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???

 

Date:	11-Aug-2000 20:39:57
From:	Sheila Loomis
	I checked out this Kenny G site again after a long time. You people are so confusing. Kenny G have so many fans and you just don't appreciate how good he is and he's hansome too. On Yahoo, they like him just read what they say on Yahoo about him. Dear Kenny G, Kenny G is a good saxophone player. I love his music and I listen to them everyday. I am proud of Kenny G because he is talented and he practice on what he proforms in. ____ When I am disarrayed about life in general,Kenny G is the man for me!!He calms my nerves and brings me back to reality!! ___ I love his music and think that he is a good performer. It doesnt matter that he has his own style and maybe isnt a TRUE jazz musician...he is just him. And thats fine by me! ___ See what I mean? Sheila

 

Date:	13-Aug-2000 09:07:43
From:	Hans
	But Sheila, what do you think?

 

Date:	14-Aug-2000 01:17:21
From:	sheila loomis
	I feel the same way the yahoos do. What about you Hans?

 

Date:	14-Aug-2000 07:21:43
From:	Hans
	Kenny G is the sun and the moon to me; if I wore flippers and fins, he'd be the sea.

 

Date:	14-Aug-2000 19:20:09
From:	Max DeLucas
	I can't help but wonder why Kenny G. arouses such passion. My own feeling is that Kenny G. is a pretty mediocre musican but why would anyone care so much? I think it's because he acts like his you know what don't smell.

 

Date:	17-Aug-2000 16:49:32
From:	mzjaz (jazzymc@webtv.net)
	The "G" man controversy, hardly worth my time and comment: I'll take Antonio Hart, Joshua Redmon, David Sanchez, Richard Elliot instead! "Keep REAL Jazz Alive!

 

Date:	17-Aug-2000 23:14:27
From:	yolanda (coleconova@hotmailcom)
	Im so disappointed in the Kenny G. thing....Your comments were full of hate , showing jealously when you shouldnt be because you both are talented to the gills, maybe he just got a better manager. I also was disappointed that you use language that has to be bliped out...and with so much education, such a waste .....There is nothing room for both of you in the world of Jazz. I hope his conduct is better

 

Date:	21-Aug-2000 21:55:15
From:	Wally
	Kenny G and George Bush Jr. and television are simply reflections of our lesser selves in the larger sense - this is what our general population deserves. How can anyone expect a hollow people to idolize anything except what is hollow? The world is ugly and its people are sad.

 

Date:	23-Aug-2000 21:08:16
From:	Ned
	Kenny G is one of God's farts. It's that simple.

 

Date:	26-Aug-2000 08:39:32
From:	Hal
	I think the last comment wraps it all up. We can close this thread now.

 

Date:	28-Aug-2000 00:28:41
From:	Tom Dillard
	If Kenny G or Diana Krall or any of the other contemporary musicians that every jazz "purist" seems to hate with such a passion leads one person to listen to Trane of Miles or Bird or Ella or (Fill in the names of Jazz greats), then they will have been more than worth their while! My son (11 years old) listens to Kenny, but he has also now stops to listen when I'm playing a Coleman Hawkins or Trane cut. He has just strated to play alto, and wants to play like "those guys on your CD's". Not great music, but then, not everything in life has to be "GRRRRRRRREAT" (except for breakfast cereal, of course!)

 

Date:	28-Aug-2000 12:43:20
From:	Brian (b.vanmols@home.com)
	I'm a Metheny fan from his Gary Burton days, have everything he's recorded and a jazz fanatic since 1940. All kinds of jazz from Louis and Bix to James Carter. For sixty years the most exciting thing about good jazz has been the excitement of beautiful creation...and the undeniable fact that great jazz artists swing! Kenny Gorelick does not swing. I guess what I find funky about Gorelick, besides his mediocre talent, is that he's obviously a full on masochist. Over the years he's made apologies for his "music" but now he's reeally asking for it...and he got it from Pat! Like they say, "still water runs deep." Pat's rant reminds me of something Bill Evans might have said about Eddy Duchin...Pat lives!

 

Date:	02-Sep-2000 16:07:44
From:	Swami J
	I hope you all realize that you're not just talking about Kenny G but all of the reincarnations that he embodies. He may have come from a long line of musical charlatans, and is only now fulfilling his musical karma. Compassion. Others listen to his music - he has to play it and call it his own.

 

Date:	05-Sep-2000 20:14:13
From:	Rod Vamp
	Where's the beef?????

 

Date:	08-Sep-2000 07:59:06
From:	OB1 (oman@pacifier.com)
	I have read the Metheny e-mail criticisms, both the Metheny comments and the subsequent e-mail that supported Pat's position. I also read Walter Price's editorial and its subsequent e-mail. I hate the control that the Radio Architecture has. What I think I am reading from the Metheny side is that the man Kenny G has a responsibility to preserve what true Jazz is in both expression and culture. What I also hear form the Metheny side is the folks like Kenny G are responsible for influencing or incubating the wrong interpretation and meaning of Jazz by the masses. And, as a result has fueled this Smooth Jazz/Pop interpretation of which proponents of the Metheny position believe reduces the authenticity of 'real' jazz. Yes, we all hear Mr. G's music in the elevator ... we also hear Pat Metheny in elevators and some supermarkets. I think many jazz musicians today see that there is money to be made doing pop variants. I suppose that is a pressure. Many jazz musicians wonder how they are going to be recognized. I actually like the bluesy feel of some smooth jazz ... yes ... I listen occasionally to some smooth jazz. I believe that the amount of smooth jazz that our aural cavities consume is not healthy and indeed promotes the incorrect definition of jazz to the uninitiated. The ratio size=2> of smooth jazz stations to progressive/traditional jazz stations is alarmingly vast. But, to condemn Kenny G so vehemently, as if he alone has swayed the masses to the very poopy pop smooth jazz genre is inappropriate and misplaced. Kenny did not intend to make music to attack the authentic message and meaning of 'real' jazz. Maybe we should rename the smooth jazz genre to smooth pop. If the 'straight-up/progressive' jazz had more air-time, I suppose it would have more acceptance. I also believe that it would align the uninitiated's expectation of what jazz is on a more truthful/authentic path. Finally, the issues that are really on trial here are authentic and truthful representation of jazz (its voice/phrasing, significance/history/meaning, and culture). The truth and history does have to get out to the masses ... how will this be accomplished?

 

Date:	08-Sep-2000 23:56:19
From:	Abra Dabra
	"The truth and history" doesn't have to get out to the masses. Their truth and history is defined by television, disneyland, and musicians like Kenny G. This will likely go on forever - certainly the ruling elites of the world have not gone wrong making this assumption.

 

Date:	09-Sep-2000 19:02:52
From:	Diane
	Yeah, get with it - I like Kenny G and so does millions and millions of others!!! Do you really think anyone cares what you all say??? His music makes me happy, makes me feel good - you're all so full of words!!!

 

Date:	09-Sep-2000 19:04:52
From:	Diane
	Call me banal Call me dumb but Kenny's been tooting whenever I come!

 

Date:	11-Sep-2000 18:21:41
From:	Philippe Enfon
	Mr G is a poor player.Good.So What?There are millions of worse.The problem is not that his music is insipid (Iwill survive), but it's rather that he's making big money with a sacred myth.He has no sense of responsibility because the kids who are going to listen to him will think that they can compare him to Armstrong.Which is gigantic joke!Mr G has no respect for the music he plays .It 's like those people who go to the himalayan range and leave their shit all around , thinking that they have achieve something great.He has achieved noyhing great.Neither have I ,you're right.But i would never play his game , even if I could .It would be a lack of respect.

 

Date:	13-Sep-2000 11:17:30
From:	Brent Vaughan
	Kenny G. knows exactly what he's doing as well as knowing just how much he truly sucks. Pat Metheny was right on the money! Gorelick has to resort to the most unmusical of gim- micks to sell product. For those who think he's the real deal: Put him on a stage with the likes of Branford Marsalis and see what happens!!! He will then be absolutely exposed for the poser and cultural rapist that he is. How dare you, Kenny G.! May all of your recordings find their way to the clearance racks, and from there find their way to a toxic waste dump where they belong before you ex- pand the cultural anus of this universe. I'd pay to watch Marilyn Manson kick your ass!!! Celebrity Deathmatch????

 

Date:	15-Sep-2000 23:01:16
From:	Rudo
	Perhaps Kenny G is an angel from limbo? Perhaps he was sort of the runt of the litter, incompetent, weak, but not evil, so he was relegated to the gray area of the cosmos to appeal to those who are lacking sufficient gray area in their own cerebral cosmos. He is lost among his pipings, the leader of simpletons and fools.

 

Date:	17-Sep-2000 12:59:22
From:	Andres Serna (serna@ctv.es)
	hola a todos Creo que Pat tiene razon. La musica de Kenny G es muy muy mala. Creo ademas que el y otros muchos hacen mucho danio al jazz que todos entendemos. Sus trabajos no dejan de ser un smooth jazz bastante malo que esta plagando las emisoras e impide que verdaderos jazzeros alcancen las ondas, las salas de conciertos y las discograficas. No dudo de su nivel instrumental, pero su musica es patetica, no hay mas que oir su disco de estandards y ver como destrozo el Round Midnight. Si Monk levantara la cabeza ¡¡¡¡¡. Quizas hace anios su trabajo llego a ser tolerable pero en la actualidad es de verguenza. andres serna cantabria (Spain)

 

Date:	19-Sep-2000 14:24:26
From:	elevator man
	Elevator man, for those of you wondering, is the next evolutionary extension of homo sapiens. I think Kenny is the first step in this process. What a wonderful world to watch as it unfolds. Couple things come to mind as I read over some of the comments here. 1) Frank Zappa, when commenting on the listening habits of the plastic, uneducated masses in our midst said something to the effect of (paraphrased): 99% of people want one of two things from their music-listening experience; either background music that is truly unobtrusive and doesn't even need to be "listened" to, or something simple with a danceable beat to pick up chicks/guys. 2) There is a difference between "entertainment" and music that requires an intellectual and academic level of technical knowledge to understand and appreciate. There really is a difference between a technically competent musician in any style and an entertainer like KennyG or Madonna. Unless one acknowledges this basic tenet, this stupid thread will go on endlessly. Kind of reminds me of "My Dad can beat up your Dad"... In any case, the group of folks that is defending this guy here obviously don't get even the simplest of ironic or sarcastic metaphors. Why expect them to understand the complexities of bebop harmony? This isn't stated from a space of intellectual snobbery, but rather as a simple observation of fact. Kind of like discussing advanced mathematical concepts with a five year old. Can't be done, not due to a lack of intelligence, but due to a lack of training and background. Anyway, my Dad says Kenny G sucks bigtime! Or, licks Gore, depending on your political viewpoint.

 

Date:	19-Sep-2000 17:35:19
From:	Sauren
	Being A musician, I can easily hold Pat Metheny's article up and say "dito". Kenny G is not only a disgrace to Jazz because he doesn't know Sh*t about what he's playing, but that he is listed in the Guinnes book of world records as "the most succesfull Jazz musician". It sickens me to think that there are musicians that are completely proficiant in their instruments, and I'll go as far as saying geniouses, who are workin' their asses off just trying to ends meet, and then this idiot of a Saxophonist (and note, I don't call him a musician) comes along, plays something that barely resembles music, and sells millions of ablums. He holds the record for selling, what is it? 10 million copies or something? Thats 10,000,000 people who have no knowledge of what they are listining to. Its exploitation of the ignorent, and I have a problem with that, and that also goes for many of the cloned and recloned boybands and other worthless pop out there. Let me know when Pat's gonna wrap a guitar arround Kenny G's neck, caus' I want to join in, by smashing my floor tom over Kenny G's head.

 

Date:	22-Sep-2000 20:21:55
From:	Max DeLucas
	This thread has taken on a deeply disturbing tone what with its shocking incitement to deranged acts committed with musical instruments. Why can't we have a congenial dialog on this subject? Why the arousal of such primitive passions? Why is everyone getting so upset at Kenny? Just cause he lives in a 20,000 square foot house built with the proceeds of his smooth jazz sound? Just cause he can't blow on I got Rhythm? Cause Kenny can't play the blues? Cause he gets to go on Regis and gets oogled by Kathy Lee? Cause he probably drinks better wine than any of us mortals will ever taste? Could it be a manhood thing? Does Kenny have big feet? Does he get more poontang than the average struggling jazz musician. (I'm sorry but I we need to discuss this as grown men) Or is it just the sheer quality of the poozle Kenny gets? Why all this incitment to our baser passions?

 

Date:	22-Sep-2000 20:24:57
From:	Beatty
	Kenny G, Schmenny G Bannana Banna Fennie Gee Me Mi, Mennie Pee Ken Nee G!

 

Date:	23-Sep-2000 18:57:48
From:	Dave
	Pat Metheny is one of my favorite guitarists! But, I gave away "We Live Here", "Imaginary Day", "The Pat Metheny Quartet", because they were all WACK ASS CD's. It seems as though Pat has this thing for just making sound effects instead of jamming. Any real Pat fan knows that he is at his best when on other people's shit! Wynton Marsalis can jump on Pat's shit just like Pat did to sorry ass Gorelick..and you no what--Wynton would be right!!! Pat get your own shit together!!!!!!!!!!

 

Date:	28-Sep-2000 11:12:37
From:	Hecz
	I would like to see the PMG break up, and for Pat to continue on with his Trio projects. I agree that Imaginary Day really sucked, and that PMG has lost their fire. Pat is best when he's playing some burning bebop without all the electronics, vocals, etc.

 

Date:	07-Oct-2000 11:23:41
From:	Alex (alexschulz@latinmail.com)
	Kenny G. es la prueba de que quienes enegrecemos este mundo somos nosotros mismos. Es el "Lila Morillo del jazz".

 

Date:	11-Oct-2000 01:04:26
From:	Paul
	Kenny GGGGGGGGGGGG's music is a salute to the pedestrian side of life - the mundane: an empty grocery sack for the mind; about as intellectually inspiring as a empty cardboard box...how many millions of them have been cranked out? Redundant as highway stripes at 70 mph. Here he is, showing up to the studio..."Time to make the donuts." Trouble is, the masses that follow him are equally clueless - do they plug in to him, again, like a sheep following the herd? I guess there's something mentally safe (or dumbing down) in groping for the same old bowl of oatmeal day after day. I recall overhearing an old gent stateting he had only ventured out of his county but once - for a college trip. Pat Metheny, thank you, since I first heard you with Gary Burton back in '76 for helping me "venture out" to the rest of the world and beyond and showing us all the myriad of possibilities.

 

Date:	16-Oct-2000 12:15:47
From:	Michael Gardner
	"Anyone can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple" - Mingus This pretty much says it all...about Jazz, G, and Metheny.

 

Date:	17-Oct-2000 15:53:49
From:	james
	CECIL CECIL: Your a fucking IDOIT IDIOT.

 

Date:	17-Oct-2000 16:07:41
From:	James
	Cindy: You think your witty, You think your smart...Why don't you grow two brain cells to rub together you half-witted bimbo. Just because you don't have sense enough to realize it sucks does not mean it's good music. It is people like you that make it harder for REAL MUSICIANS to make a living because you support this crap....Sincerely, A real musician who would rather starve to death than to play shitty music for Idiots like you.

 

Date:	24-Oct-2000 16:28:40
From:	Paul Pokorski (paulpokr@aol.com)
	I like Christmas music, particularly jazz Christmas compilations. There's some nice stuff by Dexter Gordon, et al. A friend recommended Kenny G's Christmas album to me and I bought it because I wasn't real familiar with Kenny G's work other than the ultra-pop stuff (i.e. Songbird). I tell ya--Kenny G's Christmas sucks. It's the worst-sounding Christmas album that I ever heard. That monotonous squeally horn really bites. I listened to it one time and gave it to the "friend" that recommended it. Kenny G is to Jazz as John Tesh is to New Age music (although Kitaro and Yanni come close).

 

Date:	24-Oct-2000 16:52:33
From:	big bill (hoppernj@aol.com)
	I saw Richard Thompson in concert last night and he did a song called "I agree with Pat Metheny". It starts " I agree with Pat Metheny that Kennys talents are very teeny" and gets funnier as it goes on. Ultimately Kennys overdub is an obvious mistake on the musical front and a stroke of genius on the financial front. Non musical people in suits know that the world is full of people who think that Madonna, Yanni, Michael Bolton, and Brittany Spears are some of the greatest artists of our time. There is no reason to expect that these suits will stop producing drivel when they know an eager audience waits to be spoon fed.

 

Date:	30-Oct-2000 17:16:21
From:	Joe Daniels (misata@lycos.com)
	How come everyone's so worried about Kenny G. when up and coming dudes like Rocky Gordon, who has a good look and great sound, along with an unusual soprano sax, is getting overlooked. Check out his site at www.rockygordon.com Joe

 

Date:	04-Nov-2000 07:03:38
From:	Cindy
	James: You seem to be a very angry person. Your insults don't bother me - the pain of your twisted soul does. If you really were a "real" musician, you could soothe the savage beast. No one else can. And by the way, I am not a bimbo. I am way to smart for that.

 

Date:	04-Nov-2000 20:36:52
From:	Cecil Cecil
	james: there are people who truly love you despite your bad manners. Kenny G loves you and his playing is a prayer for you. For all of us. You may not be able to feel this but in time you will know. Charlie Parker was a junkie. Kenny G is a vegetarian. Think about that. Each Kenny G recording is a kiss from the sky.

 

Date:	06-Nov-2000 00:13:35
From:	treye springs
	Kenny G. Hmm. First of all, I don't like contemporary "jazz." I could never seriously listen to it but at the risk of sounding like I care Kenny G is okay. I just never really thought about it. Kenny G might have been one of the main reasons i picked up the saxophone (Songbird is a hot :RNB: song and when it came out he was the only saxophone player i knew. I was young so sue me.)but when I really started to play and truly listen to jazz I unconsciously realized that Kenny G and jazz are completely separate. Why would anyone care to pick on him? He plays the saxophone but should we compare him to bird or trane? Should we compare Ella Fitzgerald to Destiny's Child because they both sing? Pat Methany should wake up because people do remakes all of the time. Incidentally no one talks about how Kenny donated 100% of the profits from his version of "what a wonderful world" to help kids in schools with underdeveloped music programs to learn music but that is neither here nor there. Furthermore, I love Satchmo's version but anyone who could honestly say that it isn't more pop than jazz is crazy. I think we should complain when he oversteps his bounds and does giant steps, but even then we won't need to because anybody would be able to tell that he shouldn't have gone there.

 

Date:	09-Nov-2000 22:40:20
From:	Ted Holtz (hotsax17@hotmail.com)
	I'm a saxophone player and accomplished jazz musician in my own right. I've worked my ass off to get to the level of musicianship I've gotten to, I'm proud of the music I create. I DARE Kenny Gorelick to a showdown of skill! You hear me? I, a 19 yr. old kid, am CHALLENGING you to a duel and I invite anyone to watch. Oh, how I would love the opportunity to publicly play circles around the "most successful jazz musician." Oh, would it taste so sweet.....

 

Date:	13-Nov-2000 18:07:53
From:	Roy L.
	Cecil Cecil you dimwitted driveler what does junkie/vegie have to do with it?

 

Date:	14-Nov-2000 21:46:06
From:	RJ
	Cindy, maybe you ARE a bimbo and all the people you hang out with wouldn't really know the difference. In short, maybe all your friends are bimbos and blockheads and that's why you all hang out together. Think about that - OK maybe "think" is the wrong word . . .

 

Date:	15-Nov-2000 07:16:14
From:	Cindy
	Excuse me, I was not a bimbette and I am not a bimbo. What is YOUR problem???

 

Date:	19-Nov-2000 04:37:47
From:	Napat
	To me, pop music is a gate way to the bigger world of music. Though Kenny G sucks, I still give him a credit of introducing many people to appreciate instrumental music.

 

Date:	20-Nov-2000 13:37:34
From:	Ted H
	I'll have to disagree.... Kenny G's music gives the public a false sence of what instrumental is all about. There are very few pop artists that provide a gateway to other genres of music because they themselves are unfamiliar with the other music out there. Bands I do give credit to as "crossover bands" include The String Cheese Incident, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, some Phish, Dave Matthews Band and other "jam" bands like them. But I would never consider Kenny G as a gateway to other music.

 

Date:	21-Nov-2000 12:59:07
From:	Max DeLucas
	Kenny G has no sizzle. Kennny G has no pop. He don't zing and he definitely don't swing.

 

Date:	28-Nov-2000 16:10:55
From:	Ted Splido
	I recently saw Pat Methany in England and he was shite !! I used to be a fan of the "widdly diddly" type bollocks but his sound was naff. I recently saw Fourplay in England - they were coooooooool. Kenny G is not the greatest by any means BUT he brought me into the sax playing fold because I liked his sound (until I realised he was out of tune) and I have progressed (I think) onto playing other more interesting and challenging music. Pat Methany never inspired me to play guitar - I think that was Bert Weedon (chin up Pat!!!). So Kenny G does have his uses. Mrs Gorelick

 

Date:	01-Dec-2000 15:17:28
From:	Al M
	Did you know that if you die and go to hell, you have to listen to Kenny G. all the time. The worst part of it is that you actually start to like it. Oh Lucifer is truly really evil and just happens to be another one of gods farts.

 

Date:	04-Dec-2000 16:44:57
From:	Mario (locochavez63@hotmail.com)
	I have read Pat Metheny's comments on Kenny G. I love Pat's music although not all of his cuts. As for Kenny G, I was introduced to his music with the cassette (hey, I didn't have a CD player at the time...and who had one, anyway?) G Force. Those songs were okay. I even bought Silohuette years later, and I stopped. Kenny G is definitely not a serious jazz musician, and I agree that he's categorized under Jazz by record companies, Tower Records or whatever retail store is manning his CDs for sale. His music may be pleasant for the majority of the public unfamiliar with the true roots of jazz, but it's still fluff and ear candy. I could safely say that Kenny G is to jazz what Britney Spears is to lasting pop music.

 

Date:	07-Dec-2000 15:33:07
From:	Mr Benito Splendidodidodidodidodidodidodidodido
	ARSEHOLES TO THE LOT OF YOU !!!

 

Date:	09-Jan-2001 16:30:14
From:	bill costello (bcostello@sandscars.com)
	Agree with Matheny but, speaking personally, wouldn't have even commented on Kenny G because he's not a jazz man. He's an insignificant pop saxaphonist and a boring one at that. What he puts out is pukeable pablum. If one desires to hear the instrument played by real jazz men, listen to Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Zoot Sims and/or Stan Getz.

 

Date:	15-Jan-2001 16:24:52
From:	Lizzy
	I once liked Kenny G also, then I got hold of some real Jazz (Armstrong, Ellington, Basie,...). Kenny G's music doesn't exactly suck, it's just not challenging and doesn't put you in any mood like real jazz. I'm not hating on him, but the truth is that pretty much anyone can play it. If he's so great why not show us what he can really do. (That damn recording with Luis Armstrong dosn't count).

 

Date:	20-Jan-2001 21:06:59
From:	drew (plaine_D@hotmail.com)
	personally if "real" jazz is suppossed to trigger such zealotism that brings out the ugliest and most uncouth in people, as ive seen in these kenny bashing threads, id say that jazz is heading for a crash and burn . pat has every right as a musician to pass comments on methney as a fellow musician , but not to the kind of extent of being abusive. louis armstrong once said in one of his many biographies that he never shyed from playign with musicians who were not as proficient as he was. recalling an incident from his past where a new pastor in his church was not well received by the congregation, except one sister who said she looked passed the pastor's exterior and saw the word of god in him, just as she had seen in the previous pastor. similarly, louis looked beyond the technical inferiorities of these players and saw their love for music. now, no one can tell for sure whether kenny g was blowin for love or for the money , but if louis was around i believe that he wouldnt have been abusive about that overdub. just mah two cents. .drew.

 

Date:	25-Jan-2001 19:03:54
From:	Charlie Parker
	"Years ago I worked at a record store. One day a customer was frustrated at her inability to find Kenny G in the "Jazz" section. "Why isn't he in Jazz?" she asked. We told her we were afraid that Miles Davis might one day be browsing the store, see Mr. G in Jazz, and then kill us all with his bare hands."

 

Date:	01-Feb-2001 17:43:59
From:	JazzMan
	I must have been mistaken, I thought that this was a Jazz sight. Smooth Jazz is a slap in the face of any self respecting Jazz Fan. The AnR slime bags found a venue of ignorant listerners to make a quick buck on. What a shame, the lost greats are turning over in their graves. We as true Jazz musicians have seen the day when Jazz is making its way into the ranks of rock, pop, hip-hop, and the other meaningless crap that non-cultured individuals gravitate towards. All you "Smooth Jazz" people, get off my train called Jazz, you are destroying one of the best things America has created. Kenny G played a mean Alto when he fist entered the scene i.e. a performance at Abby Road in Virginia Beach. Today, he is cashing in on the money of the ignorant masses that have no clue what Jazz is about. Good for Kenny G, shame on anyone that knows anything about Jazz and buys his crap.

 

Date:	04-Mar-2001 02:16:14
From:	hunter karr (hkarr@mccus.jnj.com)
	You guys are the best! You've made me laugh. There are some really weird and wonderful posts here. Many of you are very clever, funny, sincere and thoughtful. I agree with some of the critisicm given to Kenny G. Let's face it. Anyone who sells as many records as he does is sure to get it. He's not the be all and end all, but variety is the spice of life. I really like Pat Metheny's music, but was saddened to read his hateful tirade against Kenny. I thought Metheny was a lot more peaceful and kind than that. Anyway, I don't think Kenny can be classified as Jazz...I don't think even he classifies himself as a Jazz musician...but I'm not saying that as a criticism. He is R and B. There's nothing wrong with that. Two Questions: Is "What a Wonderful World" Jazz? And...aren't the families of those poor, dead, pooped-on artists receiving residuals from the sales of Kenny's album? I honestly don't know the answer to the se

 

Date:	10-Mar-2001 20:52:34
From:	X
	When you all realize that Kenny G is God you will all have reached enlightenment. It's that simple.

 

Date:	15-Mar-2001 12:53:17
From:	Kenny's followers
	I feel deeply sorry for those unfortunate ones who have listening problems or are deaf, because they cannot listen to God's music. Kenny G is god.

 

Date:	30-Mar-2001 00:59:47
From:	Finn "Finn" Finnigan
	Kenny G is only the latest exemplar of the old saying: "Eat shit - 10 million flies can't be wrong." F3

 

Date:	05-Apr-2001 11:32:57
From:	Kenny G
	I just stopped by to thank those who defended me here. Just taking the time to wade through the crap on this offensive "jazz" site is a great tribute to me indeed. Frankly I don't care what Pat Methany or the rest of the morons on this board think of me or my music. I am what I am and my music soars above all. I must say that I don't care if people say I do or do not play "jazz". I play music. Get a life!

 

Date:	05-Apr-2001 12:40:31
From:	Beatty
	Hey Finn, you're fun! We should drown a few pints of Guiness together sometime!

 

Date:	05-Apr-2001 13:32:38
From:	Kenny G
	By the way, I thought I would let you people in on a little secret: Jazz sucks! Or perhaps more precisely, the great majority of people think jazz sucks and don't listen to it. "Jazz" represents less than 3% of sales, and much of that is ME! Most people enjoy listening to jazz as much as getting poked in the eye. Maybe Benny Goodman is more like being spat on, although Ornette Coleman is more like getting a rusty screwdriver in the eye. Think about it. People like Louis Armstrong singing pop songs - not that West End Blues crap. Hello People, well hello people, it's so nice to see you back where you belong! I.e. nowhere. I figured nobody was using the term "jazz" so I would take it. And (virtually) nobody noticed! HaHaHa! No, I don't think I'm God, but I do think I am filthy rich, unlike all your great idols who play crap and kill themselves with drugs. Is that Chet Baker I see on the ground under my window? Or over there, Bird flying to the nearest dealer? Chirp, chirp, clunk. I am sure you are all laughing in your supercilious way at my comments. Guess what? I don't care! I'm rich and famous. Okay, so the majority of the world's population are just ignorant morons. Well congratulations on being one of the tiny members of the cognoscenti! I think I will go take a swim in my huge indoor pool and listen to some (real) music. See ya! (Not!)

 

Date:	11-Apr-2001 17:13:56
From:	Richard Orr (richard.orr@itt.com)
	Although the topic of Metheny's dismemberment of Kenny G. is almost a year old, it still seems like a worthwhile topic for an opinion. Two quite separate issues are involved here, one the analysis of Kenny G.'s playing, the other the Armstrong overdub, which I have not heard, and don't care to hear. It's irrelevant. I'm sure Pat Metheny would have held private his views on Kenny G. as a performer had not the trigger event happened. It's clear to me that this was not a burning subject in his brain. Ask yourself why, under normal day-to-day circumstances, Pat Metheny would be giving contemplation to Kenny G. OK, so the Satch thing put him over the edge, and he felt he needed to demonstrate that his views were pretty much related to the overdub, not to any earlier prejudice towards KG. In doing so, Pat took the opportunity to exhibit a trait many people disregard these days; he was honest. He dismissed KG as rightfully being of no interest and said a few quantitative things that backed it up. His analysis comments are right on the money; some of the wording was, uh, less than tactful, but for fun, try to imagine the outcome if Brookmeyer had willfully pursued this cause. From the viewpoint of an educated jazz listener, or just an educated music listener, it's absolutely clear that Kenny doesn't play anything. Whether he can or can't is pretty much a don't-care item. Since he doesn't play, I wouldn't ever have a motive to seek out any of his work. A little bit of that went a long way quite some time ago. From a viewpoint of musical interest Kenny can just be ignored. So let's remember that Pat not only called 'em like he seen 'em, but got it right in the process. For me, that part's hard to argue with. But so what if Kenny doesn't play good jazz or good whatever-you-want-to-call-it? The place this debate gets into trouble is in applying artistic standards to something that isn't intended to be such. For whatever reasons (yeah, we all know what the main one probably is), Kenny does what he does. Maybe he actually likes it. Lots of people do, and that's fine. Why tell a house painter he's no Picasso? Or why tell it to the customer, who just wants to get his &%$@*& house painted? What if we found out Tiger Woods is a rotten basketball player? Let it be. If KG were to come out and defend his work on artistic grounds, we'd have a brand new ball game, but I doubt things will trend that way. Kenny no doubt views himself as a success, and has some contentment. He may be in better personal shape there than Metheny, in which case the decent thing would be for all of us to wish Pat the best in all future endeavors, and not get stuck on the envy tack, even it has some merit. Of course, what's really called into question here is the audacity of the overdub. Again, for perfectly honest and overwhelmingly sensible analysis, I refer the reader to Mr. Metheny. If you want to jam with Satch, fine, turn on the basement CD player and go for it. Within the last week I myself have performed with Miles, Trane, Rosolino, Bill Evans...but I don't plan to publish the proceedings. Kenny's affront requires substantial commentary. It's exactly the same as a confrontation session with a substance abuser who is still only dimly aware that the bottom has been reached. If KG actually doesn't know better, doesn't understand how offensive his self-inflicted grandeur is, he needs a big time wake-up call, which I think we could agree he's already received. Bad taste is an individual's birthright in America, and I don't care to live anywhere that has a government program to shield me from offenders, but we all enjoy the right to speak out when something this egregious goes down. When an only moderately capable craftsman insinuates his presence among the gifted, we all share an embarrassment that most of us would like to be spared. And we pity or despise the offender, depending on how much awareness of the offense we attribute to him. The human spirit craves an essence of order and meaning in its doings. When carried to the limit by the perceptive among us, doers and observers alike, we find art. That we find none in Mr. Gorlick is a pity, but not anyone's catastrophe, not even his (maybe). Let's hope he has learned something from the outcry; let's wish him well, and that he in the future might strive to be remembered as being something more dignified than just one more moustache on the Mona Lisa.

 

Date:	11-Apr-2001 20:06:01
From:	Rod Vamp
	Although, I'm sure he didn't intend it this way, I think Mr. Orr may have uttered the last words on this thread. A very beautiful crystallization of all the angst expressed in the history of this thread. After more than a year of listening to the sickos whine on and on about Kenny G, Mr. Orr gets right to the truth of the matter. The G man doesn't play anything so his playing is irrelevant. What the hell else is there to say, I ask? And well written to boot. I applaud you Mr. Orr and I hereby make a pledge not to be irritated one more minute by the likes of Mr. G. From here on in, the G man is invisible to me.

 

Date:	11-Apr-2001 20:07:15
From:	Beatty
	The G man tingles my G spot.

 

Date:	12-Apr-2001 17:34:32
From:	Richard Orr
	Thanks, Rod. Glad at least one person got my point. But let's not close down the site just yet. In fact, Beatty's comment is the perfect follow-up. Beatty couldn't care less that some of us eggheads debate endlessly about the academically correct way to dis KG. This consumer finds a sensual experience there that relates to a lot of other emotional content. Music as an art form just isn't the issue. We're talking functional music, pretty much the way the Beatles were for my generation, except of course that, in contrast to Mr. G., there was a lot under the surface with the Fab Four. 'Nuff.

 

Date:	14-Apr-2001 00:37:56
From:	alf
	Kenny G once tooted his horn for the pharohs of Egypt.

 

Date:	15-Apr-2001 12:16:02
From:	J. Thaddeus Toad (oldroadtoad@netscape.net)
	Well for me and mine, all I can say is that listening to Kenny G. is akin to eating Kellogg's Sugar Frosted Flakes with maple syrup poured over them instead of milk. Or, as Charlie Brown would put it - "Aaaaaaaaaagh!!!!!" I have a name for the tripe that Mr. G, and his ilk (e.g., Paul Taylor) put out (albeit a play on words, mind you). It is "Smmmooooooooodah Jahzzzz", Yuck! That is what the stations that play the fluff call it. Here in San Diego we are fortunate to have KSDS 88.3, and KJAZZ 540 AM, and over the cable I am able to pick up KLON. I avoid the local smoooooodah station like the plague they are. It pains me to no end to have to hear the actor Geoffrey Holder say "Smmmoooooooooodah Jahzzzz", over the wireless. Yuck! How do I know what this sounds like you ask? Some of the people I work with listen to that flotsam and jetsam, so if I am in the same room with them it tends to reach my ears. These are the same people that would think it just fine for professional baseball players to use aluminum bats, LOL!. I have called the local fake jazz station to jokingly inquire as to "Just who programmed the drum on that last cut? Such talent deserves to be recognized! Why do you not read the arteeests responsible for that last track?" Try doing this some time, as it drives the smooood folk nuts (as if that "music" they play would not). These smoooood stations play the likes of (ugh!) Maria Carey under the auspices of "Jazz". The only way you can differentiate between the so-called singers of today is by seeing a "music video" of them as they all sound alike. They tend to mistake a poorly trained voice that warbles all over the place for "soulfulness". Now listen to Fitzgerald, Holiday, Christy, O'Day, or any one of a number of real jazz/popular VOCALISTS, and you can easily discern amongst them. Why? Because they can sing, and have the ability to phrase, and put their heart into it because the music has meaning. They have a voice that is a real instrument versus the kazoo that the children today possess. So the next time some one asks you your opinion of the "man that can not shave" (aka: Kenny G.), just tell them that you don't listen to fake jazz, and you DO NOT eat Sugar Frosted Flakes, much less with syrup on them. I have tried to be humorous about this, but the fact remains: I enjoy jazz. Real Jazz. And Kenny G. does not play the real thing, ergo, I do not listen to him, nor do I call what he plays "jazz". It does not mean that he could not play the real thing should he so choose. He doubtless has more talent than I (but fails to put it to good use, i.e., playing jazz), but then so does an organ grinder, LOL! Thanks!! The Toad

 

Date:	16-Apr-2001 18:59:05
From:	Joe Daniels
	How about dudes like Marion Meadows, Rocky Gordon, Dave Koz, Everette Harp, Kim Waters. Sure these dudes are playing it commercial, but these are the dudes with chops who know how the song Donna Lee goes. They cut their eye teeth on the traditional stuff coming up. People want to hear melody. Even Miles played that. Who else would have recorded a stupid song from the play Oklahoma called Surrey With A Fringe On Top and get it off the ground? Did you purists go back to that recording and bastardize Miles? Fuck Ornette. Even Miles didn't dig him.

 

Date:	16-Apr-2001 23:43:33
From:	OldRoadToad (oldroadtoad@netscape.net)
	Hail, and well met! Actually, the Toad much prefers to hear Blossom Dearie sing "The Surrey with the fringe on top". She was quite the babe in her day, and possessed a cute, girlish voice, and the wondrous ability to really play the piano (and sing beautifully in french!). As for being a purist, I must say that jazz interpretations of different tunes tend to be variations on a theme. If given the choice, the Toad would much prefer to listen to a smoooood jahzzz guitarist, versus the ubiquitous soprano saxophone of Kenny G., et al. Additionally, I do not begrudge any of the players of smoooood jahzzz a living. Just do not call what they do "Jazz". Doubtless they can play the real thing, but have chosen to appeal to the those that eschew traditional, real jazz music. Real Jazz is much like Classical Music. It is vivid, as well as comprehensive. Do you recall the scene in "Amadeus" where Mozart's music was criticised for containing too many notes? So it is with real jazz. It is at once complex and simple. It engages the listener to marvel at the technique of the artist as they weave a tantalising melody around the theme of what ever song they are interpreting, returning to the main theme again, and again. Now compare this to the bland, some what lifeless songs of the smooood jahzzzz practitioner. Unimaginative and repetitious melodies set to lifeless computerised drum tracks. It is not that such fare is not music, it is. It is only that it is not jazz. Steak and potatoes, or tofu? My soul longs to be nourished with a meal of jazz. Real jazz. Take care, my friend! So speaks the Toad

 

Date:	17-Apr-2001 17:26:10
From:	BoBo
	There is no last word on Kenny G. Everyone watches it swirl around the bowl and then disappear . . . but that's just the latest incarnation. People love to stuff it in their ears - they always have, they always will. But it does smell.

 

Date:	17-Apr-2001 20:55:07
From:	Max DeLucas
	BoBo: You totally destroyed my dinner.

 

Date:	04-May-2001 16:01:16
From:	none-ya
	You people have way much time to spare if all you do is listen to K.G.

 

Date:	04-May-2001 16:07:29
From:	none-ya
	opps way (to) much

 

Date:	18-May-2001 14:30:01
From:	Jerry Levinson (jerrylev@adelphia.net)
	Kenny G. did compose "Songbird", which has a nice enough melody to have been covered by Charles Earland on "Whip Appeal". Miles might even have done a version of it if he were still around. Of course, any competent jazz musician would improvise upon the melody in an interesting way, while Kenny, as a pop instrumentalist, plays it with feeling but fairly straight. He is technically competent with good tone, but his lack of background in jazz leaves him with a limited palette for improvising. As a result, many find his playing mundane, yet his lack of risk-taking is precisely why he's so popular in the pop-instrumental genre. He did make some valuable contribution to the Rippington's "Moonlighting" album, which is an archetypal smooth jazz recording. ("One of the G-man's least cloying -- and indeed, most engaging -- performances can be heard on the lilting, Calypso-influenced "She Likes to Watch." One of Freeman's best tunes, it continues to get heavy airplay." - Jonathan Widran, AMG) There's no accounting for taste in my book. If you enjoy Kenny G., then listen to him, by all means. Maybe after you've exhausted his limitations you'll be ready to appreciate real jazz.

 

Date:	18-May-2001 15:31:58
From:	Jerry Levinson (jerrylev@adelphia.net)
	In this context, it's also useful to recall Ralph J. Gleason's response to Mel Torme, when Mel candidly asked Ralph on the Jazz Casual TV show whether Ralph considered him to be jazz singer, "Mel! You are to me, but I have a very good friend who thinks you're not." And Mel was more of a jazz singer than Kenny G. is a jazz saxophonist.

 

Date:	31-May-2001 17:56:31
From:	Michael
	The "curse of the tails", evident wherever sufficient sample sizes are sold. Simply put, virtually every human characteristic exhibits a near-normal, if not truly normal, distribution. If you are lucky enough to be in the upper tail on one measure or another, what must also be true? Virtually everyone you encounter is less endowed or less capable than you, and most of them significantly less so. Yin-Yang. In the long run, no one ever gets the cake and partakes of it, too. Awareness of and exposure to the majority's pervasive obliviousness, voracious appetite for pre-digested bile (food, art, truth, name your poison), and freedom to blather loudly and incessantly IS the "comes around" to all that makes your superlative existence "go[es] around". Probably don't have to explain the corollary for the lower tail, do I? Ignorance is only bliss in the short run (some will say "in the long run, we're all dead". Ahhh, but for the truly ambitious and diligent, the long run will be much longer and immensely more rewarding.) What's this have to do with Kenny Gorelick? Elementary. Given this model, we should expect to see a few insightful, articulate theses on music and Mr. Gorelick's place in it, interspersed with multitudes of self-absorbed, reactive, irrelevant opinions. It's an inevitable fact of life owing to the balance inherent in the universe. Don't fight it, accept and become whole. Just beware overdosing on humanity or you risk years in a penitentiary for aggravated manslaughter (not from personal experience, mind you). Finally, here's a self-test for the heathens: Get a copy of "Kind of Blue". Listen to it as many times as it takes to get the point. If you bail, opting instead to scarf down a mound of fast food to placate your overwrought brain, I hardly need to spell out on which side of the balance you reside. Speaking of spelling, "too" and "to" are not interchangeable, a lesson learned in the 3rd grade at the latest. Stay with us, people, focus . . . concentrate . . . lost you, haven't I. No problem, at least nothing a little musical baby food won't assuage.

 

Date:	13-Jun-2001 19:26:21
From:	Ricardo Martinez (vicxy@earthlink.net)
	A little Math: Kenny G. is to Jazz music as Christina Aguilera is to Pop music. Complete bad taste, superficial stuff, lack of true musicianship. Many comments transpire their authors'lack of basic musical background. Like that woman who believes that G's music is a blessing from above. She is covertly equating Kenny G. with Jesus, who also "blesses from above." Which is to say that "plastic heavenly stuff" sells and convinces birds like her that it's serious art. Oh, my God, how low the American culture has fallen! and, as a drowning commercial entity, it's pulling down the rest of the INTELLIGENT world. Furthermore, the slightest hint of comparing this pseudo-musician with "heavenly Jesus" is an outrage, for the historical Jesus was a rebel who cared nothing about the "political correctness" of his time. Sorry, G lovers, there is no blessing from Heaven in this aberration committed by Mr. Kenny. It is YOUR PERCEPTION of what is and is not heavenly that has been distorted by our plastic culture. Half-empty churches, surveys to determine a president's Politics, pseudo-musicians numbing the minds of millions...wow, I hope this state of things somehow may not last forever.

 

Date:	24-Jun-2001 02:32:03
From:	Joel (scrambled_debutante@popmail.com)
	it doesn't really matter whether kenny g is good (purely at playing his instrument) or not. the point is, when you compare him to every legitimate jazz musician who came before him, there is no comparison. kenny g is a pile of shit with curly hair, i could care less if you like him or not, but don't call him a great jazz musician. that's a slap in the face to every jazz player that ever was and ever will be.

 

Date:	27-Jun-2001 14:18:19
From:	Alan
	Kenny G is JAZZ!

 

Date:	06-Jul-2001 13:29:59
From:	Max DeLucas
	Kenny G's "music" is more fake than his perm!

 

Date:	08-Jul-2001 14:50:06
From:	Cindy
	Perms are no more fake than cotton candy!! This is the modern world - get with it - if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. Like NOW!

 

Date:	08-Jul-2001 14:54:11
From:	Cindy
	You upset me so - Kenny G is forever. That I know if I know anything in the world. I forgive all of you mean spirited no nothing musical snobs. If you had a heart you could feel. If you had any taste you would enjoy cotton candy. You are in my prayers, although you don't deserve them, you little weasels.

 

Date:	13-Jul-2001 16:19:14
From:	Max DeLucas
	Recently, I heard a great Kenny G joke, the premise of which had something to do with Kenny G walking into a bar with his saxophone. Unforunately, I forgot the rest. Does anyone out there know this one?

 

Date:	15-Jul-2001 07:51:49
From:	ralph reno (renoreno@hotmail.com)
	Cindy: Please don't pray for me but you should check whether you should regularly be taking one or two of those little pills and be consistent. Give your body chemistry a chance. Everyone will be happier. Even Kenny G!

 

Date:	21-Jul-2001 07:32:16
From:	Diki
	Kenny G is the George W. Bush Jr. of jazz.

 

Date:	10-Aug-2001 18:19:49
From:	Kim
	I like Kenny G and do I care what you think? Not a chance. Blather away you cynics, us Kenny G fans will keep going to his concerts and keep buying his CDs. We like Kenny G, and nothing you can say is going to change that. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

 

Date:	12-Aug-2001 14:45:26
From:	Peter (Peter@barry.com)
	¿Por que no se van a la re puta madre que los re mil parió y la concha de tu cajetuda vieja mal parida, pedazo de pelotudo y la concha de tu hermana más chica? ¡¡¡¡¡Aguante Barry Manillow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Date:	18-Aug-2001 10:22:27
From:	don
	Hey, a Barry Manilow/Kenny G recording,with a bass player. Barry tickling the ivories, Kenny's horn swooning above and a good solid bass player laying down the foundation. Why this hasn't been done is one of the historical oddities of jazz - sort of like why didn't Art Tatum ever record with Charlie Parker (Oscar Pettiford, bass)? A mystery if there ever was one.

 

Date:	23-Aug-2001 11:33:40
From:	alan
	How about a Kenny G & Cecil Taylor with Dave Holland on bass?

 

Date:	23-Aug-2001 20:10:18
From:	t.T
	Kenny G Thelonious Monk Charles Mingus

 

Date:	24-Aug-2001 07:54:06
From:	Ann
	Don't make me barf.

 

Date:	26-Aug-2001 12:52:23
From:	Alan
	Kenny G - alto sax Tiny Tim - ukelele Maynard G. Krebs - bongos

 

Date:	29-Aug-2001 00:03:39
From:	rod
	kenny g. is a mirror of the current american culture!money,marketing,emptiness! God bless your real musicians!and jazz players! I have hope in the next generation! Paris-France

 

Date:	29-Aug-2001 10:58:36
From:	Horace
	Well, Lee Konitz, Steve Lacy, David Murray, James Carter, Marty Ehrlich, and Mark Turner (to name a few sax players) are also from the United States, so I wouldn't worry too much. Kenny G is not taken seriously by anyone in this country who knows anything about music.

 

Date:	31-Aug-2001 14:11:56
From:	Beatty
	Kenny G walks into a bar carrying his saxophone. He has a large pig in tow. The pig is covered in manure and is oinking. The oinking sound made by the pig is not unpleasant- actually to the bartender's surprise (a moonlighting musician) the pig is rather in tune. Nevertheless, the sound made by the pig is extremely repetitive, one dimensional, and every oink sounds exctly like the one before, though still pretty darn impressive for a pig. The bartender is momentarily distracted by the foul odor and the unusal spectacle unfolding before him, but he still recognizes the G man from his big hair and saxophone. Kenny G says to the bartender: "I'll have two cold beers, one for me and one for my friend." The bartender replies, "Sorry, Sir. We do not serve those who are fetid, putrid and worst of all, insist on producing non-harmonic, non-melodic, rhthymically repetitive sounds that are far less musical than those made by most of the higher and lower order species of the animal kingdom." The G Man, hugely offended at the insult to a pet pig he always considered rather muusical, replies, "Well, if my musical pig is not welcome here, I'm sure we can find another, friendlier tavern in the neighborhood." To this, the bartender replies, "I was not talking about the pig. I was talking about you!"

 

Date:	31-Aug-2001 15:46:51
From:	Cindy
	OK funny guy, you think it's cool to have some fun at a great musician's expense. Well, let me tell you Kenny G is a big enough person to laugh at that joke. So, the joke is on YOU and YOU don't even know it!! In a jam session Kenny G would've run circles around Johnny Hodges or Charlie Parker or Coltrane or Hawkins or any of those other so-called great sax players!!

 

Date:	01-Sep-2001 07:04:49
From:	Andy
	I know a lot about music and I know that Kenny G is no joke. Beatty you should be ashamed. Cindy is a righteous woman. Kenny G's music is forever.

 

Date:	03-Sep-2001 08:45:47
From:	Tim
	Kenny G is a mirror of this country? Kenny G is a mirror of his recording conglomerate's public relations & advertising departments.

 

Date:	04-Sep-2001 00:07:46
From:	Goomba (goombarok@hotmail.com)
	Kenny G. is simply music's answer to the Ringling Bros. circus. What was once a fantastic show with daredevil acts and real high-wire talent is now just a big showcase fraud. Wires keep the no-talent bimboes from falling and the insurance companies happy. There's absolutely no human risk and, therefore, no spectator enthrallment. Plenty of splashy sound and colors with no character. Yuk!

 

Date:	05-Sep-2001 19:07:59
From:	King Boolaba
	Who is a better musician? Kenny G/Tiny Tim/ or Maynard G. Krebs? That is the only mystery I can see with this thread.

 

Date:	06-Sep-2001 11:34:36
From:	Adel
	I'll go with Krebs. Did you ever see him play in that epidode on the beach after the hurricane? The great scene with him looking into the sunset (talk about symbolism!) Maynard beats those skins into another storm! Go Maynard Go!!!

 

Date:	12-Sep-2001 10:49:11
From:	Audrey (audreyc@hotmail.com)
	I have some disturbing questions. Is Kenny G really Maynard G. Krebs? Has Maynard come to this? Where is Maynard G. Krebs?Is Kenny G a reincarnation of Maynard? What distrubing things did Maynard do during his life to so negatively effect his Karma that he would come back as Kenny G? Let's hope that Maynard is alive and well and all of these questions are irrelevant to the world as we know it.

 

Date:	16-Sep-2001 08:56:20
From:	Cindy
	Maynard G. Krebs is NOT Kenny G!!!! How can you even think this???? (Kenny is the one who plays the soulful saxophone. Maynard is the dippy beatnik on television reruns) I don't know whether I should feel sorry for you or be mad that you seem to disrespect the greatest saxophone player that ever lived.

 

Date:	24-Sep-2001 15:40:52
From:	alan
	the greatest saxophone player who ever lived?

 

Date:	30-Sep-2001 10:37:43
From:	Seldo Van Peebles
	To bongo is to be alive! Maynard lives forever. bap de be bap bap - bap bap

 

Date:	06-Oct-2001 15:05:33
From:	Djeraldine (djeestrin@aol.com)
	Hi there. I was just wondering if it was possible for someone on here to send me a program that makes instrumentals.. or someone that can send me the instrumental of DOING JUST FINE by BOYZ II MEN.. thanks djee

 

Date:	07-Oct-2001 09:51:55
From:	Corey
	Cindy, You're right - Kenny G could run rings around Charlie Parker. But HE CAN'T PLAY THE SAXOPHONE!! Seriously, should we really be wasting time allowing discussions on the Mullet Man on a jazz web site? If people like him, fine; they can go on some pop/chart/shopping centre music site and talk about him there. THIS is a jazz site.

 

Date:	07-Oct-2001 18:43:57
From:	cindy
	Kenny G is laughed at, he is ridiculed, but friends tell me so was Charlie Parker!!! Is this irony or what!! Your own words betray you, smarty. Kenny G is the soul of jazz.

 

Date:	09-Oct-2001 05:47:11
From:	Corey
	Yes, but Charlie Parker is known for creating a new, innovative language in jazz, whereas Kenny G (no matter how much you may like him) is known as a musical joke. Your friends' words betray you, Cindy. Kenny G is just instrumental pop.

 

Date:	09-Oct-2001 05:54:21
From:	Corey (sorry for two comments)
	Incidentally, I've noticed that jazz fans/musicians aren't the only ones to laugh at the Mullet Man. None of my friends like jazz very much, but they sat and held their faces in their hands in woe at the G-Man's web site. Even pop fans deride him. I've heard people on other sites say that they've used his records as an aphrodisiac; all I can say is that over here in Britain, playing "Duotones" is better than any known contraceptive. The man sucks.

 

Date:	10-Oct-2001 15:21:50
From:	Cindy
	Such envy!!!!!!

 

Date:	11-Oct-2001 18:43:34
From:	Max DeLucas
	I thought I should relate my experience in two attempts to use the music of Kenny G as an aphrodisiac. Attempt number one: Partner vomited I did not connect the vomiting episode to the music, but a bad reaction to the mutton chop I served for dinner. Attempt number two (same woman but this time I served chicken parm instead of mutton which is still my personal favorite): I vomited. Beginnings of cause and effect established. I have not definitively established that the music of Kenny G is not an aphrodisiac, but I am sick of cleaning up vomit. Besides, my last two attempts at juicing up my sex life were a miserable failure. Never again will the G man hit my CD player when I have the opporutnity to hit the G spot, if you get my drift.

 

Date:	11-Oct-2001 20:57:42
From:	Cindy
	Kenny G will play his beautiful music, Spring will follow winter, the sky will be blue between the cloudbursts of mean spirited criticism. No one can tarnish his place in the great trio of jazz - Armstrong/Ellington/Kenny G.

 

Date:	12-Oct-2001 09:32:01
From:	Corey
	Cindy, You're delusional if you think anyone but you considers the G-Man in any triumvirate of music (muzak, perhaps, but...hey, doesn't that lead back to Krebs and Tiny Tim?). To mention his name with Ellington is practically an insult to all decent sound, even bird song. Oh yes, where in nature can I get cotton candy or a perm? I went out for a walk in the countryside, but I couldn't see any. Perhaps they're native to the United States? I also notice that you didn't (couldn't) reply to Max's really funny comment. It has nothing to do with envy, but good taste. Even if you like cotton candy, it isn't a good diet for ANYONE.

 

Date:	12-Oct-2001 15:09:52
From:	Cindy
	Cotton candy and perms ARE nature. Your nature went out with shepards a hundred years ago. I think Ellington would be proud to be listed with Kenny G. And as for vomit, the less said the better.

 

Date:	12-Oct-2001 15:58:34
From:	Corey
	Oh, yes, I'm sorry. I've just received my back copy of "New Scientist" and they've just isolated the first perm fossil. Apparently they've amassed in a small colony in Polynesia, where they sit, breed and relax (ha). The perms survived by clinging to trees, catching flies by excreting a strange nauseating sticky substance. They practically annihilated the original flora and fauna in the 1800's (shepherds forced to take office jobs) but drowned in a freak storm in 1990. Silly me!

 

Date:	12-Oct-2001 16:03:12
From:	cindy
	I think Armstrong would be proud also. They have recorded together. Maybe you don't know? It was lovely.

 

Date:	12-Oct-2001 16:29:40
From:	cindy
	And furthermore, there are many informative web sites. I think you misunderstand many basic things about our world. As ignorant as you are,where does your arrogant attitude come from, anyway? Perms WERE, by the way, first created in the American Midwest. The original hairdresser's shop is now a museum. Not that you would care about such details.

 

Date:	13-Oct-2001 05:25:51
From:	Corey
	Just because there's a perm museum, doesn't mean that a perm is natural. Also, Kenny G did the closest thing to raping the honourable dead by recording that monstrosity. I've heard it. The man had no right to do what he did, just enough money. If you seriously want to argue that perms and cotton candy are natural products, the same as a leaf or a bear, subject to the same rules of evolution and divine providence as every living creature on this planet, then you're a VERY strange one. I don't think even those people in the Midwest would say that a perm is natural; the Oxford English Dictionary certainly doesn't. Perm: abbr. of permanent wave = an artificial wave in the hair, intended to last for some time. Your arguments don't hold up to fact, Cindy; why don't you check your facts next time.

 

Date:	13-Oct-2001 05:29:37
From:	Corey
	Sorry for two comments, but I've just realised (in my, ahem, ignorance) that Cindy doesn't understand sarcasm (see antepenultimate posting). Y'see, when I was writing about perms in the wild, Cindy, I was JOKING. Hope that's clear, now.

 

Date:	13-Oct-2001 06:41:07
From:	Cindy
	Is a spider's web natural? Some would say a perm and a spider web have much in common. Perhaps, natural is too complex a topic for you?

 

Date:	13-Oct-2001 07:48:45
From:	Cindy
	And furthermore, I don't own any Charlie Parker recordings (why listen to Parker when you can listen to Kenny G?) but I may buy a best of Charlie Parker CD. Then I will write to the record company and suggest a Charlie Parker/Kenny G duet. Then the world will hear the contrast and know why the Armstrong/Ellington/Kenny G trio of jazz greats should be carved into a mountain like Mount Rushmore in (North or South, I'm not sure) the Dakotas. Since you're (Corey)from somewhere else,that's out above the Midwest and below Canada. I will look at my atlas to try to find an appropriate mountain. Perhaps I will write the governor of that state. I don't think there are mountains near New Orleans or Chicago or Kansas City. So, maybe in New York. There are lots of mountains in New York (no, it's not all paved like some people think!).

 

Date:	13-Oct-2001 08:12:04
From:	Corey
	Cindy, Did you just write asking whether a spider's web is natural? Do you think that just because a web is made, and a perm is made, that a perm is as natural as a web? Is that what you think? Really? Are you equating the spider's natural chemical production with an artificial, external chemical process created by humans? As a Chemistry graduate, I'm very interested in your reply. If that is what you do think, then I suggest you go to school and do some evening classes. I'm from Britain, but I do know that Rushmore is in the Black Hills of South Dakota, unlike you. I hope you mean New York State; although I suspect that New York would rather have a monument of people more honourable than Kenny G at this time.

 

Date:	13-Oct-2001 08:47:01
From:	cindy
	Of course I meant New York State. Obviously you've never been upstate New York. Ever hear of the Catskills and the Adirondacks? (and there are more - these are mountain ranges, like a whole bunch of mountains). And of course I knew it was South Dakota, you passed that test anyway. A student of Chemistry! I would never have guessed it from your comments. Perhaps being from another country explains why you can't appreciate Kenny G. I can't say I appreciate kilts and bagpipes so I guess were even, sort of.

 

Date:	14-Oct-2001 15:15:40
From:	Rod Vamp
	All this talk of perms and mountains! Let's cease this irksome battle of wits and get back to the subject of this thread. I'm both a serious jazz musician and a gourmet chef. Kenny G to me is so bad, he is not defendable. You could defend Spam to me before you could defend Kenny G. Putting Kenny G into the same company as Ellington and Armstrong would be like pouring Kool Aid into a bottle of Dom Perignon.

 

Date:	14-Oct-2001 16:30:55
From:	Max DeLucas
	For the record, I have listened to the equivalent of YEARS worth of Armstrong and Ellington and they have NEVER been associated with a vomiting incident. I've enjoyed the company of many delightful ladies who have shared my listening pleasure. I've also spent the equivalent of MONTHS with some of these fine ladies curling up to the breathy ballads of Ben Webster and Gene Ammons. No upchucking took place and I sure got plenty of poontang! Contrast that with less than 20 minutes spent listening to the G man- two vomit episdoes and ZERO poozle. Personally, I don't give a rats you know what if Kenny G is defendable or not. Putting on Kenny G when you have a shot at the ol' in and out is pretty much the same thing as having Aunt Bea drop her drawers right in front of you.

 

Date:	14-Oct-2001 20:44:20
From:	Cindy
	One at a time. Rod Vamp and who cares what you think? Food snobbery - it all comes out the same way in the end. As for you Max DeLucas, you are a cave-man, male chauvinist pig who would have to plunk down a pile of twenties before even Aunt Bea would drop her drawers!!

 

Date:	14-Oct-2001 20:47:19
From:	Cindy
	I defend the musical purity of Kenny G against all the slings and arrows of the mean old world. For true artistry is immortal.

 

Date:	15-Oct-2001 03:49:19
From:	Corey
	Rod's right, and the fact that the discussion focussed so heavily on perms and food and mountains shows that Kenny G cannot be defended in terms of his own music. Having said that, Cindy's deranged comments sho that the G-Man's music is like a disease that eats the mind. He's lame, sick and completely driven by money, with no artistic integrity.

 

Date:	15-Oct-2001 11:31:41
From:	Cindy
	Obviously Corey can't defend any of his opinions, ideas, or his biases in music except by name calling. Do they have adult education in Britain? I think Corey would benefit.

 

Date:	15-Oct-2001 15:56:00
From:	Max DeLucas
	Cindy- I'm not a chauvinist, just a normal guy who doesn't like to wind up cleaning up Kenny G-induced vomit when I was looking forward to nirvana between the sheets. I don't see why it is necessary for you to pick on me. Nobody is stopping you from listening to Kenny G. My guess is that you are fat, ugly and that if I met you I wouldn't even need Kenny G to induce me to vomit.

 

Date:	15-Oct-2001 16:29:14
From:	Cindy
	You would be very wrong. I am not only smart but beautiful. The women are envious and the men are suddenly inspired when I walk into a room. This is all beside the point of this thread which I remind you is about the greatest living jazz musician - Mr. Kenny G - who also inspires envy, hatred, and the lesser emotions of most mortals. Witness Corey, for example.

 

Date:	16-Oct-2001 08:13:26
From:	Corey
	I can see you inducing laughter, Cindy. We're getting off the point, anyway - whether Kenny G's musical slackness can be defended, not whether you're honest enough to admit that you didn't where Mount Rushmore was (which, for an American must be worrying). Incidentally, I've been to New York State. I suspect it's because you haven't listened to any jazz. Get Hank Mobley's "Soul Station" or Lucky Thompson's "Tea Time"; they're great albums, and Lucky Thompson's tone on soprano is sure to blow the cobwebs of the Mullet Man. If you don't, then I pray for your blighted soul.

 

Date:	16-Oct-2001 16:32:08
From:	Cindy
	You write pretty well for a foreigner. I have to admit that, even though your musical judgement is sadly mistaken.

 

Date:	17-Oct-2001 10:34:17
From:	Corey
	I write pretty well for an English man, you mean. I was born in England, and have lived here most of my life. Don't try and and patronise me about writing the English language: I don't need to hear it from someone who doesn't even know where one of her own national monuments is. In any case, you've gone off the point again; can you defend the muscial slackness of Kenny G, and is his music suitable for loving. Music fans usually say no, but if you really think he's great, fine; from some of the (quite frankly) stupid things you've written so far, I don't suppose anyone will stop you (not) thinking what the hell you like. Still, it's been entertaining reading your comments, no matter how silly. Just remember what your "angel" has done for poor Max De Lucas' chances - and consider your own... I will say no more. Corey

 

Date:	17-Oct-2001 10:44:54
From:	Cindy
	Corey, having a sense of humor will make you more attractive as a person. I guess we all have something to work on, don't we?

 

Date:	18-Oct-2001 11:57:53
From:	Max DeLucas
	Corey- Feel no pain for me. As long as my CD player stays free of the G Man, I get to spend lots of hours in poozle paradise. I owe a lot of thanks to Armstrong, Ellington, Webster, Tatum and all the greats who fuel the embers of real womens' passions. I'd direct your sympathies to poor Cindy- a certain candidate for spinsterhood, idolizing the G man like her little shriveled lady friends adore Barry Manilow.

 

Date:	18-Oct-2001 23:26:22
From:	Cindy
	Since I was sixteen no man has yet been able to resist my charms. You Mr. Max know nothing of the hissing of the world's envy. Speak of what you know, please. And incidently what may I ask is wrong with Barry Manilow? A male chauvinist with no musical taste, the world is doubly cursed.

 

Date:	20-Oct-2001 20:23:09
From:	Andy
	Cindy, you have seduced me from afar with your courageous defense of the artistry of Kenny G. Let them say what they will, but we know the truth and the truth is that jazz lives in no greater soul than Kenny G. XXXXX

 

Date:	22-Oct-2001 12:06:59
From:	Roger
	Cindy- It is very brave of you to defend the musical greatness of Kenny G in front of an unappreciative and even hostile audience made up of so-called jazz "musicians" such as Corey. That you do this as a non-musician, unskilled in the technical nuances of harmony that Kenny G so excels at is even more wonderful. Let me, as a Professor of Musical Theory who teaches an Advanced Harmony Course, assure you that the greatness of Kenny G is that he is true to his soulfulness while never abandoning his ever-expanding quest for harmonic innovation. Recently I have completed the transcription of several of Kenny's improvised solos, which I recorded at his last two live performances and I'm astounded at the brilliant use of the diminished chord as well as the beauty Kenny achieves with the minor ninth- especially on the ballads. Indeed, while Kenny was always great, his more recent performances have pointed to how well he has absobed lessons from some contemporary masters. I'm not sure if Kenny has studied with Wynton Maraslis-, but from my recent listening I would guess he has been doing exactly that. Keep up the good work Cindy and never get discouraged- in less than 20 years Kenny G will be recognized as the purveyor of beauty and harmonic truth that we lonely few realize he already is today.

 

Date:	22-Oct-2001 14:02:36
From:	Andy
	It's sad to think that Kenny G never had the opportunity to exchange ballad solos with Johnny Hodges above the great Ellington bands. It's sad to think that Kenny G never got to play with John Coltrane's quartet trading solos with John, McCoy,Elvin Jones, and Jimmy Garrison.

 

Date:	22-Oct-2001 14:21:37
From:	Jon (jonra@hotmail.net)
	Perhaps, Kenny G is the Wynton Marsalis of schlock jazz? As for Kenny playing with Ellington or Coltrane, it would be like Jerry Lewis or Pee Wee Herman performing brain surgery.

 

Date:	22-Oct-2001 16:55:09
From:	Roger
	I know that Kenny has already recorded some overdubs with Louis Armstrong. Personally, I think this is terrific stuff; it really upgraded Satchmo. I'm sure Kenny could do the same for Ellington, Coltrane, et al. What say you all?

 

Date:	23-Oct-2001 08:00:04
From:	Andy
	I guess when the going gets tough, Corey just flees from the field. Truth does prevail, ultimately.

 

Date:	23-Oct-2001 09:49:56
From:	Andy
	The truth of Kenny G's greatness!!!

 

Date:	23-Oct-2001 16:00:30
From:	Roger
	Andy- What do you mean by the going getting tough? Are there actually people out there who do not dig Kenny G?

 

Date:	23-Oct-2001 16:05:30
From:	Andy
	When Corey is confronted with facts and opinions that he doesn't agree with - well that's it. He folds. I don't think name calling defames Kenny or any of his fans in the least.