 'dance clubs' only using DJs ... I've often said that the days of a band doing a 'pop' tune in their own style are looong gone ...
I have no issue with musicians enhancing their sound with backing tracks as long as they are not 'faking' a performace ...
As for the 'purists', I hope you 'keep on keepin' on' ... yours is a different audience from MOST of the arranger players on this board ... I, for one, would really dislike seeing that music/performance die ...

On chas' point about Miles, etc. ... I was attending an insurance agents convention one year and was excited by the fact that Dizzy was going to perform at the formal dinner ... Well, after dinner, Diz and his group took the stage and started playing ... the drone of voices in the room got louder and louder, to the point that after about 4 tunes Diz took the mic and said "apparently you folks would prefer to listen to each other, so GOODNIGHT", and they walked off the stage ... I was embarassed for the inconsiderate behavior of the people in the room ... After a while, my wife and I were out in the lobby and the fellow who booked Diz (who I knew pretty well) came walking out with Diz and we were introduced to him ... I apologized for what happened inside and he just shrugged and said something to the affect that his music isn't for everyone ... A class act ...
t.

Not when it comes to recognizing jerks. I can trade barbs with Fran all day and at the end of the day we walk away laughing. But somehow, you just seem to take rubbing people the wrong way to a new level. From some of the posts I've read in the past, I don't think I'm the only one who feels this way, either. I don't know if it's WHAT you say or just the attitude that comes along with it, either way, I'm guessing your BFF list is very, VERY short. Go to charm school.

chas

Reading the above posts...reminds me..that "success" is enjoying what you do...I don't care if it's your "day" job or "moonlighting"...If you aren't happy...why even do it...

I can say this..I have never worked a job ...including my income producing day job...that wasn't something I wanted to do..Maybe that is why excluding a couple winter time day jobs..I have always worked for my self (and Uncle Sam)..

Real joy, is playing music because you want to....not because you have to....

The worst partner(s), I can think of on stage is the one that needs to perform for a living....

Performing is a mentality...you have to love being there...no matter how you do it...just do it to enjoy yourself...

Pompous, arrogant pricks like you are a "dime a dozen"...

Sanctimonious, self-righteous and so full of yourself and your own opinions....

I doubt if Fran took your comments as "lightly" as you would like to think. Same goes for the others you have made your prejudiced "judgements" on.

Yet when some of these come back at you, you go running to mama, crying "foul".....Perhaps the charm school is a path you need to travel, and quickly too!!

In Captain Russ's terms I fall into the entertainer category more than the purist musician category. 90% of what I play is with styles on my Yammie. But I am not above using an occasional midi file or becoming a DJ relying on MP3s when it comes to genres I don't play live.

A successful gig for me is one where I show up, and audience shows up, I play, no one gets hurt,the check clears and I get re-booked.

Eddie

Eddie, I think you're right!

R.

+1, totally agree.

The only thing I would add is that in my case the backing track/styles to solo instrumental ratio is about 65%

Dennis

Thanks. A real show of class. Same as you've always exhibited, so no suprise there. Any more profane invectives you'd like to get off your chest?

chas

I think the point Chas was trying to make, and me too, is that it's rather a bit much to have someone play a SMF and then pretend to play along with it.

Not saying Fran does it...it appears he actually plays over midi files, but it does give arranger players a bad rap when someone does it and it is obvious they are faking it.

I remember someone posted a video, some time ago, of one of SZ's members (who's not around any more) doing that very thing.

Pretty dismal if one needs to resort to that kind of fakery, and that's not being an "entertainer" in my opinion...just a big phony.

Ian

Yes I agree with you 100% on this Ian. You also wrote it very well

Dennis