[Dixielandjazz] Kenny G.

[Larry Walton Entertainment]

The Soprano Sax, clarinet and to a certain extent Alto sax because of 
their high pitch tend to get on people's nerves.  I think that's why the 
tenor is much more popular in small groups.  That's why I like a Flugel 
Horn over  Cornet and prefer a Cornet over Trumpet for jazz.  there just 
isn't that edge and is easier to listen to for longer periods of time.  
But just as the Fluegel isn't appropriate all the time neither is the 
Tenor Sax.

I try to take the edge of soprano off by changing instruments often.  
Then there is just plain listener fatigue.  I like bluegrass but I get 
really tired of it after about 20 minutes the same is true of some 
classical composers (Beethoven for one) as well as jazz styles.  I like 
variety and unfortunately I think Kenny G or Kenny G sound wanna be's 
are far too prevalent and are just hard to get away from as you 
mentioned about the plane.  It's just plain hard to tune across the FM 
dial and not hit at least one station playing a Kenny G record.  Good 
for him, not so good for us.

So far as his playing is or is not jazz goes is a matter of taste I 
think.  It certainly isn't Be Bop and it isn't Dixie but is every note 
on a chart that he's playing from without any improv?  I doubt that 
too.  I think that he's somewhere in between. After anyone has played, 
or we have listened to, the same tune about 1000 times it quits becoming 
jazz even if it was in the first place such as some of the traditional 
big band solos have become trite. 

I think of it as commercial Jazz.  Not pure jazz but not Lawrence Welk 
either.  I think everyone would agree with the Commercial part.

I don't go out of my way to listen to Kenny G stuff and I haven't heard 
any of his Xmas album yet.
Larry Walton
St. Louis
Jim Kashishian wrote:
> Steve wrote:
>   
>> His music is jazz. And his new Christmas album is one of the best around. 
>>     
>
> As I said, the Christmas CD is jazz at it's best, but other things put out
> by Mr. G. have been pure junk mostly.  A good player?  Yes.  Plays in tune?
> Yes.  Most of what he has put out which sits in the Jazz section at your
> local store is Jazz? No!
>
> For years I had to fly on Iberia & listen to his squeaking through those
> tiny speakers they put in the ceilings of airplanes as the planes taxied &
> taxied & taxied, and he squeaked, and he squeaked, and he squeaked.  
>
> Nevertheless, he has redeamed himself with this CD.  Excellent.  I didn't
> buy it, and probably won't, but what I heard was great jazz playing.
>
> Jim
>
>
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