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Kenny G is a great musician. You might not like his style, which is fine, but no saxophonist has any right to hate him, which unfortunately we see it happening quite frequently. If you are over 40, and ignore Kenny G's importance to the saxophone world, you lived in a cave during the late 80's/90's. The guy made the saxophone popular in the 80's/90's. Took it to the main stage, and mainstream radios worldwide. Took it to places where an imported Jazz record would cost you an arm and a leg, but you could find a radio playing his songs FOR FREE. With that, he inspired thousands of future players to pick up and learn the instrument and many of them are making a living from music at all levels, be it on the local gospel scene; or playing at local night events; some even got to the very top. So, all I have for him is respect and appreciation for what he has done and the many lives he has touched and inspired.

@DavePollack

3 ай бұрын

Absolutely agree!!

Saw Kenny G live in 1994 when I was a beginner sax player. He was pretty much peak popularity, and put on a great concert. I was really inspired to keep playing because of the love he put into his playing. I wasn’t hung up on “the integrity of jazz” or anything like that. Always loved his passion for his music. Thanks for uploading The Hang session. Keep up the great content, Dave!

@DavePollack

3 ай бұрын

You’re so welcome!

@wyndhl8309

3 ай бұрын

Bob Reynolds, an educator and saxophonist of authentic Organic Jazz, said it wonderfully well: having been initially motivated by Kenny G's appearance and performance, as a kid, he took up the saxophone, practiced seriously and never allowed himself to be distracted or discouraged 😮 Dave, you have been making such great observations, too. The G-man is always on point, isn't he?

@douglange6863

3 ай бұрын

I saw Kenny G in 1986 opening for a George Benson concert in Seattle. Kenny G played with such great energy that he took us to Carnegie Hall!

inspiring

The documentary "Listening to Kenny G" is interesting and well done. Worth a watch even if you're not a fan to get the back story and some insights into the music industry.

Treating every performance like is really important! Such a good lesson. Years ago I was doing busking in France and sometimes it got a bit "monotonous." Then I listened to some recordings of Jacques Brelle and saw how much passion he put into every song, no matter how many times he had sung it and no matter for whom. It had a real impact on me and have tried to implement that in my playing since then. My reply to the "jazz police" critics of Kenny G is, "have you listened to his "Brazilian Nights" album?"

Great counsel, especially #3. His material doesn't do much for me but, darn, the guy's a much better player than I'll ever be and he's had an enviable career. Good for him, and for those who love his music! We need more of that, not less.

Excellent lessons for all of us. Thanks for sharing.

@DavePollack

3 ай бұрын

Very welcome!

I've listened to a lot of Kenny G over the years. His music inspired me to learn about jazz and also to play the saxophone. I play a fair amount of traditional jazz but my inspiration was cultivated and groomed by my unabashed and thoroughly enjoyable exposure to the man's work. I dislike the disdain people show toward Kenny. I think it hurts the musician community. His work has done so much more for any of us than it has brought any glimmer of harm any of us could suggest was caused.

@DavePollack

3 ай бұрын

1000000000%

Great tips i agree with, especially being true to yourself. If you feel passion about what you're performing, people will feel that 🙂🎶

@DavePollack

3 ай бұрын

Yes!!

Do you know if Dudley Moore ever published the song called "Brogan"? Kenny G is a featured artist with this performance. I love that song and have been trying to find the sheet music 4ever.

@DavePollack

2 ай бұрын

I honestly have no idea - I can reach out to Kenny and find out though! (also thanks so much for stopping by my channel!! 🙏)

truly inspiring. 👍🎶 thank you Dave

@DavePollack

3 ай бұрын

You’re welcome!

Wonderful interview. I first heard KG at the Montreuxs Jazz festival in 1987 with George Duke. Killer!! While I don’t listen to him much, I appreciate his musicality and generosity. And actually I have never forgiven Pat Metheny for his attack on Kenny, however much I dig his playing. And of course, Dave, it’s your parodies that kickstarted your KZread career. Ok. Time to listen to my Devlin-Pollack-G playlist 🙏🏻

@DavePollack

3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for the kind words!

Kenny G is a great player. In tune, in time, 100% consistent. So don´t be bad mouthing him. I think the days of putting negative stuff out about Kenny are over now. People can say " it´s not Jazz". Well really who cares?

@DavePollack

3 ай бұрын

People will always find ways to hate on others (who are usually more successful than them). We can just laugh at them!

This interview was absolute gold. Kenny is a fantastic player, not my favourite genre, but an example to us all. I enjoyed Bob Reynolds' tribute to him a couple of years ago too. kzread.info/dash/bejne/fXtqzsOheNycmc4.htmlsi=YSGTBnfcLJrGagFE kzread.info/dash/bejne/fXtqzsOheNycmc4.htmlsi=YSGTBnfcLJrGagFE

Pat Metheny didn't 'attack' Kenny G, he just said that Kenny G's music is not jazz.

@DavePollack

20 күн бұрын

Uh....this is just a small part of metheny's rant: When kenny g decided that it was appropriate for him to defile the music of the man who is probably the greatest jazz musician that has ever lived by spewing his lame-ass, jive, pseudo bluesy, out-of-tune, noodling, wimped out, fucked up playing all over one of the great louis’s tracks (even one of his lesser ones), he did something that i would not have imagined possible. he, in one move, through his unbelievably pretentious and calloused musical decision to embark on this most cynical of musical paths, shit all over the graves of all the musicians past and present who have risked their lives by going out there on the road for years and years developing their own music inspired by the standards of grace that louis armstrong brought to every single note he played over an amazing lifetime as a musician. by disrespecting louis, his legacy and by default, everyone who has ever tried to do something positive with improvised music and what it can be, kenny g has created a new low point in modern culture.