Yesterday, July 14, My wife and I drove over to Shreevesport, LA to hear the one and only DonM! It was abssolutely FANTASTIC.

He has a wide ranging repertoire, eveerything from Eric Clapton to Eernest Tubb! Probably even some Beethoven, or maybe that was "roll over Beethoven."

My primary interest was to see the Roland BK-7m put through its paces in a real gig setting; I wasn't disappointed! DonM goets more out of that little blak box than you would imagine. I was really impressed with the Styles, and his style selection. They had a very full sound. Also the lead voices, piano, guitars, sax, and harmonica, sounded great. Of course, the two Bose Compacts didn't hurt. The over-all performance was teriffic. At one time I thought abt selling my BK-7, now, I'm not sure!

It was great meeting Susan, Don's wife for the first time and and Grandson JJ. We had a good visit and some great Mexican food.

Good Pickin DonM, we really enjoyed it. And if I didn't wish you happy birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

If you live with in driving distance, go hear "DA MAN" play!
Don P

Hi Don P,
I was in touch with Don M the other day about his thoughts on the BK-7m. With what you've described, I can see why he's currently quite happy to be using it.
Goes to show, someone with true talent doesn't really need the latest, greatest bit of gear around, they can sound brilliant with a " tiny little black box."
Alas, I live too far away to ever have the pleasure of going to one of his gigs. oh well. haahaa
Thanks for the review DonP.

Last year my wife and I made the trip from Dallas to Shreveport also to watch Don. What a great guy and player. He even invited us to play some songs. I left lusting for an Audya and two Boses. I have since gotten the Bose and I'm still waiting for permission to get an Audya:)

Having visited Don on a few occasions I can honestly say he could make a Jews Harp sound great, especially through the pair of Bose L1 Compacts. On top of it all, he's a true, southern gentleman.

Cheers,

Gary

Hi Group,

Yes, I've heard DonM play before, but not on a gig! Actually he came here to my home to check out the T4. I think someone on this forum says "it's not the keyboard, but the player." Or something to that effect. In this particular instance, the BK-7m rose to the occasion and the player did as well! I can't stress how impressed I was.

Yes Rikki, that would be quite a drive,! although we would all be glad to meet you! However, I'm certain I'll be heading back, or DonM and Co. will come here and I'll try some video. (with permission of course).

Gotta tell you, it was great fun.
Don P

Hi DonP,
well, maybe one day I'll get back over there.
I did the Disneyland trip with the kids back in the 80's.
( left hubby back home working , haahaa) Took mum instead, had a ball.

If DonM, gives you perssion to video one of his gigs, I'm sure we'd all love to see it.

DonP
Hang onto that little black box, doesn't take up much space, not dreadfully expensive, you may regret selling it. Roland styles to me, or the ones I remember, are different to the yammies.

Thanks folks. Don and his wife were obviously pretty drunk on Tequila Margaritas. Seriously though, they are great people and even put up with my wife and wild grandson.
Rikki, I'm not so sure the BK isn't the latest and greatest for my purposes right now.
I may play it forever, or may get something else next week. I love many of the Roland sounds and styles. The controller lets me do things that you can't do at all normally.
All the newer arrangers, and many of the older ones, sound great. It's all about being comfortable. What I have now is very light weight, inexpensive and sounds good.
Down side is that there are a number of peripheral pieces of gear that I need, that are usually all built into a TOTL arranger. I have managed to get them all into a case of which the lid comes off, and almost everything is plugged in and ready to go.
Everything is a compromise. I will eventually audition a Korg PA3X, but don't expect to like it enough to buy it. If Yamaha brings out a neat little PSR, I will try it, but don't expect to like the drums. If Roland gets back into the arranger market, I'll be interested. I still LOVE the Ketron sound and the amazing capabilities of the Audya. The Audya 4module interests me a lot.
It's great to have so many wonderful choices, but I'm happy right now with what I have. I have spent probably hundreds of hours setting up the BK. I need to spend that many and more to fully explore all its capabilities. It is truly an amazing piece of gear.
Thanks for all the kind words. It must be "be nice to old people" week.
DonM

I'm new to the forum, but have been performing one-man band shows for over twenty years now. I need to chime in about the man ya'll are talking about Don Mason. I just got home from hearing him entertain tonight and he is a sight for everyone to see and hear. Fortunately I only live one mile from him in Bossier City/Benton, La. and I have been picking his brain for twenty years now. I can hold my own to him on the golf course, but not at performing live music. I started out with a Yamaha 6300, Yamaha 740, Technics 1000 and until July 5, 2011, had been using a Yamaha 2000 I took delivery on a brand new Tyros 4 and am loving it. Thanks to Gary Diamond and Don Mason, they have been tremendous help to me. I also have been reading this forum for awhile now and I feel like if I need to ask a question some of you T4 owners wouldn't mine helping me out setting up my new keyboard. Thanks and looking forward to chating with you. Thanks Dickie Turner

Dickie,


Nice to see new people coming into SZ, hope we will see you more often with talk on your T4, good luck, nice words about a nice man DonM he will allways help with advice, thats what SZ is all about.

For better times ahead good luck

Tony

Dickie,
You better get me for a partner right now. My putter is HOT!
Shot 70 with an eagle and 3 birdies today.
I appreciate the nice comments.
Some of you met Dickie at the Shreveport Arranger Jams. He has been at all three of them. He's a great entertainer and can hold a crowd with the best of them.
. . . one of my best pupils.

DonM