Kenny G

Melissa · Mar 27, 2006

Just wondering what you all think of Kenny :whistle:
he's the only saxophonist that my family knows of, so I get piles of his CD's for Christmas and junk.
Saxophonists at my school hate him, but he's better than me, so I guess that's some reason to admire him 😛
what do you all think?

ken · Mar 27, 2006

I don't mind putting my neck in the noose first. I know he's not always looked upon favourably!

Personally... I think he is great. No disrespect to jazz or any other genre, but the pure tones he gets and sustains do it for me.

Ken.

Pete Thomas · Mar 27, 2006

I don't mind him either, he's a good player.

Melissa · Mar 28, 2006

his hair is cool, I'm jealous 😛

drew_stewart · Mar 28, 2006

you a bald female then melissa? :laugh:

rs2sensen · Mar 28, 2006

I admire his tone, certainly, although as far as technical skill...compared to other players...he has a long way to go. I do feel that he has done a tremendous job at bringing the sax into the mainstream, and he is truly a marketing success. No "Kenny G is the devil" comments from me!

ken · Mar 30, 2006

At 10:17:25 PM 28/03/06, rs2sensen wrote:
I admire his tone, certainly, although as far as technical skill...compared to other players...he has a long way to go.

This is so obviously a beginner question, but I'm truly curious... why is his technical skill not considered up to others??? I can't figure it, perhaps because I haven't heard any of his playing that he does in the styles/genres of other players... I'm probably missing the point.

Ken.

Melissa · Mar 30, 2006

At 7:50:18 PM 28/03/06, drew stewart wrote:
you a bald female then melissa? :laugh:

:laugh:

rollerguy101 · Apr 2, 2006

He's good with tone, but I don't like him because of all the modern cheesiness he adds to the music. I prefer real jazz to his music. Listen to Charlie Parker, Chris Potter, Kenny Garret (not Kenny G), John Coltrane, or Cannonball Adderly instead.

Calbo · Apr 6, 2006

I went to one of his concerts once. I enjoy his music , but the concert was yuk. I think someone else said it, Cheezy. He likes to show off his circular blowing technique on about every second song. The note goes on and on and he doesn't stop until everyone claps. So if you go to one of the concerts start clapping as soon as he starts his blowing.

On a more positive vein, have you heard the Duets album. I think it is really good, it seems to bring out the best in him when he is accompanying someone else.

saxsectionleader · Apr 6, 2006

My band director seems to hate Kenny G. He was the Jazz director at our high school for like 15 years and prefers REAL jazz. He was talking about jazz and our lead tenor wanted to know if he'd ever get to play Soprano. My directors response was "Probably, so long as you don't sound like Kenny G." We have a local celebrity who reminds me of Kenny G. Grady Nichols spends an equal amount of time at concerts showing off circular breathing as he does actually playing music.

Melissa · May 12, 2006

show-offs are so laughable. 😛

tengu01 · May 15, 2006

Instrumental pop - it's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it and the foremost someone is Kenny G.

On the positive side, he has enormous hair :laugh: , has sold millions of records and has done a lot for raising the profile of the saxophone in the musical mainstream

Do I like his music? Not really. I have tried to give it a fair listen but I find it a little too cheesy - elevator music or what you hear on a REALLY bad TV movie during the love scenes :x

However, I am sure many people who have found their way to other saxophonists and less cheesy music having heard him and been curious about what else is out there.

oliver_bentley · Jul 11, 2006

Ha ha - knew I'd find the Kenny G post somewhere. Good tone OK, but so very very cheesy! I like cheese, but only when its mouldy, french or melting in a good fat toastie.

Also - a few comments about "real" Jazz here. Its as if some people see Kenny G as a representaion of modern Jazz, and so shy away from modern jazz and listen to the old classics. Dont get me wrong the classics are great, I love em, but theres so much good modern stuff out there too, being played by fantastic young players. If that doesnt get supported, Jazz will age and die as the middle aged men in suede jackets 😛 (I own one too) age and die.

Bobby G · Jul 11, 2006

"Jazz isn't dead, it just smells funny", as I think someone once said. Quite a long time ago. Probably.

_ray · Aug 4, 2006

Being completely new to the sax world, I am surprised to see so much dislikes wihtin the sax world towards one of the most, if not the most, famous player known to the outside world. Makes me wonder if Vanessa Mae gets as much stick in the violin world.

Bobby G · Aug 4, 2006

I guess Vanessa Mae gets no stick because her hair is perfect and she is gorgeous. Unlike Kenny G whose hair is perfect and... hang on, what am I saying!?!

Bobby G · Aug 4, 2006

Seriously though, it seems to me that every walk of life, not just music, has its hate or at best derision figures. Perhaps we all need to feel superior to someone. At its extreme this can lead to hatred and violence as in 'my team/country/religion is better than yours, take that you scoundrel!' Sometimes it's just a bit of 'armless fun guv.

Hence we deride the likes of Kenny G, Michael Bolton, Manchester United, John Prescott, and latterly the utterly deserving James Blunt.

Cheers, Bob

spike · Aug 4, 2006

well, I've got a stick, long grey hair, a violin, and a leather jacket and I'm going to stick the violin, keep the leather jacket and get my hair trimmed.

Bob you beat me with your rhythm stick, my post would've fit much better between your last two.

ken_aust · Aug 8, 2006

SaxSectionLeader wrote:
My band director seems to hate Kenny G. He was the Jazz director at our high school for like 15 years and prefers REAL jazz. He was talking about jazz and our lead tenor wanted to know if he'd ever get to play Soprano. My directors response was "Probably, so long as you don't sound like Kenny G." We have a local celebrity who reminds me of Kenny G. Grady Nichols spends an equal amount of time at concerts showing off circular breathing as he does actually playing music.

If your band director thinks that Kenny G,s sound is bad he should listen to Sidney Bechet, then compare: snake charmer jobby.