- May 30, 2000
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Who played in Kenny G live?
- Thread starter masterFunk
- Start date
Quote: from vail_bass
You yourself encourage 'forcing' people to listen to this or that; that's certainly not acceptance.
Oh narcissistic, dismissive arbiter of all that it tasty, your smugness is rivaled only by your inability to realize that there are other equally valid perspectives.
You yourself encourage 'forcing' people to listen to this or that; that's certainly not acceptance.
Sorry - where have I said that - I was the person who was correcting the others and saying it's about personal taste...?
I think that some people need to be forced to listen to Central Park West or My Favourite Things...
PS - what was it we used to say about anybody with a number in their username..?
I like things that both have done - but they have also done things I don't like and have shown questionable musical taste at times...?
Stevie's funky tunes and early works are some of my favourite music ever - but I just cringe when I hear things like "I just called..."
I have a compilation of the best of George Benson and about half of it is great - but half I just never listen to and is just "disposable" as far as I am concerned...
Of course that doesn't change the fact that both George and Stevie are great musicians - but taste is another thing...?
Oh narcissistic, dismissive arbiter of all that it tasty, your smugness is rivaled only by your inability to realize that there are other equally valid perspectives.
By the way Bruce, just because you and your fellow luddites have never heard of Kenny G doesn't lessen the impact he's had on the instrumental market and it's all positive.
He brought sax to the 'mainstream', as he's a straight up pop artist and millions upon millions of people who never cared about sax or intsrumental music at all have become 'aware' and interested.
Tons of musicians have more work and record sales because of the Kenny G phenomenon. Kenny is the biggest selling instrumental artist in the history of the world, my friend. 80 million albums sold world wide. You may rue the creation of the 'Smooth Jazz' genre but that was the marketplace's reaction to the unbridled popularity of Kenny's music. More music, more concerts and more musicians working is a good thing. Can I get an 'amen' out there talkbass guys?
He brought sax to the 'mainstream', as he's a straight up pop artist and millions upon millions of people who never cared about sax or intsrumental music at all have become 'aware' and interested.
Tons of musicians have more work and record sales because of the Kenny G phenomenon. Kenny is the biggest selling instrumental artist in the history of the world, my friend. 80 million albums sold world wide. You may rue the creation of the 'Smooth Jazz' genre but that was the marketplace's reaction to the unbridled popularity of Kenny's music. More music, more concerts and more musicians working is a good thing. Can I get an 'amen' out there talkbass guys?
Well I think you have missed the point that that was a humorous comment and a little "aside" to JimK who has very similar taste to me and who I have known here for many years!
You know on the internet, we have these little things called "smilies" which indicate the presence of humour!!
Well, you can't tell people what to like...
That's exactly what I was saying above!
And no matter how many stats or superlatives you apply, still doesn't mean people have to like it!!
This thread got me to listen to some Kenny G on youtube. Truly amazing! Ugly, sappy, over-flourished drivel. I play sax (when not on bass) and I think that even my improvisational vocabulary is beyond the simple minor pentatonic runs he keeps repeating (and I'm no damn good). It's no wonder that he sticks to bland elevator music for fearful little old people. He is speaking right to them and their lifeless habit-filled days and nights.
That's exactly what I was saying above!
And no matter how many stats or superlatives you apply, still doesn't mean people have to like it!!
geez Bruce, are you reading any of my responses? I state clearly that I don't think anyone 'should like' anything. There's no debate on a persons right to like/ dislike.
Don't like Kenny, that's your prerogative; I don't like Ornette Coleman, so what?
My original query so long ago was "WHY the harsh attitude towards Kenny?" That's all; there's so much vapid sniping from some people that I just wanted to ask why.
The original question here was re: who played that solo..... and some responses were something lke "well that's vail but kenny g sucks".
I have come to some conclusions;
jealousy plays a role for most, as is common for all genres;
Some ( and I suspect you fall into this category) hate the fact that so many people associate Kenny G with "Jazz" and we know that's a mistake made by the masses and not Kenny's fault, so your anger/ frustration/ malcontent is misplaced. Kenny's a pop artist so your criticism is like saying Eddie Van Halen is no Wes Montgomery; well duh!!
Apples and oranges, my friend.
True. But I'm having a good time watching you try to defend him -- apparently with your fists if necessary.
Well, I wouldn't want a 'guitar wrapped around my head' so a little protection is nice! Vail's a big guy by the way! I wouldn't mess with him!
And I wouldn't want anyone messing with my gig!
Vail's a big guy by the way! I wouldn't mess with him!
+1
I was just reading an old issue of Bass Player yesterday and there was a DM Blue Steel string ad in it. Vail was in the ad in the Viking gear. Vail sir, you have put in your time at the gym!
Geez
HELLO? McFly? There's a basic formula to follow for making songs that are hugely popular. If you’ll notice. 90% of the stupendously popular (meaning liked by the masses) songs follow it. Endless musical yodeling, modal changes, and Dorian mode Pyrotechnics, do not appeal to the masses
Flash appeals to the masses.
A SOLID groove appeals to the masses
Simple catchy phrases appeal to the masses Most people that listen to music are NOT musicians. They have no idea (and don’t care) if someone only plays the bottom half of a Pentatonic scale. Most only know what makes their feet tap, booty shake, and head bob. The rest they could care less about. Kenny-G bridged a gap between pop and jazz for the non-music minded masses. He gave a lot of people an entryway or portal into jazz You don’t have to like it, but it’s a fact. Yea thare are better musicians than Kenny-G. Um...So what? There were better basketball players than Michael Jordan too. There is ALWAYS and will always be, some one better at something than you, nomater who (YOU) are. That’s just life.IMHO
What kind of cowardly wuss DOESN'T defend their good friends in whatever way necessary? I support my friends and they do the same for me.
Right now I'm doing it with words; why is that a problem for you?
Back in that time frame (early-mid '80s), I knew many of my yuppie/non-musician friends turned on to Duotones...these friends were of the age/mindset that they had outgrown '70s Rock. I would say a minority of them used Kenny G as a springboard into Jazz. The majority? Nah...the couple of 'em that I stayed in touch with are now big fans of New Country (Rock/Pop that a 40-something can relate to, I guess?).
There are many that would cite George Benson's Breezin (1976) as the 1st-ever "Smooth Jazz" album (10 years before Duotones)...and there's a Free Jazz/New Thing cabal at www.jazzcorner.com (or least there was one a few years ago) that would make the case that Smooth Jazz was the step-child of Jazz Fusion.
FWIW, I bought Kenny G Live because I wanted to hear you play (this was pre-Internet daze...so it was totally word of mouth)...I dug your playing on that recording &, IMO, the live band took the recorded versions of those tunes to a new place.
