[Dixielandjazz] Kenny G.

[Steve barbone]

Right on Russ. Here are 4 more of his accomplishments.

1) He is wealthy from musical earnings.

2) He is successful as he defines success.

3) He is the best known/most admired "jazz" musician on the planet.

4) He could care less whether anybody on the DJML likes it or not.

Cheers
Steve Barbone


Russ Guarino <russg at redshift.com> wrote:

> Some thoughts about Kenny G.
> 
> He gets a lot of bashing, but I think many have overlooked his technical
> skills and what he has accomplished over his career.
> 
> 1] He plays a pretty good Soprano.  In tune & balanced throughout the range of
> the horn. He does not have "good" parts of the horn and "bad" parts.  They are
> all good. He is technically strong.  He can, it is said, circular breathe.
> 
> 1a] He maintains the usual celebrity look, with long curly hair.  He is trim
> and athletic looking.  You can see there is more to him that what you hear.
> 
> 2] He plays mostly original compositions, which in my view, aren't too
> interesting, but nonetheless they are his and not someone else's. They are
> sort of wandering lines, harmonic not strident, but they are not "catchy". [
> He is
> definitely not Erroll Garner ].   I can never remember them after they are
> played.  They sort of drone on, but I think the audience he appeals to are not
> really listening, but rather letting the music create a soft plush nest in
> which they pursue other thinking.
> 
> 3] He uses a small ensemble, usually a vibes or guitar or keyboard as
> accompaniment. What he does is not complex.
> 
> 4] Every now and then he breaks into real harmonic traditional licks, which
> are short and give me the impression that he says "sorry, I try not to sound
> like the other guys, but I couldn't help myself.  I'll leave the real stuff
> to you guys".  You can hear that you would not want to get into a real "butt
> kicking" contest with him.  I think he can knock most guys on their backside.
> 
> 5] He now has a broad audience recognition and they accept his music, as dull
> as it is, but they seem to like it. I think his music becomes a background
> "buzz" that is comforting and not intrusive.
> 
> 6]  Most of us are trying to knock the socks off our audiences with musical
> lines and licks that are dramatic and ear catching.  Sonny G. shoots for an
> entirely different target, easy music no one really hears but creates a soft
> mood. And he has succeeded all the way to the bank.
> 
> 7] How many of us are playing the AT&T as a celebrity?  Kenny G. does.