Russ, I certainly agree with you on that point, but realistically speaking, most of us here aren't lucky enough to play with band members at the caliber level of the musicians in the contract label videos I posted. What the arranger offers is the unique opportunity to improve our playing skill rehearsing a song (with auto accomp backup) to a level where we're finally able to hire seasoned pro musicians wanting to perform with us, yet in the meantime, allows us to gain experience rehearsing & even performing these songs on a solo gig (singing & playing the keyboard parts) or perhaps simply adding a backup singer/guitar player. The arranger provides the gig flexibility & lower band member rehearsal time & expense than rehearsing & working with a totally live band could. JMO.

Scott,
I was just about to write about how one of my favorite new artists is Jason Mraz and when I heard Bruno Mars on American Idol a few weeks ago I told my son who is also a big fan of jason Mraz and Bruno Mars that Bruno Mars reminds me a lot of Jason mraz. I really enjoy both of these popular new artists.

Bruno and Jason... I like them both. Do you hear a little of our own Beach Bum in their music?
Eddie

I think Bruno is great, and some of his songs are so darn catchy I may even do a few. Donny, steal your daughter's ipod for a day - you'll hear him in there! I may be doing the Lazy song this summer - it's perfect for vacationers!

The 'Lazy Song' is definitely among my Bruno Mars favs too.
and will surely bring a smile to everyone in the audience.

I wanted to add that I feel the 'scaled down' acoustic versions of these tunes (keyboard, guitar + vocals) is idea to create a live arranger mode performance singing (with VH) and playing all the keyboard parts live. Nothing cheating about that if you're actually playing & singing. In fact this arranger method requires the added challenge of producing live, the tasks of multiple live band members.

I've been using my midi guitar more and more, especially at the shore - it triggers the arranger and harmonizer and is so much more fun for me. The energy I get from strumming is way more than anything I ever get from playing keys. Guitar was my first love anyway, then bass ... next came the Rhodes, and THEN all other piano-like instruments.

So does that mean you like this guy's style of playing?

This makes me want to strip down some of those fat styles, and just make it work the same way.

A great tune, like the ones this guy writes, needs very little to bring it off.

Ian

Ian, I DO love stripped down styles - that's another reason I love the PA800. I have a dedicated button that shuts off all 5 accompaniment parts and just leaves the bass and drums running - I have a second button to turn the bass on so I can do that manually too. In smaller, quieter setting I prefer a more intimate ensemble. When the volume's pumping, the crowd is more likely to accept the arranger stuff, but when it's up close and personal .... smaller is better for me. As for Bruno's style - I like him a lot. I don't really hear any MJ influence, but I think he looks a little like Michael ... when he was a young black man.

I like capoing the guitar up 5 frets to put it in UKE range and playing Izzie's "Over the Rainbow" with the right words, of course!

Dave,

I think Bruno has that "vulnerability" and "cry" in his voice, that reminds me of MJ, but, slightly less pronounced.

He looks like Michael did right after the first few surgeries, and before his face deteriorated and started to slide off.

Depending on what I'm trying to get across to the listener, I sometimes take the Tyros4's style down to drums and bass and (this is where the value of rootless chording comes in) play piano, or Electric piano in the left and do the melody in block chords, Bill Evans style.

Works great for a lot of Stevie Wonder tunes, as well as Jazz and Country...well, pretty much any style.

Then again, I love using styles that I've added lush string phrases (that actually play phrases) and other bits, and just do chords and melody.

That's the beauty of style mode and the arranger in general,...I can alter the song's feel and arrangement, in real time.

Arrangers are all about choices...they allow us the type of band we want to play in, the type of music they play, they also really sharpen up our timing, especially from coming from a solo piano (or guitar) background.

Ian

I agree with Ian about how the arranger gives us choices.
In fact, imo the difference between a cheesy arranger performance and a pro sounding one has a lot to do with how we utilize the auto-accomp parts and integrate them with our live playing.

In general, for live arranger kb performance, I too prefer the scaled down approach so initially strip down the style to bass & drums only, and then selectively & sparingly add additional auto accomp parts as desired. I also make certain to MUTE all the auto accomp instrument voices that I play entirely live, typically the keyboard and/or guitar parts. Another important element to deliver a truly pro arranger performance is to 'never' allow the auto accompaniment to supply the lead melody by itself, especially in the intros and endings. After figuring what to play or improvise live during the intro & endings, I then delete or mute any lead lines included in the auto accomp. Another option is to retain the auto accomp's intro/ending lead melody line and simply play something live, like perhaps harmonizing over it.