Kenny G is releasing a new album. Guess that's why he appears more frequently on the radio and TV recently. Just now I listened one song (name "Only you" in tenor) from his new album on the Radio and it is actually not bad.

 

Very rarely do I listen to his music (unfortunately, I am sometimes forced to around christmas time). From what I've heard, my impression is that he's a pretty good player, I just really don't like his style or typical genre.

 

Sonic wallpaper.

 

Dunno how this turned into another thread about how everyone feels about Kenny G within 60 seconds

I'll probably watch the documentary. Seems like it could be interesting, and I'm intrigued to see if they have some opinion from other professional saxophonists.

Or maybe it's just a collage video of @Dave Pollack raving about the chosen one

 

Dunno how this turned into another thread about how everyone feels about Kenny G within 60 seconds

Push-button, click-bait world. Some folks just read titles these days.

But this documentary is bound to bring about a ruckus. I mean... Kenny's gonna splice himself into a duet with Stan Getz. You know... like he did with Armstrong. But as for Armstrong, I have no doubt that if he were alive today, he'd be doing Christmas specials with Kenny G. Jazz police be damned...

 

Long ago, in the late 80s I think when he was Kenny Gorelick, I heard him with Jeff Lorber and he tore the place up. He really can play. I often wondered why he didn't put at least one or two hot tunes on his albums once he became more established, or find some other outlet for that side of his playing. Maybe this show will give some explanation.

 

Jeff Lorber Fusion - yes!

 

It would be interesting to hear about how he built his brand and why he chose to go the route he did musically. Financially he made a lot of good moves.

 

If you can access Dec 2/21 CBC radio program "Tom Powers" you can listen to an interview with him about his career. Elevator music .. saccharine never like that tone !

 

What time is it on? I'm sure I'll be busy by design.

 

Not sure when or if it's airing on the channel, I've only seen it set as Available to stream as of today on HBO Max.

 

I'll watch it. Looks interesting; more than just Kenny G: "Lane also delves into deeper themes. The film, with a light touch and a keen eye, investigates the sociology of artistic taste, the relationship between musicians and genres, the appropriation of Black styles in commercial music and other knotty ideas."

 

I saw Kenny G in 1986 while living in Seattle. His band was the opener for George Benson. He put on a great show then and still does. While we can safely say he isn‘t known as player‘s player, KG is a pop icon.

 

I have heard him play tenor, he is pretty good.
He plays that little horn way tool much. It reminds me of when we used to go visit the in-laws at the assisted living center.

 

KG is a fine player but I have never bought his music. However, I have perform a few of his tunes upon request.

 

Regardless of what you think of his music, one interesting aspect of the sociology of this is the extent to which jazz and jazz-adjacent horn players get judged much more harshly on this score than do "rhythm section" players.

For example, it seems to me that jazz cats like George Benson, Earl Klugh, Larry Carlton, Bob James, Stanley Clarke, etc. who have sometimes ventured in a similar direction get a lot more leeway in terms of critical reputation and the ability to weave back and forth between the "serious jazz" world and the more pop-inflected stuff. It seems to be the horn players like Kenny (see also Chuck Mangione, Chris Botti, etc.) that become punchlines and get most of the critical flack.

 

Regardless of what you think of his music, one interesting aspect of the sociology of this is the extent to which jazz and jazz-adjacent horn players get judged much more harshly on this score than do "rhythm section" players.

I imagine it's because guitar/ bass players tend more towards the "instrument owner" end of the spectrum, and horn players are more in the "industrious academic" category, and see the G Man as a traitor to their ascetic monasticism.

Although there are some jazz guitar players that bag on the popsters now and then.

 

Great picture with Miles. Glad he sticks up for it. I’d be proud too.

 

I listen to Kenny once in a while. Once I got over myself, and started laughing to the elitist ways of some of my music buddies, I could actually stop and listen without bias.

However, it seems that his most famous tunes are the ones I really dislike. I can't stand songbird and that nasal soprano sound.

I will look forward to the documentary. Seeing the jazz community get their knickers in a twist over Kenny G's success is always hilarious.

 

I missed it, don't have HBO to begin with but I think I know somebody who does.

 

1st thing I thought when seeing this thread is "better get some popcorn".
Cause I'm damn sure watchin' that shXX

 

I might watch it with subtitles, but definitely no audio.

 

I'd kill or die to have his hair.....seriously, the guy has found a niche, and he's WAY more known to the general (non muso) public than a LOT of more accomplished players. Ask any random soccer mom about who her favorite jazz sax guy is and you're way more likely to hear "Kenny G" than any other name.....

 

Lots of power in hair.

 

he is a sellout-pure and simple

 

Do you feel the same way about anyone else that makes their living playing smooth jazz? What’s the rub?

Is there an approved list of legitimate music to play? (Asking for a friend)

 

For my two cents I think the use of the word jazz in the term "Smooth Jazz" is erroneous and simply used by marketing people in an attempt to give the genre some credibility. A more correct title would be Smooth Pop because that is what it is.

 

I feel like we are actually getting somewhere.

 

Fair ‘nough. Now that we have defined the genre, can we please know the arbiter who decides whether an artist is legitimate and authentic?

 

its up for debate

 

anyone who makes an xmas album is a sellout! if i made the big time ( and i am just as good if not better than kenny g ) i would NEVER stoop so low as to make a sicky sweet xmas album- dr g this is where i draw the line

 

IF you made it to the 'big time' you would know that those sicky sweet Christmas albums are HUGE money makers.
Sellout or not the fans love them and the bills have to be paid.

 

I don't care much about "authenticity" in this context. I'm not sure what being "inauthentic" would look like - maybe if Kenny G pretended he was Coltrane. I haven't seen that, he seems to have an ego to some extent but not a misplaced idea of his own artistic work.

As far as I'm concerned he's as authentic, if not more so, than many players who just play the bebop style correctly. I would say he has his own style and sound.

I would watch this but I'm really not willing to deal with the whole HBO thing. Maybe when I see my brother who has an HBO subscription.