Both KG and your band have a product that is high enough in quality to command a certain market. You both have figured out how to cater to, and maintain your clientele. Please enlighten me as to what is unfair about that?
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Vail Johnson
- Thread starter Munjibunga
- Start date
Both KG and your band have a product that is high enough in quality to command a certain market. You both have figured out how to cater to, and maintain your clientele. Please enlighten me as to what is unfair about that?
I actually liked Kenny G when he was with The Jeff Lorber Fusion-he was known as Kenny Gorelick back then. After he left JLF, I wasn't feeling his music or his playing. However, I have a been a Vail Johnson fan from day one. I have yet to read his defense of Kenny G, but I'm not surprised that he did-he's made a very good living because of the Kenny G gig. How many of you, if offered the Kenny G gig, would turn it down? I'd take it!
A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!
A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!
I believe his 'defense' of Kenny G was here in a thread somewhere. Basically, Pat said he wanted to bust Kenny over the head with his guitar. Vail basically said 'Nah, ain't gonna happen'!I actually liked Kenny G when he was with The Jeff Lorber Fusion-he was known as Kenny Gorelick back then. After he left JLF, I wasn't feeling his music or his playing. However, I have a been a Vail Johnson fan from day one. I have yet to read his defense of Kenny G, but I'm not surprised that he did-he's made a very good living because of the Kenny G gig. How many of you, if offered the Kenny G gig, would turn it down? I'd take it!
A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!
As for the gig. you damn right I would take it. Isn't that what many of us all strive for? A well paying high profile gig? Kenny G's music is not my fav but I like it enough to play it for a living.
I'm not sure how KG looks at it himself (and you gotta' give him props for not taking himself too seriously and being able to make fun of himself in that car commercial 
), but I don't think what he does should be looked at as "Jazz".
To me it's Pop/R'n'B with a sax instead of a voice. If he's presenting himself as producing "Jazz", I can see where someone like a Pat Metheny might have a problem with that.
I know most record outlets will put his CD's in the "Jazz" section, but is this how he really sees his material?
I ask because I've never seen him talk or have I read any interviews about it.
As I said before, one of my guitarists frequently does recordings with Vail out in L.A.. He's a take no crap from a**holes kind of guy and I've never heard him say a bad word about Vail as a player or a person.
On the other side of the coin, lot's of great players have left great paying gigs to go to other gigs.
Maybe there is a reason Vail hasn't been on another "great" gig over the many years.
Jeff Berlin admitted himself that, at the height of his chops/attitude period, a lot of people didn't want to work with him.
), but I don't think what he does should be looked at as "Jazz".To me it's Pop/R'n'B with a sax instead of a voice. If he's presenting himself as producing "Jazz", I can see where someone like a Pat Metheny might have a problem with that.
I know most record outlets will put his CD's in the "Jazz" section, but is this how he really sees his material?
I ask because I've never seen him talk or have I read any interviews about it.
As I said before, one of my guitarists frequently does recordings with Vail out in L.A.. He's a take no crap from a**holes kind of guy and I've never heard him say a bad word about Vail as a player or a person.
On the other side of the coin, lot's of great players have left great paying gigs to go to other gigs.
Maybe there is a reason Vail hasn't been on another "great" gig over the many years.
Jeff Berlin admitted himself that, at the height of his chops/attitude period, a lot of people didn't want to work with him.
Vail's a great player and I personally would love to have the Kenny G gig. Now his mullet is fair game, but we all had mullet's back then. The only difference is that he was taped sporting a mullet and the videos are still played today.
Still love the Arsenio Hall segment:
Still love the Arsenio Hall segment:
Kenny G never labeled himself as a Jazz artist. There are also hundreds of instrumental artists who also do not fit the Jazz category (and they've said so). That is a record label and record store created tag!I'm not sure how KG looks at it himself (and you gotta' give him props for not taking himself too seriously and being able to make fun of himself in that car commercial
To me it's Pop/R'n'B with a sax instead of a voice. If he's presenting himself as producing "Jazz", I can see where someone like a Pat Metheny might have a problem with that.
I know most record outlets will put his CD's in the "Jazz" section, but is this how he really sees his material?
I ask because I've never seen him talk or have I read any interviews about it.
As I said before, one of my guitarists frequently does recordings with Vail out in L.A.. He's a take no crap from a**holes kind of guy and I've never heard him say a bad word about Vail as a player or a person.
On the other side of the coin, lot's of great players have left great paying gigs to go to other gigs.
Maybe there is a reason Vail hasn't been on another "great" gig over the many years.
Jeff Berlin admitted himself that, at the height of his chops/attitude period, a lot of people didn't want to work with him.
I've met Vail personally and he's a very nice guy! Gave me free tickets to a concert and backstage passes. I enjoyed the show.
As to whether he has he played for other artists besides Kenny G? Link Removed He also has 4 solo cd's. I think he's quite busy. Bottom line....he's a well paid pro with a killer gig. I really don't think he cares what the haters think!
I saw that amp weight thread but didn't check it out until I it got to 6 pages. I clicked and they were talking about Yanni's bass player. I kind of imagined it going like this:
How much should an amp weigh?
shuttle club: 6 lbs
SVT club: 80 lbs
Old fart: Do a search noob!
Markbass club: 5.2 lbs
Aguilar club: 60 lbs
P&W club: Pray about it.
JimmyM: Toooooooooooooooooooooooobs!
Kjung: Ive tried several and currently my favorite is 4.9 lbs, but McDonalds has a new 1/4 pounder out that Ive got on order. If the mids are centered at 742.8 khz I think Ill like it but Ive heard their at 741.6. It might still meet my tonal needs. When it gets here Ill post clips. IMO, YMMV, IME, IMHE, AFIAK, ***
Munji: Have you noticed Oprah has put on a few pounds?
Greenboy: Weight per watt is dependent on the cosine of the harmonic coeffiecient tuned to A 440 divided by blah blah blah...
Dr. Cheese: Why are all these amps black?
Maki: Did somebody mention Asian chicks?
Big Ol Harry: You're all worthless and weak!
Bill Fitzmaurice: Its not weight its xmax. xmax I tell you. xmax!!!
Tom Bowlus: Just get one of each.
Boy did I get that one wrong.
How much should an amp weigh?
shuttle club: 6 lbs
SVT club: 80 lbs
Old fart: Do a search noob!
Markbass club: 5.2 lbs
Aguilar club: 60 lbs
P&W club: Pray about it.
JimmyM: Toooooooooooooooooooooooobs!
Kjung: Ive tried several and currently my favorite is 4.9 lbs, but McDonalds has a new 1/4 pounder out that Ive got on order. If the mids are centered at 742.8 khz I think Ill like it but Ive heard their at 741.6. It might still meet my tonal needs. When it gets here Ill post clips. IMO, YMMV, IME, IMHE, AFIAK, ***
Munji: Have you noticed Oprah has put on a few pounds?
Greenboy: Weight per watt is dependent on the cosine of the harmonic coeffiecient tuned to A 440 divided by blah blah blah...
Dr. Cheese: Why are all these amps black?
Maki: Did somebody mention Asian chicks?
Big Ol Harry: You're all worthless and weak!
Bill Fitzmaurice: Its not weight its xmax. xmax I tell you. xmax!!!
Tom Bowlus: Just get one of each.
Boy did I get that one wrong.
Hmmm...strange....I have known both Pat and his Brother for nearly 30 years and I can't ever recall a time when Pat made those comments (I haven't talked with him on a daily basis in some 10 years) but I'm sure that if he did, it was in jest. Some of us seem to take things a little too damn seriously...geezzzzz....lighten up!
I have never had the pleasure of talking to Vail but I have enjoyed his work for years. Were his comments a little harsh? IMO yes. Blanket statements COVER everything and BLIND everything. In my humble opinion, His blanket statement was condescending and terse to say the very least.
I have heard hilarious comments about Kenny G for more years than I care to remember by more people than I can even name. Do I take them to heart? Absolutely not! Kenny is a world renown musician, his reputation ALWAYS preceeds his performance.
So, let's laugh at ourselves a little more, huh??
*edit* Having read the article in question - I understand what might have upset Pat and, additionally, Do NOT think "wrapping a guitar around his neck" is anything to be taken seriously. Now I have to call Pat and ream him out.....
Pat spoke TRUTH. Gorlick needs to take his punishment like the man his first name suggests he might be.
JAUQO III-X
Inactive
I actually liked Kenny G when he was with The Jeff Lorber Fusion-he was known as Kenny Gorelick back then. After he left JLF, I wasn't feeling his music or his playing. However, I have a been a Vail Johnson fan from day one. I have yet to read his defense of Kenny G, but I'm not surprised that he did-he's made a very good living because of the Kenny G gig. How many of you, if offered the Kenny G gig, would turn it down? I'd take it!
A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!
Oh, I'd take the gig - but heck, I took a gig with a touring CW band many years back - I have *no* pride whatsoever!
But I'd rather hear 30 fat men farting for seven hours than five seconds of Gorelick.
Really?
For what it's worth, his live show is far different than listening to one of his records. The band is killin' and their sound crew know how to mix a live show! Best I've ever heard! I'd guarantee you'd want to play with that band! One of the best I've heard!
I would take a KG gig and love it! I saw KG 2x back in the late 80's and he puts on a damn good show. Some of these "respected" cats could learn a few things from it. The KG Live CD is probably his best IMHO and I'll defend it for what it's worth.
Really?
For what it's worth, his live show is far different than listening to one of his records. The band is killin' and their sound crew know how to mix a live show! Best I've ever heard! I'd guarantee you'd want to play with that band! One of the best I've heard!
I do not doubt he hires great backup guys. I just find his playing, his choice of music, his approach to the entire genre offensive. Heck, right now, I *do* play music I'd never really listen to (dance/bar music) - because playing and listening are two different things. Hell, maybe old Kenny is a saint who gives his spare money to orphans - but even if he were, I'd still not want to hear any of his recordings. But I'd take the job. Like I said, I'm not proud, which is a nice way of saying I'm a musical whore like the majority of the musicians I know.
Time to get reacquainted with your Buddy.
These certainly don't seem to be "in jest".
(Although in the written interview he states the video was a little out of context, but doesn't back off of the content).
[/QUOTE]
I was refering more to another "home base" type of regular gig. Not just a list of credits which JB also managed to accrue during his admitted "difficult" period, but point taken.
Yes it is.THAT is some funny sh!t right there
I read the posts Vail wrote in the amp section regarding light weight amps and i have to say ... the guy comes off as a douchebag , he can definitely play a bass & he can definitely say dumb sh*t .
" Women and the French don't get it " ????? Vail Johnson is an ignoramus in all sense of the word.
" Women and the French don't get it " ????? Vail Johnson is an ignoramus in all sense of the word.
Wow.
I got to page 5 of the amp weight thread.
All I got out of it was this.
Vail " Lightweight amps suck for me"
Everybody else , save for maybe 2, "You SUCK VAIL!"
Great forum guys. Keep it up.
I got to page 5 of the amp weight thread.
All I got out of it was this.
Vail " Lightweight amps suck for me"
Everybody else , save for maybe 2, "You SUCK VAIL!"
Great forum guys. Keep it up.
