Talk:Kenny G
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Personal Life
Kenny G's wife Lyndie Benson-Gorlick filed for legal separation on 19th January 2012 citing "irreconcilable differences" in L.A. County Superior Court. http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/19/kenny-g-wife-legal-separation-divorce/?adid=hero3
Boring Turd Commentary
Whatever mature adult decided to vandalize this page and repeatedly call Kenny G a "boring turd" should get off Wikipedia and expend a little more effort on getting his kindergarten GED. I'm not entitled to fix this vandalism, as some large chunks of information that I can't fill in seem to have been cut out (I don't know too much about Kenny G), so if anyone would like to restore Kenny G to his former glory, go right ahead. 62 Misfit (talk) 16:20, 9 May 2009 (UTC) The man is a great musician not a great jazz musician, but he is an important part of the genre in question like it or not. Jazz music is heard today more than ever because of Kenny G, an that is a fact that even if you don't like him, you have to agree with. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Soundlib (talk • contribs) 20:03, 28 December 2009 (UTC)
- i have no idea why this is so funny to me, but I don't make it past the second line before laughing until I cried. Thank you ~2026-30953-19 (talk) 21:34, 23 May 2026 (UTC)
Birthdate
I found various dates quoted for his date of birth. I added him to July 6 before I realised the confusion. He's listed as being born on June 6 on 1956 in music (and some online sources), and I saw another couple of dates quoted elsewhere. Does anyone have a reliable source? fabiform | talk 19:43, 9 May 2004 (UTC)
- Logic dictates june 6th - making his birthdate a very appropriate 6/6/56 :) I'm guessing his place of birth was actually Megiddo -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 02:41, 28 May 2004 (UTC)
Most wanted articles
I must say that while I'm not a fan of Kenny G, it shocks me that we didn't have an article on him until so recently. Kudos to fabiform for filling the gap. Oh, and I have no idea when he was born. Isomorphic 05:21, 17 May 2004 (UTC)
- I found him languishing on Wikipedia:Most wanted articles, which is quite a nicely random selection of articles to work on if you're in need of inspiration. :) fabiform | talk 16:32, 17 May 2004 (UTC)
Did he really invent the sax like it says in the article? Seems hard to believe! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.107.59.237 (talk) 21:19, 30 January 2011 (UTC)
- In the absence of any response so far (6 years 10 months is a long time), I'm led to answer that difficult question. Ready? Here goes, and hold on to your horses!
- The answer is in the negatory.
2600:1700:EA01:1090:5892:B30E:6D4E:2005 (talk) 02:27, 1 December 2018 (UTC)
Which saxophone?
His bio doesn't say which saxophone he plays???
- Though I can't garuntee that this is all he plays on his albums, but he is mostly seen (I've only seen) playing a soprano sax. The photo of him on the article is of him holding an soprano sax. La Pizza11 01:50, 20 February 2006 (UTC)
- On some songs, he also plays alto and tenor. Andros 1337 16:22, 9 March 2006 (UTC)
Kenny G started on alto saxophone, and his main instrument is the soprano saxophone, which he has played almost exclusively for the past decade, with the exception of the occasional tenor sax track on his albums. He plays tenor sax at his concerts which you can see clips of on YouTube to provide some contrast, because he tends to play more upbeat songs on tenor and flash his chops in the high harmonics there, whereas most of his work includes using the circular breathing technique to endlessly play runs on his soprano sax over soft, slower melodies. However, he usually begins his concerts with "Home," a song from his 1988 album Silhouette, which is performed on alto sax.
Kenny has been playing a Selmer Mark VI soprano sax (as well as same brand and model for tenor and alto sax) for literally decades--you can even see the lacquer deterioration on his soprano sax on the cover of his albums from even 20 years ago. Selmer is based in Paris, not far from the town of Belgium where inventor Adolph Sax (a clarinetist whose dad invented & repaired brass instruments called saxhorns) was from. Selmer made the Mark VI model from the 1950s-1970s, and they are deemed to be the "Stradivari" of saxophones. If you can legitimately buy one from eBay, it will easily run $5,000.
Kenny G, in his earlier albums from the 1980s, would play the Lyricon wind synthesizer--a digital wind controller that could be connected to a mini-Moog synthesizer and played like a saxophone. Kenny G also sponsored the Casio DH-100 (digital MIDI horn), and can be heard playing both flute and alto flute on his first album released by Arista Records in 1982.
Kenny G has been known to use La Voz brand reeds in the 80s, but since the 90s, has used a Bobby Dukoff metal mouthpiece for his soprano sax, size/model D8, uses a Rovner 1M leather ligature, and Frederick L. Hemke brand reeds (available from the Rico website), size 2 1/2.
For those of you that don't know, obviously there exists a whole family of saxophones, and the soprano sax is rarely used in school bands (seldom if ever appears in any symphonic, marching or concert band as no sheet music is typically written for this instrument); however, it frequently appears in jazz and pep bands. It can be straight like a clarinet or curved like other saxophones (either way it does not affect the sound). Famous saxophonist and friend of Kenny G is Dave Koz, who plays many saxophones including a curved soprano sax. All saxophones are either in the key of B-flat or E-flat. In the case of Kenny G, both a soprano sax and a tenor sax are B-flat instruments, so they can read the same music as a trumpet or clarinet. The tenor sax is exactly twice the size of a soprano sax, and because all saxophones share the same fingering system (which is based on physics, by the way--that's why if you learn how to play recorder in elementary school the fingering is very similar to that of any flute, piccolo, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, and clarinet), playing a note on soprano sax is the exact same fingering and note on a tenor sax but one octave higher (i.e. middle C on a soprano sax is fingered with just the middle finger on the left hand pearl-key but sounds like high-C on a tenor sax--played the same way but with the octave key pressed with the left thumb). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.174.178.126 (talk) 21:45, 4 August 2010 (UTC)
The clarinet isn't the same fingering as the saxophone. It overblows at the 12th, not the octave. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.232.123.178 (talk) 05:44, 23 September 2010 (UTC)
Genre dispute
By definition, Kenny G is a smooth jazz saxophonist, not a pop saxophonist. His music sounds nothing like pop music (i.e. Britney Spears). You will NEVER find Kenny G in the pop section of a music store, he will always be found in the jazz section. His main influence was Grover Washington Jr. I am not going to get into the argument whether smooth jazz is a valid jazz genre or not, but to remain neutral, he should be classed as smooth jazz. Andros 1337 21:52, 18 March 2006 (UTC)
very true, he is the exact opposite of pop music, people like usher, and the backstreet boys are pop, kenny g is jazz. the sax is a dead give away
Give me a break. Kenny G never improvises at all in his performances. His pieces are all arranged in advance, sax as well as orchestra, note for note. The essence of jazz is original composition inspired by a melody, usually a "standard," or popular song of some kind. Regardless of where record-store clerks happen to place his recordings, Kenny has never been a jazz performer at all. While some jazz performers, such as Ella Fitzgerald, have indeed made some--even many--pop recordings, they have also made many jazz recordings. The difference is in whether they improvise or not. Sinatra, for example, a consummate musician, has never made a jazz recording. It is not a question of greater, but of different.66.108.145.155 01:19, 13 April 2006 (UTC) Allen Roth
THE SAX IS A DEAD GIVE AWAY??? How ignorant are you? Sax is used not only in jazz, but classical, POP, rock, R&B and avante-garde. Jimi Hendrix improvises, does that make him a jazz musician? I agree with the adult contemporary genre but I strongly disagree that Kenny's music is jazz.
- Pop simply means "popular". "Pop" music isn't an established genre, like Jazz. Any music can fall into that category. Anybody who doesn't think Mr. G is pop music should be shot.
THANKYOU! Fantastic comment you are great.
I would agree with the thought that Kenny G is not a jazz musician, for several reasons. One, as mentioned above, he does not improvise. While improvising is not limited to jazz, it is still an essential part of jazz. No improv, no jazz. Number two, in Kenny G's music, there is absolutely no musical reference to any traditional jazz arrangements, such as chord changes, melodic arrangements (i.e. AABA form), swing notes, and especially the blues. Although there are certainly wonderful pieces of jazz that are missing some of these elements, if a piece of music contains none of them, it ought to be disqualified as jazz. It also does not help that so much of Kenny G's music is synthesized. However, while his music is certainly not jazz, a mention should be put in the article of his prodigious talent in handling fast music.63.43.18.139 02:42, 27 August 2006 (UTC)
- I don't think that's quite accurate. A good deal of jazz is arranged, there is even Category:Jazz music arrangers. Although usually arranged jazz basically means big band not solo work. The other point you make I would have to agree with, in that very little of his music seems to be based in any jazz tradition not even smooth jazz. It rarely "sounds like" jazz of any kind. (Although he's had a few songs I think are jazz, most being when he started out) I don't think I'm being a purist because Candy Dulfer and David Sanborn "sound" more jazzy to me. Granted I'm not trained in music so I can't explain what I mean by that. That said I don't think he's pop either. He usually sounds more like "Easy Listening" or "New Age" and those are the sections where I've seen him. Not that I ever bought any of his stuff, but I'll admit he had a few songs back in the early 90s I liked pretty well.--T. Anthony 11:00, 18 September 2006 (UTC)
Most mainstream jazz musicians do not consider Kenny G's genre to be jazz. There was an interview of Pat Metheny several years ago where he was very adamant that Kenny G's music not jazz. Kenny G is just like many artists who are chosen by the music industry to force on the public. His music is very cookie-cutter and packaged just like many "pop" artists. The public is inundated with these so-called artists on a daily basis on the air waves and in advertisement. People who are exploring jazz for the first time are sometimes lead down the path that the Kenny G's music is actually jazz. Many times because the music stores whether it's Tower Records, Circuit City or Best Buy place his music under jazz. All of the smooth jazz stations owned by Jefferson Pilot/Lincoln Financial jam Kenny G down the public's throat.
Silick\\ Whatever music means to you is subject to your intepretation of it, music alone is what is appreciated and the fact is that Kenny G is a very good musician who plays soulful melodies (my opinion) and arguing whether or not his music is strictly "jazz" in the traditional sense is irrelevant as music is constantly changing and the diversity it brings ought to be accepeted and even embraced. And to the subject to those musicians who are in the mainstream jazz are confining their creative flair by imposing limits on their music and others' by stating it must lie within a particular genre/chord progression/rhytmn. Music matters as expression, that is indeed if it comes from the heart and beyond that it as appreciation of the listner to identify/intepret the music and not judge it relative to musical classes that we force upon. Music simply is music.
- FYI, I added a link to the article for the full text of Metheny's last comments on the jazz or not debate, Metheny changed his mind, sort of, while ripping Kenny a new one the size of a musical Grand Canyon. Tvccs 08:06, 29 October 2006 (UTC)
The fact that Kenny G categorizes his music as jazz is in itself an invitation for all jazz musicians and listeners to make the comparison between what jazz is now established to be and what Mr. G plays. Anyone who does this however quickly realizes how wrong he is. Kenny G's music is not jazz as established jazz musicians see it. Firstly, his music contains very little improvisation, which is a fundamental characteristic of jazz. He also frequently employs harmony which is characteristic of pop music, and rarely uses jazz associated harmony. He simply uses the saxophone as a tool for melody playing, just in the same way that this is often done on pop records. Many people who are ignorant to this do not realize the differences between this music and jazz and therefore believe what Kenny G says, incorrectly categorizing the music as jazz. For this reason there should be a paragraph about genre dispute and musical criticism, even if only to comment on the aforementioned contradiction and to let people know about this widespread misunderstanding.
The correct classification of Kenny G's music is smooth jazz, in my opinion. Whether smooth jazz is real jazz or not is a valid and active debate, but it's really not material to this, I don't think. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Elmorell (talk • contribs) 02:25, 13 June 2008 (UTC)
For those who think he isn't a pop saxophonist, let me say this. A lot of his harmonies are not traditional jazz harmonies, and much of his improvisation is ornamentation, something most pop singers do to. So what would an instrumental pop band with a saxophonist as the main instrument sound like? I don't think it would sound different. And yes, his music is very much like most pop musicians, and much less like many of the smooth jazz bands that started smooth jazz. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.232.123.178 (talk) 05:38, 23 September 2010 (UTC)
I can't find the link to Pat Metheny's comments about Kenny G. Is it still in the article? If not, why not? John Link (talk) 00:45, 18 March 2012 (UTC)
- See Ben Ratliff ref. --Bob K31416 (talk) 18:44, 28 April 2012 (UTC)
In the face of the arguments back and forth, here is something to chew on. Whatever other genre his music might be thought to fall into, Kenny G is a determined player of Elevator Music, which goes some way to explain the popularity of escalators. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:1700:EA01:1090:5892:B30E:6D4E:2005 (talk) 02:32, 1 December 2018 (UTC)
Clean Up
Please, especially discog.
DRUMMERS NAME?????
I need some help please in locating the drummers name in the band of Kenny G's first album Kenny G, I believe the last name is Alexander, but not sure if anyone can help me with this it would be greatly appreciated..email to iveri_ma@yahoo.com, thanks so much....
Cheap-ass drum machine. you're welcome. -matrick —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.18.137.95 (talk) 21:53, 27 October 2009 (UTC)
Legitimacy
I think that the general jazz community would NOT consider Kenny G to be a jazz saxiphonist. Aside from a vast majority of jazz lovers (myself included) who think he is terrible, there are realistic aspects of his music (and I haven't heard all of it, so bear in mind I speak for a few tracks that I have listened, and the words of others) that allow him to NOT be placed in the realm of jazz.
--Gautam3 07:00, 29 October 2006 (UTC)
- This page already has a lot of debate on the subject, and I added some detail with support on disdain for Kenny G in various forums to the article. However, much as I hate to, I'm deferring to Metheny here, who I thought addressed the issue well in his 2000 comments linked here. He explained why he went from the "not jazz" to "okay, most people think he is" position pretty well. He also did a great job of articulating, from a very knowledgeable point of view, just how bad he thinks Kenny G is, jazz, or not. Tvccs 08:04, 29 October 2006 (UTC)
Longest Note
Why does this article claim that the man who broke Kenny's record did so by farting?
I didn't see anything regarding flatulence. I even did a search of the main page. Someone can delete this entire section labeled "Longest Note" when what I am saying is verified again.
--Gautam3 02:59, 6 November 2006 (UTC)
I strongly object to Kenny G being listed as a jazz musician. Is Cheez-Whiz cheese? Is Thunderbird wine? I don't advocate vandalism but if it happened on this article I wouldn't complain.
Large deletion in September?
I'm curious as to why Kenny G's whole discography, early life, criticism and see also sections were removed (and never replaced) back on the 25th September by an anonymous IP? Shouldn't these be reinstated? H4cksaw 15:29, 13 January 2007 (UTC)



