By Walter Price

Around about 1986 or 1987 a skinny big haired contemporary jazz saxophone player became a pop phenomenon. His name was Kenny Gorelick or better known as Kenny G. What he has become to many non jazz fans is the most known name to call out when someone brings up jazz music. What he has become to jazz fans and so called connoisseurs of any music is the Anti-Christ, the "smooth" poster child for everything wrong about contemporary jazz, the antithesis of a Coltrane, Bird, Hawkins, the favorite joke or target at all jazz sites on the net, the jazz player most "real" jazz fans want to burn in effigy!

Well despite my own sarcastic remarks about the G man, I want to say some good things about Kenny G. I thought about this as a public service to my fellow jazz fans who are right at this moment mocking his twisted mouth technique on the soprano and who are hiding their copy of Duotones way baaaaaaaack in their closets in their dwellings. For many jazz fans to be caught masturbating is much better to be caught with a Kenny G. CD in the prized master collection. The only thing worse than being caught with a Kenny G. CD is actually being caught playing or listening to a Kenny G. CD!

Well you know what, I will be stupid, idiotic, and deranged and say I LIKE KENNY G. Before you track me down and burn me to ashes or send binary bit bombs at my e-mail address, let me reiterate the word like. To me you can't even hold Kenny G. to the ankles of a Gordon or Mobley or even a Sanborn. Nevertheless I have still enjoyed some of his music. Yes, I as a jazz fan have made the ultimate blasphemous statement. I have sinned in the eyes of the jazz Gods like Ellington, Armstrong, or Holiday by playing some of his tunes now and then. Now put down your torches, back away from the monitor, take your fingers off the keyaboard, and give me some space to explain myself.

First, I listened to Kenny G. when he was Gorelick with the Jeff Lorber Fusion. I still like hearing his work on Wizard Island. I also like Kenny before he became a jazz pop "crossover success" on albums like G Force. See, I grew up on soul radio and they used to play cuts like "Love on the Rise" and "Help Yourself To My Love" that featured Kenny and an artist known as Kashif. Then while at Syracuse University I decided to put down some change for Duotones when it first came out in 1986. I was at a jazz crossroads-for better or for worse contemporary jazz was my "gateway" music into all forms of jazz including so called "classical" acoustic jazz. I picked up Duotones like I picked up Double Vision, Offramp, A Nice Place To Be, and The Other Side of Round Midnight. Besides my tracks being mixed up, I really enjoyed the instrumental cuts particularly his interpretation of "What Does It Take" and "Midnight Motion." I always thought Songbird was the weakest cut from that particular album.

Did anybody predict that Duotones and "Songbird" would become such huge hits. I know I didn't, but like most every pop tune it was worn out and Kenny and Duotones was overplayed and overexposed. This is where I blame Kenny and I started to depart from his music. Instead of keeping a little edge with some soulful grooves and some jazz originality I think he took the pop "bait" and ran with the hook in his mouth reinforcing the already many criticisms about his music. I still think I can appreciate some of his music and he may in the future turn my ear back on to him. I'm not going to pile on you Kenny-just don't try to come back in an acoustic setting-jazz fans will show you no mercy! Just come back as Kenny trying to find a place in contemporary jazz along the likes Grover or Joe Sample.

I will say Kenny you deserve more credit than the constant lambasting you receive every millisecond. I know you must have made some rats rich, exposed more people to other jazz artists-even the jazz masters, sold some more jazz mags , gave some hacks writing material they desperately look for, and took the brunt of all the criticism of contemporary or "pop" jazz. Well I salute you Kenny because you are definitely not the only one putting out terrible music-smooth or acoustic, it just seems for hacks and fans you're an easy target. Now, you may strike the match jazz fans!

Date:	05-Oct-1998 13:24:23
From:	ChriS (cslawec9@idt.net)
	I'm not so sure how we can hold Kenny G. responsible for the fact that his music is so overplayed. First, he's not playing it on these radio stations, that's the Program Directors' call. Second, isn't he in the business of having his music heard? I can't stand his music, but he's not the one coming up with these formats and playlists. He's "merely" prostituting himself to take advantage of them.

 

Date:	16-Oct-1998 10:38:21
From:	Paul Coats
	Got my first soprano sax while still a music major in college, 1973. People (even other musicians) would ask where I got the "gold clarinet". Now, even non musicians know what a soprano sax is. There is now a tremendous selection of sopranos. Many kids are playing sop sax in high school. Thanks you, Kenny G!!!

 

Date:	16-Oct-1998 19:39:37
From:	Ken Dryden (kenjazz@vei.net)
	The reason most of us serious jazz fans condemn Kenny G's recordings are numerous. Great music can stand up to repeated hearings or we would have discarded our prized recordings by the truly great saxophonists. My distate for the G man's recordings came on first hearing; his empty tone and monotonous repetitious themes simply didn't merit a second listen, though I was stuck hearing it when I didn't have control of the sound system in stores, restaurants, etc. I've only reviewed one of his releases, the very shallow Silhouette. My closing comment was "Calling this a jazz record is like hanging a silhouette next to a Da Vinci painting and calling them both masterpieces." Call it instrumental pop and serious jazz fans will likely just ignore him. Frankly, there have been few smooth jazz or NAC (not actually chazz) saxophonists, other than Grover Washington, Jr. (oaccasionally) who merit any attention. As for owning any Kenny G, his only appearance among collection of 5000+ Jazz CDs and 2000 Jazz LPs is on the very uneven "Happy Annivaersary Charlie Brown" compilation, which I keep because of the presence of the likes of Dave Brubeck and Gerry Mulligan, not because of the contribution of the clown prince of soprano sax. My wife joined me for a Courtney Pine concert a few years back; during "Giant Steps" he launched into a 10 minute soprano solo utilizing circular breathing throughout. In the middle of this solo, she whispered to me, "Now I see why you don't like Kenny G." This was a rather astute comment from someone who isn't a huge jazz fan. Kenny G isn't the only musician who uses a tiresome gimmick. the late Earl Hines would keep up a 3-4 minute trremolo in his right hand during "Boogie Woogie On the St. Louis Blues," which can drive listeners crazy. But holding a note 5 minutes or more is not something any real jazz musician would be interested in doing. If you want to check out a master of tricks, check out trumpeter/flugelhorninst Clark Terry, not only known for using circular breathing during a meaningful solo, but also able to finger either instrument while held upside down or alternate between the two holding one in each hand. Now that' showmanship combined with great jazz! Ken Dryden

 

Date:	29-Oct-1998 16:30:13
From:	Manique Mahawatte (manx@willowhouse.demon.co.uk)
	Kenny G and Najee have made some great jazz sounds. Could anyone let me know a listing for Najee's albums. I have the first from the mid 1980's and Im looking to get more. In fact I bought it from the States as I could not find it in the UK. Thanks Manique

 

Date:	21-Jan-1999 03:01:54
From:	Ben Krown
	This review is getting around the continent pretty fast; if you haven't already seen it, enjoy the poetry... Review of a Kenny G concert from "The Other Paper", Columbus, Ohio, by John Petric. "Getting Down With The Milquetoast Maestro" by John Petric A whole lotta people paid a whole lotta money to witness a whole lotta meaningless breathing exercises done through a musical snorkel. Saturday night at the Columbus Convention Center. Kenny G - the mayor of mayonnaise music, the milquetoast maestro, the woodwind weasel - played his saxophone to roughly 5000 people at $25 per head. That adds up to a $150,000 gross and boy, gross it was. G is the latest and most successful instrumentalist with a slight jazz pedigree to hit the big time. However, in G's case, it's with an authenticity so questionable he may as well document it with a fancy diploma from some phony offshore jazz school in the middle of the Caribbean. Even Zamfir comes with better jazz credentials. Ornamental romantic themes ruled the night's jazz lite hell. Goopy, chimey electric piano usually introduced his poodle on Prozac. If Holiday Inn motel art could come to musical life, it would sound like G's "Forever in Love" or "Sister Rose" or "Sentimental," all horrible crap from "Breathless," his bezillion-selling album on Arista. The Thin White Duke of Puke's solos were the color of air. His improvisations improved none at all as the long night dragged on. His chops consisted almost entirely of pyrotechnic finger exercises and obnoxious minutes-long sustains that had the crowd whooping and hollering. Sadly though, the long-winded G has all the fiery jazz imagination of, say, Richard Clayderman, the French dude. (He's French, for crissakes, need I say more?) After the G-weasel committed atrocity after atrocity in the name of jazz, pulling tunes off his seven-album catalog, the question remained: Why is this weenie doing so well? Opener Peabo Bryson joined G for a song in the middle of the headliner's set. It was the best part of the show. Roger Lewis 333 N. Brookside Wichita, KS 67208-4312 H: (316)682-9090 W: (316)733-3117

 

Date:	26-Jan-1999 17:59:45
From:	Mike C. (funkifized@aol.com)
	Walter Price, your post comes none too soon. I also enjoyed "Duo Tones" for the same R&B you did, and never considered Gorelick anything other than an R&B saxophonist. He has managed to get a great groove with his band on the funk stuff, but he has fallen into the "smooth" pit since then. Hopefully, he will go more in the direction that he had started, and become more of a "groove" player, doing more of the funk thing, but unfortunately, I believe he has forever pigeon-holed himself in the eyes of jazz fans everywhere.

 

Date:	03-Feb-1999 17:09:09
From:	Darryl Gay (dbass@home.com)
	In partial defense of the G-man, I find it kind of funny/sad that no-one has mentioned the work he did with keyboardist Jeff Lorber. I got my first taste of high energy live jazz(?) watching with amazement this little guy blow the hell out of this horn, only later to realize where those influences came from (Jeff). At a later time heard a interview with the G-man and he stated that he has NO knowledge of what the REAL cats (Coltrane Parker) contributions mean. Which in-turn means he has no STRONG jazz foundation to build upon. So how can we expect him to play jazz. He is simply sharing HIS version of music, and that's cool. If you don't dig it don't buy it.

 

Date:	03-May-1999 12:55:30
From:	aio
	yeah, kenny's just doing his thang! Who said he was a jazz artist anyway? Just those fools in record companies who need to categorize every damn release!

 

Date:	08-May-1999 01:26:54
From:	Zimbo Bobrich
	In my book Kenny G. is the Bo Derek of jazz

 

Date:	08-May-1999 12:44:22
From:	Jackie R.
	That Kenny G. is even considered by some to be a jazz musician and worthy of attention is simply a testament to how lost and dull minded the american music public is. Elevator music isn't art - there's a difference between clear plastic and a diamond.

 

Date:	09-May-1999 23:58:19
From:	Ewig
	Kenny G is your Momma Kenny G is your Da Kenny G is vast and immortal Kenny G is Zeus Kenny is beyond Algebra . . . Beyond Calculus . . . Kenny G is the ocean of the all. Kenny G ought to record with Barry Manilow . . . Feelings??

 

Date:	10-May-1999 12:20:38
From:	Robin
	Kenny G. needs no defense. He is a force of nature like cotton candy or twinkies.

 

Date:	11-May-1999 16:55:13
From:	Cindy
	So, he isn't a great musician. So what if he's not so smart. I'm not either, but I like Kenny G. There's lots of people who don't understand jazz or Charlie Parker. There's lots of people who don't have a "strong" jazz background. I like Kenny G. . . he's cute, and his playing makes me feel good. Is that so bad? Does everybody have to understand Charlie Parker? Kenny is at least honest enough to admit that he doesn't. Is there anything wrong with cotton candy, with twinkies, with Bo Derek? Really?

 

Date:	13-May-1999 16:54:45
From:	Stan Wilson
	As anyone ever considered that Kenny may be playing beyond everybody's capability of understanding? Thelonious Monk said that he knew he was 20 years in front of everybody, but was willing to wait until they caught up, which eventually they did. Perhaps, we simply haven't "caught up" to Kenny, that his conceptual and harmonic language is way beyond our ability to even hear the real challenge. Perhaps he's playing in code? Perhaps he is the precursor to a musical invasion from outer space. Ok - where was he born? I don't know anyone who knows - perhaps I'm onto something? Space music? Music from another planet. I can only listen to a few minutes at a time - perhaps my resistence is significant?

 

Date:	15-May-1999 16:04:37
From:	Sharon
	Kenny is sweet and lovely.

 

Date:	17-May-1999 12:56:11
From:	Randall P. Oppenwhammer
	if jazz was a cantelope, Kenny would be the seed. If Kenny was a beagle he'd swing through the trees.

 

Date:	20-May-1999 16:52:19
From:	Robin Townsend
	Stan: So, you think your're so clever!! Kenny G is simply Kenny G and there's a lot of people out here who write you off because of your arrogance. You're probably alone and lonely - a bitter bachelor who has nothing better to do than criticize other people, especially talented people. I don't think Kenny G is alone and lonely. I think there's a message in his music that your arrogance prevents you from hearing. You're clever by half I'd say.

 

Date:	21-May-1999 17:31:52
From:	Max DeLucas
	Kenny can't scrub Barry Manillow's shoes. Barry can run the changes on the piano; late night Barry ain't Tatum (or even Nat King Cole), but he's still signficant.

 

Date:	21-May-1999 19:14:13
From:	Cecil Cecil
	The future of Western Music (and I don't just mean jazz) is aloft on the wings of Kenny's imagination. Amen.

 

Date:	21-May-1999 22:55:05
From:	Beatty
	I like Kenny G. I don't care if you don't. Sometimes, his music makes my ankles swell. Sometimes, it gives me an undefined pain in my abdominal region. The pain is not continuous and goes away when Kenny is finsished. Sometimes, Kenny inspires in me a voracious appetite. I can eat 3 dozen eggs in one sitting. The stuff is happening- otherwise this would not be possible, right?

 

Date:	22-May-1999 22:13:44
From:	Contooga
	There's nothing wrong with Kenny's music that a few reincarnations couldn't fix.

 

Date:	23-May-1999 13:29:32
From:	Bob O'Hara
	Hey Contooga- you should be on the Jazz and Spirituality thread!

 

Date:	23-May-1999 18:57:41
From:	Dave L.
	Does anyone know who Kenny's stylist is? His superb music is only outdone my his great hair.

 

Date:	23-May-1999 19:24:51
From:	Sophia
	He's a hunka, hunka man and you're all jealous. Male jealousy - the worst!!

 

Date:	23-May-1999 21:41:17
From:	Brad
	CECIL CECIL: You're aloft on the wings of your own dementia!!

 

Date:	26-May-1999 14:28:20
From:	Ralph Pensa
	Charlie Parker, and Thelonius Monk had to put up with the grief and abuse of an ignorant public!! It is the dues of being a GENIUS!! Kenny G also has to pay his dues. And his music isn't weird!

 

Date:	27-May-1999 14:05:34
From:	Igor Stravinsky
	Kenny G. is Ok in my book.

 

Date:	27-May-1999 14:06:30
From:	Arnold Schoenberg
	Igor and I don't often agree, but Kenny G's alright in my book too.

 

Date:	27-May-1999 14:07:37
From:	Anton Webern
	I think I'll write a concerto for Kenny.

 

Date:	27-May-1999 14:16:12
From:	D.E.
	ANTON: How about calling it "Concerto for Kenny."

 

Date:	27-May-1999 17:18:04
From:	Cindy
	You think you're witty. You think you're smart. Well, every concert of his will be packed, and maybe you're all missing it!! Maybe he's beyond you and all your scornful learning!! Perhaps, a little humility in the presence of greatness is required for understanding!

 

Date:	28-May-1999 14:30:23
From:	Lydia
	Kenny G is wonderful. Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of people think so. He must be doing something right!! Gratitude and appreciation - just a little?

 

Date:	28-May-1999 22:30:32
From:	Bobbie
	The great poet W.H. Auden once wrote: "You can't review a bad book (CD/musician?) without showing off."

 

Date:	30-May-1999 22:58:58
From:	Cindy
	Pardon me, but what the h___ did Auden know about jazz? Maybe he loves Kenny G. And if Auden is dead (I don't know) he probably would have liked Kenny G - Auden was a poet wasn't he? He should understand about these things - music is not computer programming!! Mean people with twisted technical mind - that's the problem with you smart asses!! Computer geeks with no girl friends are the plague of the present and the future!!

 

Date:	01-Jun-1999 14:35:33
From:	Wendy
	I agree with you about your plague commment. These poor deluded guys with their heads stuck in a computer screen - what a pathetic life.

 

Date:	03-Jun-1999 11:16:06
From:	Al Trombone
	Hey, what's the topic here. Maybe you two girls should get together for a personal gripe session - like use the telephone maybe?? Kenny G is does not deserve this nonsense!

 

Date:	06-Jun-1999 19:56:15
From:	robert tensa
	I don't know who's sponsering it (one of the record companies? a university? a combo?) but there's a major conference being planned for next winter that has a tentative title: Kenny G and Stravinsky - the Pillars of 20th Century Music. From what I've heard there will be a call for topic papers to be read and a major anthology of essays to be released out of the conference. Rumor has it that one of Stravinsky's orchestral pieces is currently being modified to allow for a sax solo to soar above the written score (like Getz's work with Sautier). I would guess that Kenny G will be the guest soloist if that can be arranged. Stay tuned. Anyone know about the details?

 

Date:	09-Jun-1999 19:48:31
From:	Bright Winter
	Your comments are filled with SCORN with FACILE CLEVERNESS with RIDICULE and BELITTLEMENT!!! Kenny G has heard this all before. Your games are fruitless!! Your lives are empty! Your appreciation NIL!! The Angels sob. The drops of their tears are the percussion of the heavens. I will pray for you all, especially the lost.

 

Date:	14-Jun-1999 00:47:16
From:	Hal
	You're a bunch of sick puppies.

 

Date:	24-Jun-1999 08:42:00
From:	Wendy
	Kenny G should be the next face on Mount Rushmore!! A bridge should be named after him! An interstate toll booth plaza should be named after him!! Maybe Arkansas should be renamed!!

 

Date:	28-Jun-1999 18:24:57
From:	George Yost
	Why the indefensible? Why that title for this thread? I think Kenny G is easily defended - it's the closed minded, ignorance of so many listeners that really needs the help. The sound of Kenny G's sax is the sound of pure soul inspiring hearts of millions. Indefensible?

 

Date:	29-Jun-1999 16:14:49
From:	Cindy
	George, you're a prince of a guy. And a guy with heart - what a rarity!!

 

Date:	06-Jul-1999 23:50:24
From:	Roldo R.
	Kenny G is greater than Ellington, he's greater than Miles Davis, he's greater than Micky Mantle, and Marilyn Monroe and Madonna, and all of these rolled into one. Kenny G is the Sun and the Moon. He's the sky and the ocean. He is the mystic one of the all. Seek no further.

 

Date:	12-Jul-1999 22:51:25
From:	Mary S.
	I cry for Kenny when I read this thread. Oh, lost is the world and sad are its people.

 

Date:	16-Jul-1999 10:13:29
From:	Sheila Loomis
	I r e a l l y like Kenny G. and he has nice hair. I think he might be getting together with another one of my favorites, Ricky Martin. I get some bad vibes from that Robert Tensa. This is about jazz. who is Stravinsky anyway?

 

Date:	17-Jul-1999 00:01:36
From:	Harold
	Stavinsky is the creator of Polyurethine the plasti-sheen coating that provides the shiney surface of better gym floors throughout the nation and the world. He is one of the unsung inventors of our century. Tensa doesn't know ___ from shinola, as they say.

 

Date:	17-Jul-1999 12:17:21
From:	John Sewell
	Say whatever you want but Kenny G is who the future will think about when our centuries' music is discussed. He probably has stacks of symphonies composed. He is our Mozart. He is our heaven on earth whenever he is playing: our Angel Gabriel of the saxophone.

 

Date:	18-Jul-1999 14:19:39
From:	Raymond DeGrazias
	Hey, what does the G stand for - like in Kenny G?????

 

Date:	18-Jul-1999 14:26:35
From:	Terri
	Indefensible? Kenny G is my everything!! Do I care what anyone else thinks? Would you?

 

Date:	19-Jul-1999 15:27:53
From:	Beatty
	Hey Raymond, the G. stands for "GRAVITAS" Trust me, I know firsthand.

 

Date:	19-Jul-1999 15:29:46
From:	Max DeLucas
	I don't mind Kenny's music much, but I never watch his videos. All that wavy hair makes me very seasick.

 

Date:	20-Jul-1999 19:53:32
From:	Tom
	Since the Berlin Wall fell I've been wondering where all the communists went - they didn't all just disappear - THEY'VE FOUND THEIR WAY TO THIS SICK WEBSITE!!!!!! What kind of family values does a guy have who doesn't even have a last name!! He won't even identify his family!!! And all you adoring little wimps and intellectual dabblers belong together ON THIS WEB!!! I have one piece of advice - STAY HERE ON THIS WEB AWAY FROM DECENT PEOPLE - DO US A FAVOR!!! Kenny G - don't make me laugh.

 

Date:	21-Jul-1999 23:56:21
From:	Maria Toro
	Whatever you think - all of you - KENNY IS NO COMMUNIST - NEVER WAS, NEVER WILL BE!!!! I feel that in my bones!! One of the tragedies of our time is that there was/has never been a Kenny G/Wayne Newton duet CD.

 

Date:	22-Jul-1999 19:34:38
From:	Earl Pradito-Soy
	Kenny is love. Kenny is light. Kenny is where the touches the heavens. Listen to Kenny G. Listen to the rhythms of our being, of earth, or the stars. Cynicism is the disease and Kenny G is the cure.

 

Date:	23-Jul-1999 23:46:13
From:	Alice
	Boola Boola

 

Date:	24-Jul-1999 08:49:47
From:	jide bello (thebellos@cyberspace.net.ng)
	My wife won't let me play my Kenny G stuff anymore. Now I have to spend the rest of my life listening to 'Trane,Bird,Miles,Dizzy and other weird bop stuff. what's the harmonic thing? what's a blue note? what the dickens is bebop? what's boring about a melody? why does it have to so difficult? help,HELP!

 

Date:	24-Jul-1999 11:25:57
From:	Alice
	Your wife is a very naughty girl. Obey her!

 

Date:	26-Jul-1999 20:16:35
From:	Sam S.
	Tom is exactly the type of person the Communists probably wanted to keep OUT when they put up that wall! Tom, have you ever made jello? Have you ever spent an afternoon with a plastic spoon, Ready Whip, and a bowl of cool jello? Hey, every once in awhile,you gotta stop and sniff the roses, buddy boy. Somebody out there probably would miss you, if you blew a gasket.

 

Date:	26-Jul-1999 20:19:34
From:	Matilda
	Earl, have you ever heard the saying: THERE'S NO CURE FOR DUMB? Or am I being too cynical?

 

Date:	28-Jul-1999 22:43:28
From:	Nelson W.
	The only thing that is indefensible concerning this thread is the low lifes who regularly crawl onto it (present writer excluded, of course). Kenny G is OK in my book.

 

Date:	31-Jul-1999 10:07:48
From:	Harold B.
	Why haven't Kenny G and Ornette Coleman recorded together. One big tragedy of jazz history is that Art Tatum and Kenny never recorded together.

 

Date:	31-Jul-1999 23:31:49
From:	Audrey A.
	Kenny isn't indefensible, he's cute!

 

Date:	02-Aug-1999 14:28:35
From:	Sammy
	The G stands for goodness, greatness, and guts.

 

Date:	04-Aug-1999 13:51:15
From:	Max DeLucas
	Kenny G's music reminds me of the advice of the sages (which I live by): "If it smells like cologne, leave it alone!"

 

Date:	08-Aug-1999 14:34:49
From:	Roy
	Worthless communists - the lot of you.

 

Date:	10-Aug-1999 18:09:29
From:	Tina
	First there were beatniks, then hippies, then punks, then cyberpunks, and now Kenny G fans. Save us all from our own children - the barbarians at the gate. We did what we could but the devil has his ways. If only we could all have had bowling balls instead of children.

 

Date:	12-Aug-1999 17:46:45
From:	MaxDeLucas
	The bottom line on Kenny is he can't play the blues.

 

Date:	13-Aug-1999 23:38:04
From:	Sally
	You know maybe Kenny could change his name to "Kenny Blue" and start wearing shades and bad suits.

 

Date:	14-Aug-1999 14:40:01
From:	Simon L.
	I hope that the majority of the participants on this thread realize that this is a demented thread and by participating they may be endangering their mental and musical health. People should know what they are getting involved in - you have to be honest with yourself and aware of the consequences of your actions. Luckily I am not a nut case.

 

Date:	14-Aug-1999 19:51:05
From:	Gene
	Go ask your wife.

 

Date:	15-Aug-1999 11:31:55
From:	Wilson
	I agree with Sally if Kenny can call himself a jazz musician why not "Kenny Blue." Heck, why not "Country Kenny" or "The Disco King" ??? Since when has he been tethered to reality?

 

Date:	15-Aug-1999 18:33:05
From:	Walter W.
	A non-technical, primitive noodler.

 

Date:	16-Aug-1999 14:02:33
From:	Sal
	Bowling balls? I will pray for your sick soul.

 

Date:	16-Aug-1999 18:04:41
From:	Cal Thompson
	When I think of this thread I think of dancing jelly donuts with little dutch shoes.

 

Date:	17-Aug-1999 11:33:05
From:	Max DeLucas
	The G stands for "Gravity." Kenny does not swing and he does not soar.

 

Date:	17-Aug-1999 11:34:39
From:	Beatty
	I'm having an argument with some of my friends at work. Does anybody know whether Kenny prefers boxers or briefs?

 

Date:	17-Aug-1999 21:27:49
From:	Brent W.
	...the "G Man" is OK!! I get a kick out of reading the various critiques from the so-called "purists" who think that he is without a jazz base of any kind. Most of these same people probably have the same feeling about contemporary jazz in general. Fine...thats what makes the world go around....LOL!! "G" may not be a "purist" but he's probably done more for jazz than any ten artists combined over the past 10 years.

 

Date:	18-Aug-1999 00:03:00
From:	scott alexander (scott@technoir.net)
	Nah, Kenny Gee sucks. Which reminds me of a joke... Kenny G gets into an elevator and says "Man this place really rocks!" Here's another joke. I was flipping the radio dial the other day and I hear Louis Armstrong singing "It's A Wonderful World" all of a sudden Kenny G is playing along. The song ends and the DJ announces "That was Kenny Gee, accompanied by Louie Armstrong!"

 

Date:	18-Aug-1999 04:37:25
From:	Marc
	I like Kenny G I also like Kenny Garrett. I like Madonna. I also like Diana Krall. So why should you care? I don't particularly care why anybody does or doesn't like someone. I don't particularly care about categories of music either. What I DO care about is anti comments about any particular musician just because they may not like his music or would prefer to re-categorise them. Musical Communists perhaps? Each to their own. If you don't like it, don't buy it, or don't listen to it. If you do listen, then put up and shut up. I'm off to listen to some Charlie P!

 

Date:	18-Aug-1999 10:28:37
From:	Steve
	No one can fault anyone who likes Kenny G; they must be getting something gratifying out of his music. R&B saxophonist? Smooth Jazz? Pop instrumentals? In these realms his appeal is proved, certain. But, if you happen to know what makes for artistry beyond competence or merely the dimmest of imaginations, why would you spend even a moment listening to Kenny G? Or, defending his artistry as worthy of inclusion in the field for which mastery and creativity count for something. (btw, If I wish to start a family, I'd plop on one of those Ben Webster Verve quartet dates.)

 

Date:	21-Aug-1999 13:37:23
From:	Helen
	Let's face it Kenny G is a god and the world is full of atheists. A minor diety, though.

 

Date:	23-Aug-1999 19:10:28
From:	Ralph
	And the Queen has fleas.

 

Date:	25-Aug-1999 14:09:40
From:	Wanda W.
	Anyone who has contributed to this web needs his/her head examined. I am writing from an asylum - I know.

 

Date:	26-Aug-1999 15:12:06
From:	Mario
	I'm personally no big fan of the G man. But the Muzak supplier in our bushings plant started piping in some of his music. Get this: 30% of the evening shift called in sick last Tuesday in protest. They said things like give us Mantovanni, Henry Mancini, anything but this whiny , fruity drone. OK, so I'm about to call the Muzak supplier and complain (OK it was getting to me too), but just as I picked up the phone, Gina, my lovely secretary,(She doesn't dig Kenny either, but you guys ought to see her. I'm a very lucky man) gave me last Tuesday evening's production figures. With 30% less staff our output increased by 227 percent! Needless to say, I decided to have the volume on the G man turned up. Anyone know what the heck is going on here?

 

Date:	26-Aug-1999 18:18:22
From:	Wanda W.
	What did I tell you?!

 

Date:	27-Aug-1999 19:04:59
From:	Rod Vamp
	Geez. Is this thread about Kenny G or what????? It says something about "to defend the indefensible." I don't see much defense of Kenny G here do you? So let's get back to scratch here, guys. This is just the way it goes these days, false advertising is all over the place. I feel like I just bit into a jelly donut and found it dry inside.

 

Date:	28-Aug-1999 22:21:05
From:	Willie
	there once was a cat named G he played music like he was out of his tree but the crowds loved it and

 

Date:	28-Aug-1999 22:26:05
From:	The Word
	Kenny G knows all, sees all. He is the pinnacle of the past and the foundation of the future. Kenny is jazz. The world must come to terms with that reality. That is our reality. To deny that is to deny gravity or the reality of the air that we breath. Truth is Kenny G. He is our Reality.

 

Date:	28-Aug-1999 22:28:46
From:	Karen Costello
	Do you think that Kenny G has no feelings. How do you think he would feel if he read this thread? Kenny is a great man with a big heart - shame on you - all of you who have spoken ill of his heart, of his soul, of his music!

 

Date:	30-Aug-1999 23:06:00
From:	Artie
	Wingnuts.

 

Date:	31-Aug-1999 18:51:17
From:	Helen W. R.
	Kenny is the Babe Ruth of jazz.

 

Date:	06-Sep-1999 21:27:45
From:	Ralph
	THE WORD: he may be YOUR reality...

 

Date:	10-Sep-1999 20:58:56
From:	Sy
	What does reality and Kenny G have to do with each other? If there were ever two mutually exclusive bits of information, I think Reality vs. Kenny G would be right up there.

 

Date:	11-Sep-1999 22:14:21
From:	David Telling
	This is the most wacked out thread I have ever read!!

 

Date:	12-Sep-1999 14:24:20
From:	Jim Overwell
	I'm going to write to NASA and asked them to name a space shuttle after Kenny G - maybe shaped like an alto sax? It would be good PR for the stodgy techno-geek image of NASA. Maybe Kenny could be part of the crew? Live from space!!!

 

Date:	12-Sep-1999 22:41:12
From:	Sid
	It would be a soprano sax - the long straight one. All aboard!

 

Date:	15-Sep-1999 08:31:19
From:	Emily D. (House@amherst.com)
	Kenny G is music to me Those without ears cannot see That Kenny G is the earth and the sea Kenny I have the hots for ye.

 

Date:	29-Oct-1999 03:59:44
From:	Mukesh R Bhakta (mbhakta@odds.com.au)
	I have nothing against Kenny G. In fact I would rate him as a pretty good 'easy listening' kinda musician - like Richard Cladermann perhaps. To tell you the truth I started listening to jazz after I heard a piece by Kenny G only to realize he was only a stepping stone. I would say if you wanna convert someone to Jazz get them started with something *not* that deep like Coltrane or Miles but with a touch of rock or pop in it. Using this model I have succeeded in moving quite a few people to the 'right' kinda music - our music... JAZZ.

 

Date:	14-Nov-1999 06:32:42
From:	Concerned in Kansas City
	I bought 3 Kenny G CDs when I first started to get into JAZZ. But after I expanded my horizons, I realized G isn't JAZZ. I feel for all you losers who think he is JAZZ. The guy has 1 JAZZ song out, gettin' in step (or sumpton like that). What is funny, is if I asked most of you G listeners to name me 5 saxophonists, you couldn't do it. Cause all you listen to, is "G". And if that is the only "JAZZ" you listen too, how you know it is jazz? How can you say he plays JAZZ, when you have never listened to JAZZ? And that is why you think he is a masterpiece....Cause you never heard one, and you guys are too narrow minded to try too. I have listened to "g" unfortunately, and then various other artists. "G" can hold a note, but that is about it. His tone sucks, his hair sucks (makes him look queer), but he can circular breath. Ooo.....WOW...Get a life, and a hair-cut Kenny.

 

Date:	15-Nov-1999 22:17:05
From:	Lou
	Hey, CONCERNED IN KANSAS CITY - I am a big G Man fan, one of the biggest and I do listen to other sax players. I put on Kenny once and then Coleman Hawkins - no contest, Kenny hands down. Then I put on Charlie Parker - no contest, Kenny again. Then I put on Stan Getz - he can't hold a candle to Kenny. All of these sax players could combine to form a BACK UP horn section for Kenny. If there was ever a jam session Kenny would have blown them all off the stage. Bird would have been begging for mercy!!!

 

Date:	02-Dec-1999 12:48:49
From:	Jill (jwinnick@telcordia.com)
	I was just wondering if anyone happened to have the lyrics to Kenny G's "Auld Lang Syne - (The Millennium mix, radio edit)". I cant find them anywhere. THANKS !

 

Date:	06-Dec-1999 21:50:17
From:	Lu
	In the world of the Greek Gods Kenny would not be a Zeus or Hercules or an Apollo. He would be a minor diety, a local subgod - the Greek god of styrofoam or dixie cups . . . something like that.

 

Date:	31-Dec-1999 03:50:33
From:	Dustin Hill (TuPaCMnMDrE@aol.com)
	you people are way out of line. I am the third chair B flat tenor sax for the #1 band in California. That means Enterprise High school Band we are the best in the high school bands. This band has been through it all for eleise and betov's. fith and fantom of the opera and you know what kenny G is our role modle and he is one of the best i have ever heard in my life and i can name about twenty different artists that play all saxs like bill clinton. he plays the tenor and he is a great muscion and he was made fun of and that is what us "band Geeks" get for bringing you listening plesure. Thats right I am in jazz band and kenny G is a pioneer of Jazz soloist. I have played quite a few of his songs and i have never experienced such great pleasure than hitting a rip with the cd playing in the back ground. and to you people that think he bites you try to pick up that insrument and play any note its not that damn easey so shut up and listen to a man that is greater that most people will ever be. love, Dustin 3rd chair Tenor sax Enterpise High school band. #1 in state so i know a little about it.

 

Date:	26-Jan-2000 16:11:11
From:	Zeke
	Very little.

 

Date:	29-Jan-2000 00:28:36
From:	John Vendetti
	I would like to say that kenny has a cute ass. I would love to show him what i can do sometime!

 

Date:	31-Jan-2000 20:36:14
From:	Lisa (no way)
	Kenny's a hunka hunka burning love, believe me I know. John, eat your heart out.

 

Date:	12-Feb-2000 14:44:03
From:	Benjy (not on this thread)
	Kenny plays better music than you do. So until you improve greatly you should at least respect your superior. And I do mean Kenny G.

 

Date:	13-Feb-2000 15:23:07
From:	Warren
	Kenny G is no potato! He's no tomato! By golly by gosh!

 

Date:	13-Feb-2000 20:03:14
From:	Alice
	There's a lot of growing up needed among the participants of this thread, oh my. What defense does Kenny G need? Do we need to defend Ellington or Bach?

 

Date:	16-Feb-2000 18:42:46
From:	Arnie W.
	Did you all know that Kenny G was a champion rodeo rider in his teen years? He rode the circuit and had quite a career sstarted before he left it for his first love. I can remember hearing him play cowboy tunes on the sax up at the Calgary stampede years ago.

 

Date:	20-Feb-2000 14:59:07
From:	Sven
	I remember one summer when he worked as a lobsterman up in our town of Bath, Maine. You'd be puttering through the fog ans you'd hear this strange music . . .

 

Date:	20-Feb-2000 17:07:49
From:	Holly Sloan
	I live in Colorado and Kenny G was a locally famous cliff climber who used to situp at the top of the most difficult climbs cross-legged playing his sax.

 

Date:	22-Feb-2000 20:21:00
From:	robert c. cantano
	I used to work in the Empire State Building in NYC and one day I looked out my window and HOLY COW there was Kenny out on a scaffold playing his saxophone between washing windows. It was AWESOME!!!!

 

Date:	23-Feb-2000 18:34:03
From:	Whipple D. (whipd.hotmail.com)
	Hey, I saw the G-Man wrestle alligators in the everglades. He used to do this for a living - we're lucky he's alive!!! The G-Man is as good as he is because he's looked death in the eyes . . . AND SURVIVED!!! I saw him once swinging an alligator by the tail over his head like a lasso!! I kid you not!!

 

Date:	27-Feb-2000 21:24:57
From:	Sweeney (Sweeney@internetex.com)
	Now, if only he could really play saxophone!

 

Date:	07-Mar-2000 23:23:46
From:	Wilson
	It is lamentable that the White House doesn't have a house band. Perhaps Kenny G could be the director of George Bush's house band? If we're going to dumb down why not all the way?

 

Date:	13-Mar-2000 18:45:15
From:	Will T.
	George Jr. isn't dumb. He's hollow. Kenny G isn't dumb. He's insipid. Just to set the record straight.

 

Date:	16-Mar-2000 20:41:20
From:	BoBo
	By the way, WHERE have all the communists gone? Have you thought about that recently?

 

Date:	20-Mar-2000 07:28:08
From:	Hildy D.
	In my book anyone who doesn't like Kenny G is a communist at heart whether they know it or not. Did the Soviet Union ever issue a stamp of Kenny G? See.

 

Date:	26-Mar-2000 20:55:42
From:	Stan Mathews
	The topic is Kenny G's music. Can we get back to that? My favorite piece by him is his compressed Webern complete works into one extended CD length solo called "Night Dreams." All of your wise ass comments are made worthless by this one recording. The pianist is not named but rumor has it that it is none other than Pierre Boulez himself! Kenny has joined Stravinsky and Schoenberg with this recording to make up this century's pantheon of classical greatness.

 

Date:	25-May-2000 13:53:02
From:	Zach
	I play many different types of saxophones, and out of all of them, soprano sax is the hardest. I am able to listen to Kenny's music and appreciate not only the difficulty of his music, but the difficulty of the instrument as well. Anybody who can play 32nd notes like that on soprano deserves some recognition.

 

Date:	14-Jun-2000 15:52:25
From:	Darren L.
	Read Pat Metheny's comments on Kenny G's lame-ass, jive, pseudo bluesy, out-of-tune, noodling, wimped out, f***d up music.

 

Date:	15-Jun-2000 08:34:00
From:	Ken Watters
	Kenny G is just FINE for what he does. I think he truly is being honest in what he's trying to do. I just wish they'd STOP CALLING IT JAZZ!

 

Date:	15-Jun-2000 10:54:04
From:	Simon (rwebster@club-internet.fr)
	Kenny G represents all that popular US "jazz" is today: spewed out repetitious trash. Some advice to all inspired authentic American improvisors: come to Europe, we still appreciate quality...

 

Date:	16-Jun-2000 00:13:17
From:	kobe
	anyone who knows anything about creative improvised music (jazz) simply refers to Kenny G as a monkey spanker with a saxophone. there's nothing wrong with pop music, just don't call it jazz.

 

Date:	16-Jun-2000 15:22:14
From:	Crazy OCD
	I think Kenny better watch his back. He has a stalker and her name is Cindy.

 

Date:	16-Jun-2000 23:59:25
From:	Ken Watters (kenwatt@aol.com)
	Here we go! Y'all check this out: http://206.24.127.9/qManage/questionView.cfm?queID=2233 Pat Metheny is what ALL musicians want to be in a lot of ways. A WONDERFUL player, composer, and is CONSTANTLY growing. He NEVER plays "down" to the audience, either. He's a great example of someone who doesn't believe that a musician has to do that to achieve commercial success.

 

Date:	19-Jun-2000 11:24:38
From:	Simi Susani (simfumene@yahoo.com)
	Well I kind of think I will be off the mark, when I see the comments made about Kenny G. No matter how well we can mince our words, I personally disagree with Pat Metheny attacking Kenny G the way he did. It would have been far more respectable and honourable to disagree with Kenny's reworking of old Louis' classic. To brand Kenny a clueless person is totally out of tune. When Dizzy Gillepsie and Charlie Parker started bebop sound the world was incensed. When Kenny started his style of jazz the modern man is up on arms. But is it not music? Can we compare Pat Metheny to Wes Montgomerry ? Can we compare him to George Baker ? As music lovers around the world ( outside of US , it is an insult and a big disappointment to see people like Pat tarnishing their images in the name of Jazz. Music is music, and innovation must be appreciated. Kenny is great, and so is Pat. Personal differences must not cloud good work.

 

Date:	24-Jun-2000 17:31:54
From:	Bob Montgomery (Jazzbob@mac.com)
	Ken and Kobe are right on. Call it anything BUT jazz, please.

 

Date:	27-Jun-2000 23:49:31
From:	Bruce
	The question is not whether what Kenny G. Plays is JAZZ (it is not by any definition), but if it is music. I suppose it is, but to really like it you must be comatose or just lobotomized. It is saccharine, lacking in rhythm, lacking in harmony, repetitious, and lacking any kind of tension/release, the essence of all good music. To compare Kenny G. to Bird or Trane and to say his music is ahead of its time like their's is just so totally ludicrous that I cannot answer. Well, no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence (or musical taste) of the American people. The tragedy is that great musicians have to scrape by to make a living, while Kenny G. plays his drivel and laughs all the way to the bank.

 

Date:	28-Jun-2000 09:35:54
From:	Chris Burnett (chrisb@burnettmusic)
	I read the Pat Metheny article/commentary as well. I live near Kansas City and his brother Mike is a musician/journalist here (Jazz Ambassadors of Mid-Missouri). A couple of friends from the UMKC Conservatory sent me a copy of the entire article via email as well... It has nothing to do with liking Smooth Jazz or not when it comes to Kenny G, in my opinion. I totally agree with where Pat Metheny was coming from in context too! see url: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/threads/patmetheny.htm Kenny G misrepresents "jazz" and "jazz saxophone" on a scale unheard of before. The sound he now gets on his soprano saxophone is so processed and saturated with reverb that it does more harm than good when students or new people to "jazz" music hear him play. I only say this because I also have a few recordings from the late 70s when he did not sound that way. He was a good fusion player on both sax and flute then (his sax playing was modeled after the real "father of contemporary/smooth sax", Grover Washington, Jr). And even to this day, Kenny G is not on the musical level of Grover -- even though he may have reached more popularity and majority mainstream American populace acceptance than Grover ever did -- but, that's another issue in a context of its own. *I also do not believe that a comparison to David Sanborn is appropriate either. Sanborn is unique and did not copy anyone's style to make it "big" - does anybody remember "Double Vision" with Bob James?... Sanborn CAN play jazz straight up and has paid those necessary dues on his instrument. Sanborn will tell you that he does not consider himself a "jazz musician", although he can play in that tradition legitimately. I just don't think that Pat Metheny's remarks were necessarily an "elitist jazzer's" attitude. I think that Pat Metheny has a lot of respect for the musicians who really started and define the standards for the modern jazz we have today (Armstrong, Parker, Miles, Coltrane, Charlie Christian...). Like it or not, that is where the music comes from; and will always come from. You have to pay those dues first, before you call yourself an "innovative force in the music". Miles did; Herbie did; Chick did; Cannonball did; Benson did; Weather Report did; Yellowjackets did; Spyro Gyra did; Kenny Gorelick did not. I just think that it is ABOUT TIME that someone with the musical clout and credibility like "the" Pat Metheny, finally said something about the state of jazz in this context. Giving respect and credit where it is due to those masters who started it all; and, letting people know that so many of the popular high-profile musicians are not necessarily the one's who should be plastered everywhere. I don't think that the general listening public has to be fed a consistent diet of this "watered down" jazz on the scale that seems to be the trend over the last decade or so -- I thank Mr. Metheny for voicing that too in a sense. People can handle the more involved styles of jazz too and I wish that those in control of exposing such artists would WAKE UP and hear the music too. That's the only way more people will be able to speak for themselves - the people can't decide for themselves if the other styles of jazz are buried. Any form of serious art relies upon proficiency over popular-hype at some point. That's a junior-high school mentality, to like something because of the way the artist looks or gyrates on stage -- puuulleeeezzz... I don't "blame" Kenny Gorelick for his popularity; nor for taking advantage of it. Kenny G is really just another copycat who marketed himself well and filled a niche, (Boyz 2 Men = NSync; Jackson 5 = Osmonds; Grover Washington, Jr. = Kenny G) so what's new. A lot of people just get sick of seeing that type of thing go on and on. I also think most so-called "real jazzers/jazz fans" don't like it when people try to make it seem that artists like Kenny G are "all that". Just don't act like you invented what you are doing Kenny - and the same goes to his loyal fans! It just makes you think that whoever devises such marketing logic is truly far removed from the act of making music this type of music; it's strictly about trying to exploit the tendencies of a large segment of society and make the largest amount of easy money... You can't fault/blame Kenny G personally for his success. Hey, that is capitalism and it's cool! But, if you have any clue concerning this jazz music of ours, you can't honestly say that the "G-Man" is a musical "force" either... Peace, Chris Burnett http://www.mp3.com/4jazz

 

Date:	28-Jun-2000 22:55:05
From:	Phil Traynor (llarion@mindless.com)
	I tend to agree at least in spirit with the author. I distill it in my mind this way: 1) I LOVE Kenny Gorelick. His work on Wizard Island with the master of fusion, Jeff Lorber, is frighteningly good, delightfully twisted, frantic, soaring, frenetic, skilled, and playful. If only his own works had this much style, accessibility be damned. 2) I pretty much DON'T like the marketing creation and distilled musical phenomenon Kenny G. I find most of his original work to be defined thusly: ii-V-I-ii-V-I (insert circular breathing rudiments for 2:45) ii-IV-iii-ii (repeat until circual breathing ends) ii-V-I. It was fun once, in Songbird, but it now defines a style of instrumental pop that the pablum mainstream buys into as Jazz. I think that's really what's pissing everyone off. I can't say I blame him. One can certainly not argue with his commercial success, and his success HAS caused a much needed mainstream surge in the world's interest in the jazz genre as a whole. We needed that, kids, you CAN'T deny it. And, to make sure that you know I am not a hypocrite, I'll say two things: 1) I don't own a Kenny G CD, but I have everything Lorber ever recorded. 2) My own music, which is also instrumental jazz-influenced Pop/Easy Listening is easily as polarizing as Gorelick's or even Manilow's. The people that love my music love it, and the rest of the world is driven to kill their pets by it. But, the difference is, I don't call it Jazz, by and large. I call it jazz-influenced instrumental pop, or Easy Listening Mood Music, or in some cases, I dare to venture into Smooth Jazz or Jazz Fusion. I bow to the greats, and don't make any pretense about being in their league. With that said, I better tell you where to find it so you can roast me too. www.mp3.com/llarion I invite anyone reading this to come to MP3.com and experience a world of talented Jazz musician such that you'd NEVER expect!!! Here is a partial list of incredible musicians and songwriters that you MUST hear: Wayne Gerard New York Horns George Kahn Davis and Dow Pete Marinovich Joe Fuentes Chris Geith Group Chris Burnett (4Jazz) Paul Westbrook Larry Humphrey Project Dean Krippaehne Oh, and I'm there too. Like I said. :) We now return you to your acetylene torches.

 

Date:	30-Jun-2000 19:17:49
From:	Rick Banales (riczen@hotmail.com)
	I was thinking that a lot of people who are posting here in defense of Kenny G may not know about the slew of recordings in Jazz that they might like, but have never gotten exposed to. Part of the problem with how Kenny has been marketed is that people think that they are hearing a "Jazz" record, when they are really listening to Easy Listening music. If you are curious about finding out what real jazz is like, I suggest you go on sites that have audio samples and try to hear just a little bit of each of these recommendations: Bill Evans-Sunday at the Village Vanguard Bill Evans with Toots Thielemans-Affinity Ben Webster-Jazz 'Round Midnight Jan Garbarek-Photo With Blue Sky Wes Montgomery-The Incredible... Stan Getz-Nobody Else But Me Sonny Criss-Complete Imperial Sessions Miles Davis-Kind of Blue Kevin Eubanks-Shadow Prophets Wynton Marsalis-J Mood -and if you're not too bruised: Pat Metheny-Still Life (Talking) I felt very comfortable recommending these albums-they are all very lyrical, accessable, and very much a part of the jazz continuum. I'm sure others out there will have other suggestions, I just hope that some people will take the time to listen to some of these works of art, and get a chance to dive headlong into checking out what jazz is really like. Thanks-Rick

 

Date:	18-Jul-2000 05:44:47
From:	Rafael Mirabal (rafaelmirabal@hotmail.com)
	You all should read Metheny's comment before writing something about this topic and I mean you all. None of you mention Metheny at all and I hope or I fell sorry about you that you've never hear his music neither. Thats why Im writing this comment in this side of the war. The enemy side because I've listened or suffered the music of Kenny more than you have listened or enjoyed the gift of Metheny's art. Sorry if I offended you but you are still on time to jump out that wrong train and take the last train home.

 

Date:	27-Jul-2000 21:28:22
From:	Alexandre (mello@excite.com)
	Kenny G sucks. Pat Metheny is in my opinion one of the greatest jazz musicians of our time, and I second each and every one of his thoughts about Kenny G.

 

Date:	02-Aug-2000 07:38:07
From:	Sally L.
	Kenny's my baked potato!

 

Date:	03-Aug-2000 07:34:54
From:	Al Trombone
	Hold on there everyone - let's wait for Kenny's upcoming "Kenny G Plays Bird" release. I hear he's also approaching the World Saxophone Quartet about doing a Quintet album entitled: "The World Saxophone Quartet with Kenny G plays Julius Hemphill." I'll tell you I can't wait!!

 

Date:	04-Aug-2000 14:08:58
From:	Dave Fike (dmfike@hotmail.com)
	First of all, after reading some of these comments I nearly puked. What ignorance. None of these people read Metheny's article. THESE are the types of people that listen to Kenny G. It takes this kind of mentality to like Kenny G. I'm not sure how this is even an issue. But when thinking of all the knuckleheads out there that are oblivious to what genuine honest music is, for the music's sake and not feeding the mass culture monkey, I guess I CAN understand why this is a stinker with some. There are certain facts here, and one of them is that Kenny G. has always been a sell out, and 2- His foremost goal is not to improve as a musician, or make any real contribution to music as in changing the form. Having said that, his playing over Louis' track can ONLY be someing to wince at if you care about music. He is not anywhere near the artist Louis was, and really has nothing to thank him for. He may like Louis, but if that's just the case he should just stick to *saying* he likes his music. This was a dishonest act. He got his millions not from Louis, but from his selling out to the mass culture crowd. If he wants to thank anyone thank the folks that shop Wal-Mart, MTV, and all the knuckle heads that bought into his "music" as being genuine. I do find it disgusting that he'd play over ANY jazz legend's track. Pat's comments may seem harsh to some, but that's because they've been letting the chips fall as they may, as he said, for many years and do not really understand how bad his actions really were. One could go on and on about this and gum it to death, but what's the point? If the purpose of this board is to ask my opinion if I agree with Pat.... yes I do, wholeheartedly. I clapped when I read it.

 

Date:	05-Aug-2000 09:36:50
From:	Al
	Newsflash: Kenny G will play the complete Anton Webern trascribed for saxophone!!! A multi-disc box set. This is true.

 

Date:	05-Aug-2000 09:50:17
From:	Cindy
	Kenny G still loves all of you, no matter how terrible your opinions are and how mean spirited you are. You can hear it in his music - he forgives all of you for your ignorance, for your cynicism. Kenny is in my heart, and nothing you can say can change that or the fact that you are all musical worms compared to him. None of you could fill a living room with your playing, much less a stadium!!

 

Date:	08-Aug-2000 18:44:20
From:	Wes
	Cindy, you're not off your meds again, are you?

 

Date:	08-Aug-2000 23:21:01
From:	Howard (HowieS@hotmail.com)
	Kenny G is the Mr. Rodgers of Jazz.

 

Date:	09-Aug-2000 17:35:11
From:	Bert (bertsprs@bellsouth.net)
	Hey Cindy...i've taken a comment of yours and replaced one word with another. See if you can guess which one - "Well, every concert of Nsyncs will be packed, and maybe you're all missing it!! Just because someone sells out a crowd doesn't mean that what they have to offer is worthwhile...after all, i remember 2 Live Crew selling out a few shows in the early 90s...would you call that good music. Yeah maybe we are all missing it...but thank God. I'll sit at home and listen to a Michael Brecker CD if i wanna hear good modern sax playing (and equally impressive guitar work thanks to Pat Metheny).

 

Date:	09-Aug-2000 19:57:19
From:	Ralph
	Let's face it - the diety screwed up and, in general, shorted the human population about 20 IQ points. Expecting Kenny G fans to understand that Kenny isn't jazz is like expecting a two year old to be interested in algebra. Lighten up, there's no cure for dumb.

 

Date:	10-Aug-2000 11:15:29
From:	Jakone
	I think Kenny G is really clever. He resisted the urge to cut off his Sampson locks even when musical giant and "special friend" Michael Bolton did the decent thing and consined the mullet of Satan to the bin. His strength is in his hair! Somebody get the scissors. Actually I'm not sure that his playing could be any weaker, unless he started a novelty act that involved blowing very short notes (the worlds' shortest) out of his left nostril while making his Aunts' special recipe Badger pie, live on stage. No, he isn't a jazz musician, he's just a crap musician.

 

Date:	10-Aug-2000 22:08:58
From:	Mrs. Willy the Shake
	The Great Bard's comment on the ambiguity of seduction goes something like this: "She doth protest too much." Perhaps, a Kenny G & Pat Metheny recording is in the offing???