any truly good musician can recognize a song/ballad that is often done unaccompanied, and shouldn't have to be told not to play. Since I am not often in club sessions, I have not seen the situation of 'house accompianists', but I SURE have been in song circles where banjo or guitar players considered a challenge to find the key and noodle along within 2 measures, often usurping the pace, tune and rhythm from the singer/player. In some cases it actually helps weaker players 'get it right', but is often only a nuisance.

I suppose that once a guy is good enough, he finds it painful to hear someone doing a song/tune to less than HIS set of criteria. But there are those of us who just wanta play the song the way we want with no help...thankyewveddymuch.