Same answer, then, Russ.

From symphony orchestras, pit orchestras (on t'bone) to cabaret backing, rock bands, jazz bigbands to small outfits, reggae bands, Top 40 bands, original music bands, country bands (old school and new), from session work to orchestration, from playing to mixing, mastering and arranging....

You name it, I've tried it..!

Polka bands, brass bands, conducting, competing - been there, done that. Played bass for over a year full time as a kid to save for my first organ and Leslie.

Being a musician is different from being an arranger player, or a pianist, or a guitarist. If its got anything to do with music, I'll take a crack at it! Guess that keeps me in the 'generalist' category.

Generalist...I play arranger, but also play(ed) B-3, Piano, Rhodes, and Synthesizer, in either band, recording studio or jamming situations. I used to play a fair amount of guitar, bass, some sax, but have not done so in quite some time.

I play pretty much all styles, but have more strengths in Country and R&B (including Rock&Roll), probably because those were the genres that had most of the playing jobs. In the past, I've done several musicals, including three Rock Operas (Tommy, Hair, and Jesus Christ Superstar), where I was the musical director, which included performing on Acoustic Piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B-3, and various synthesizers.

Recently I've started doing soundtracks for private videos, and last year I did demos for a few upcoming songwriters and singers (mostly Pop and Country)...some work is done in the studio, some with the Tyros4 (or S910), some using both methods.

The past year has brought many changes, including moving to new digs, which has taken some adjustment, but has proved to be the right course taken.

So yeah, Russ, "generalist" would fit me best.

Ian

I first played trumpet, through college. Picked up drums and bass while there. Bought an organ upon graduation. Learned guitar somewhere along the way.
I no longer play anything much besides keyboard and a little guitar, but the experience of knowing how to play these other instruments has been invaluable in knowing how arranger voices should sound.
DonM

How true that is, Don. Knowing what is possible and not possible on other instruments is invaluable.

Way back in the 80's when I was teaching Electone, we had a guy named Claude Dupras, who was a world champion organist (from Montreal) and he did seminars on how to imitate instruments on the organ, as well as orchestration style classes, so we would know the correct ranges of orchestral instruments (the string section, brass ensembles, woodwinds etc.), and that knowledge has managed to stick in my old brain all these years, and has proved very handy.

I must say you have a wicked guitar emulation on the arranger, in fact, you seem to make any arranger do that job for you. No doubt your guitar playin' days paid off handsomely.

Ian

Don is the BEST keyboard guitarist I've ever heard.

Yup...I watched him do his guitar thing at one of the jams and still couldn't understand how he made it so authentic. It probably doesn't hurt that he has Octave and Half hands.

Eddie

Absolutely !!!

Wow, thanks guys. Your checks are in the mail!
DonM

I play keyboard and lead/rhythm guitar in a classic rock band. But for a number of years I also played bass guitar as well.

When I was young I tried violin for a while ... but my tone was so painful I ended up abandoning it lol. Such a pity though because at the time I was addicted to Django Reindhart and Stephane Grapelli. I ended up deciding to stick to guitar.

I am definately a generalist. I will play any style of music that the audience want to hear.