It's no surprise, but I have to support the position Chas has here. Of course, my position is explained by a good deal of personal preference and not necessarily meant to imply that my way of doing things is superior. But, it is right for me.

And, as always, there's an element of entertainer vs. musician. I would never do what Fran is doing in the video previously posted, but that is my preference...no MP-3's...no laptops...no sequences...ever.

Right now, I'm using an arranger, so my position as a "purist" is pretty fragile.

I guess on one end, there are those who have no problem with using anything they have available to entertain, vs. those who wouldn't touch even a transposer. Most of us, including me, are somewhere in the middle.

I guess the right choice is whatever you can justify to yourself, and what produces the results you want.

Donny believes that using anything, including a chicken hat is OK. I wouldn't be caught dead in one. My choice is right for me, and his is right for him. We both get paid for what we do.

And Fran doesn't think there's anything wrong with using completely sequenced material or he wouldn't have posted the clip.

This issue is indicative of a major divide here that will never go away or be resolved.

Let's each stick to our convictions, conduct ourselves in a manor that is consistent with those convictions and respect the other persons right to do it another way.

We don't have to like it or agree with it.
And, if I don't have something complimentary to say, I'll generally choose to say nothing at all.


R.



[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 06-21-2010).]

I posted the video clip....because I wanted to look back and have a laugh.....I sent the clip to my girls....knowing they would get a kick out of it...They never seen the clip before...

As for me playing with SMF's or not...means nothing...and I feel sorry if that is all you guys get out old videos...
Actually , I did not play (perform with SMF's)..until this time period (1993)..That means I played as a "purist" the previous 37 years...

Only a couple of you guys know what I do or don't do...

But one thing you can count on..."I still love my job"....

PS: I must do something right....I could work ..doing what I do ..7 days a week....I choose not to...

My bet...I think most of you would "love my job"...

I record in one form or another 95 percent of our "backing tracks" (band)...Only use arranger play for usually a "guest singer"..

When I play solo and usually duo...I play mostly SMF's...and always "play " over them..I rely on the chord read of the G70 for this purpose..

I do not use MP3 for my solo work...the SMF's allow me to use lyrics....like another stated..I can remember thousands of songs..but a handful of lyrics...

Few if any folks here have enjoyed what I have over the decades of performing....and do not owe anyone an explanation...but here it is anyway....

BTW: Just in Time is considered to be the best "band" in the South Jersey shore....
Thankfully ..our fan base are not "purists"..

I can't count myself as a "purist", Fran, nor do I frown on anyone playing over SMF...it's when someone fakes it, or pretends to play, over a midi file that disappoints me.

I love playing over styles...always will, and, like you, this kind of work can't be bettered, in my opinion.

The arranger is just another tool for us keyboard players to use...it is every bit as legit , in my opinion, as a Hammond, a piano, a synth or a workstation.

I enjoyed the video,...it's nice to have these kind of keepsakes, and areal treat to look back on the old days.

Ian

Look, I wasn't responding to Fran's video as much as I was to DONNY'S response to Roel (kla4). If Fran thinks that what they do is being a band, then more power to him. In my limited experience, a band consists of a group of musicians that play together.

chas

Chas I feel sorry for guys like you...enjoy yourself ....I'll stick with Fran anyday of the week.

Nope Chas...not a band as we know....but the reference of the audiences address it as such...I did the band thing (real band ..5 pieces).for my first 20 years...

So what should we call ourselves...2 keyboardist and 3 vocalists..

I can see the Marquee now...Now appearing Wed-Sun....the sequenced act.."Just in Time"...

BTW: There will not be a high profile show...you will see at any Casino or Large venue..that is not sequenced or using backing tracks....NONE!!!!
You will find those folks in the audience..

Chas, don't worry, I don't get offended from my pals here......My pals don't pay my bills.....but you can buy me breakfast..

Fran, I'd buy you breakfast anytime. However, if your buddy joins us, he has to pay for his own . Look, you're right. I know for a fact that most of the casino acts ARE sequenced, but they don't have eight guys back there pretending to be an eight piece band. The audience KNOWS that the music is 'canned'. I think there is a difference. Hey, you guys are successful and have been for a long time, and that's the bottom line. Different strokes for different genre's and venues. Miles and Coltrane would go over like a lead balloon in a NH. Monk would probably get beaten to death with crutches, walkers and bedpans. You gotta give the audience what they want....or at least make 'em THINK they're getting what they want .

BTW, got any old videos of Donny doing the Electric Slide?......in his chicken hat.



chas

PS: Tell Benny I want some of my money back.

And a singer is NOT a musician??? Seems you got one part of your comment right..."limited experience"

The key word here, guys, is SHOW! There are a few of us in the trenches who gladly sacrifice a lot (money, number of gigs, etc.) for the luxury of coming up with a medley-mid tune...or a key change...or working with a like-minded player, taking a performance in an entirely different direction. A few of us appreciate the response we get from people with a vast knowledge of music...structure...history, etc...people who listen to the music and understand what they're hearing...just wish they would drink more and spend more money and tip better)! LOL.

We don't do "SHOWS". And, we pay the price.
I sat in awe watching Victor Wooten give a 45 minute clinic at NAMM Saturday....all by himself. Find Rory's outstanding clip of Autumn Leaves....all by himself. Look at any Chick Corea clip. There are lots of others, including major national acts...Diana Krall, for example, using no backing tracks whatsoever.

A year ago or so, a nationally famous keyboard player/singer and one of my all-time favorites came to the club I played and asked to sit in. What an honor! He used my suitcase turned 90 degrees and the guy played for two complete sets (I was on B-3 at my regular "jazz night"...he was backing ME!). He is a famous singer, but, this night, we simply traded licks. He told me that he does about 200 "shows" a year that all last exactly the same number of minutes...the exact same number of tunes, played exactly the same way in the same sequence-because he was using...you guessed it: SEQUENCES!. He really enjoyed the freedom he used to enjoy before everything was about supporting his road crew, musicians and new recorded materials.

He went back on the road making millions, and I'm still out there in the trenches, pretty convinced I am the one who made the right choice.

Chas and I wouldn't have it any other way!


Russ

(P.S.-I'm a "sell-out" to a degree, supplementing my meager "gig" bread )(like that use of terms, guys?) with compensation for film scores/production in the healthy mid-six figure range. I'd like to just play what I'd like, but too used to the "fat cat" way of life-OH, WHOA IS ME! Take a look at Chas' two wheeled "toys" and read between the lines about his career in the airline industry and the C-1 and other toys he has. We've done fairly well, but had to make some real sacrifices, including relying on activities other than music for a good part of our living).

("Sorry, purists", but where is it written that you really have to "suffer" for your art?-"BURP-LOL!).

(Each of us does things OUR WAY...we do what works for us...a combination of what we want to do and what we have to to do).

(It's that balance that is so hard to get exactly right).

(Good luck to all finding that balance point, wherever it is!).


Russ

I actually viewed THREE musicians on that video clip.

When keyboard players take out all keyboard parts, and PLAY them all themselves, and just has the midi/mp3/style providing the rhythm section and maybe some guitar/strings/brass for "interest", then that player is doing NO LESS than a keyboard player playing with a live drummer, bass player or guitarist!!!

Actually in a lot of cases, I would say they do MORE, and require a higher skillset to achieve it.



[This message has been edited by miden (edited 06-21-2010).]