2TIM316
" I think we can do without the name dropping...
"Sometimes, with guys like John Legend, he'll want different sounds ready in case John (or Kanye whom Eugene also plays with)"
I still side with the fact that he could do this with two Fantoms - a G8 and a G6. I tend toward the simple setup. Simple equals elegant.
I won't drop names, but I play a high profile Broadway show with tons of intricate orchestral parts, often two and even three parts at once, all played from one Roland RD-700SX keyboard used as a master keyboard playing a Kurzweil module.
I will say it again, the guy has two hands. Thus he only needs two of the same keyboard - a G8 and a G6. Then add all the other "boutique" 'boards as desired.
BTW, I'm so not impressed with the "MD for whoever" thing. Been there, done that. Can the guy read a Bach Prelude and Fugue from WTC? Read down the Piano/Vocal book to Mary Poppins (the Broadway play - a reputation as one of the hardest books out there)? Yeah, I'm really into pop, funk, and all the rest. It's my first love. But let's face it, the tunes these guys do are about as basic and simplistic as it gets. Could this guy get the gig with George Duke?
Of course this all makes sense now. This is part of a marketing strategy to create a magazine article designed to sell Roland Keyboards. They've been doing this since there was a Roland. I still have some of the vintage RUGs from the early and mid 1980s. The only question is whether Roland has changed their policy about endorsements and free or discounted gear. They used to have a strict policy - no endorsees or free or discounted gear. I always thought that was kind of cool. I have a feeling this guy was given at least a couple of these keyboards. I have no problem with this. But it would be nice to know. "
Hey Tim
Its not so much a thing about name dropping when you consider the amount of emails and personal PM's we get from the average hobbyist keyboard player asking " which artists or players are currently using the Fantom G on the road ". Although you may find it tacky personally , someone else may find it insightful or informative. No biggi but just thought i would comment on that.
Eugene is a very talented player with a very extensive musical backround and just because he plays for certain R&B or Hip Hop artists does not make him any less of a player that CAN read Bach , Mary Poppins or Ancient Alien Musical scores from outter space.
True alot of the mainstream music is simple and basic BUT it sells and it employs alot of talented musicians that im sure would love to play more complex stuff but prefer to have a gig that pays the bills and is not your ordinary boring 9-5 office job.
As far as the pictures and adds and it being an overkill , who cares ? Everything we see everyday on TV is an add , to a BIG majority of people posting on forums like this , trying to sell themselves as musicians or their band or their music or advertising they know how to read Bach and do major Broadway shows.
The stage presence is ALWAYS a priority , musicians and directors want it to look cool , so is it overkill maybe to some but there are alot of reasons behind it and if the musician has the means to have extra back up keyboards and added arsenal to be able to improvise new sounds for on-the-fly changes , to ME thats NOT overkill , its called BEING PREPARED which is a very good thing in my book.
I play alot of clubs here in Hollywood and for the most part alot of the spots have the dj boths dialed in , yet i still carry an extra laptop , extra back-up firewire drive of my music , and an extra cdj and extra needles , slipmats , EVERYTHING , is it overkill yes at times and its a hassle bringing that stuff sometimes BUT the few times where i showed up to a club and the CDJ was busted or the Serato box was missing or the needles were busted and the 1 time my firewire drive just took a dirt nap , having the extras SAVED my set and allowed me to still get PAID $$$
This is not a personal attack at all just my thoughts , i love big rig set-ups , they look great and its fun to play when you have all that extra stuff at your hands to improvise with.
Manish.