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Kenny G

Jazz

Kenny G Tickets

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About

The sound of Kenny G's saxophone is as iconic as his curly coif; indeed, both are instantly recognizable. His latest release, New Standards, the title of his 19th studio album, fifth for Concord Records and first since 2015's Brazilian Nights, could well be used to describe his four-decade body of work, a vision of jazz that helped launch both a musical genre and radio format.  After director Penny Lane's critically acclaimed HBO documentary, Listening to Kenny G - which humorously reconsiders the purist critical backlash to his music - and a demand performance on Kanye West's Grammy-winning Jesus Is King album, it's now cool to not only be Kenny G, but admit you're a fan of his as well.

"I didn't realize how strong the message was until I saw the finished film," says Kenny, who has both the best-selling instrumental album of all time in the Diamond-selling, 12-times-platinum 1992 Breathless, earning him his only Grammy Award among 15 nominations, and the Guinness Book of World Records mark for longest sustained note ever recorded on the saxophone. The feature probes some of the many Kenny G accomplishments, from his song "Going Home" being used as the official end-of-work-day anthem in China to his skills as a golfer and airline pilot. He was also one of the original 10 investors in his Seattle hometown Starbucks Coffee.

Recalling his music spawning the "smooth jazz" phenomenon, Kenny explains, "I'm proud of the fact it was a new style of music that no one was either playing or writing at the time. And it touched a great many people who weren't into traditional jazz, pop or R&B.  Somewhere in the middle, they found something they were looking for and liked."

New Standards continues the musical path that has seen Kenny G sell 75 million albums around the world, looking back to the classic '50s and '60s jazz ballads for inspiration, updating them with new studio technology, such as the digital ability to piece together songs note by note from different performances. The tracks are almost equally divided between soprano and tenor sax, with one song, "Two of a Kind," featuring him on both, duetting with himself, a slight, unintended hint of Seals & Crofts' "Summer Wind" wafting through, while the wistful, airy "Moonlight" finds him taking a rare turn on alto sax, the instrument on which he first learned to play.

"I wanted to play songs with chord progressions that reflected the classic jazz era of Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Cannonball Adderley and Dexter Gordon, while doing them my way, creating new standards," he says.

For "Legacy," he sampled the great Stan Getz playing tenor on a live, unaccompanied version of "Happy Birthday," creating a duet with him on soprano sax.

"I took those individual notes and turned them into a melody I'm proud of," explains Kenny. "I don't think that's ever been done before."

Reminiscent of his global hit duet with a filmed Louis Armstrong on "What a Wonderful World," Kenny G expects some jazz buffs night not be happy with his Getz tribute, even though, as was the case with the Armstrong song, he is donating all proceeds to the late musician's estate and family, whom Kenny says are delighted with his version.

Kenny performs a sprightly soprano sax on the opening "Emeline," named after a close family friend, while the ultra-romantic "Only You" combines a variety of throwback chord changes with a soaring tenor sax gliding its way on top.

"Rendezvous" evokes a smoky jazz ballad of the '40s with its aching tenor, the first song Kenny G recorded for the album."Paris by Night" evokes a foggy night strolling on the bridges across the Seine, while "Anthem" sports a duet between Kenny G on soprano and cello, giving the track a hymn-like, anthemic drive a song Kenny played live with the National Symphony in Nashville in December.

"Blue Skies" is an airy, whimsical melody he wrote with piano player Randy Waldman, a fellow airplane pilot -- hence the title -- whom he accompanies on soprano sax.  "Milestones" offers an homage to classic jazz tropes in name and sound, while the closing "Waltz in Blue," titled for its three-quarter time crossed with a blues beat, ends the album on a rounded low B-flat, the perfect answer to the high E which begins the first track, "Emeline."

The album forms an aural narrative, which makes it the perfect vehicle to demonstrate to film directors and music supervisors that Kenny G, the world's most popular instrumental musician, is overdue to compose his first movie score.

"If any director needs a memorable instrumental for their film..." he offers. "I think I've proven what I can do."

For the last several years, Kenny G has taken to the internet with gusto, his posts becoming memes and going viral, as he continues to have fun with the whole idea of being his iconic self, satirized in South Park, Trolls World Tour (as a frizzy-haired sax player threatens the whole pop music cosmos with his "smooth jazz") and Saturday Night Live's Kenan Thompson-hosted "What's Up With That?" segment, where Fred Armisen plays a certain frizzy-haired soprano sax player.

"I don't know why they just don't have me do it," Kenny G laughs, perfectly in on the joke. "When I was on the show playing with Foster the People, I told them, 'Hey guys, I'm right here.' I can fake playing sax really well."

And, as you can hear on the excellent new New Standards, he does quite fine when he plays for real, too.

Reviews

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 based on 95 reviews
  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    His performance at this show was his best ever.

    by Joe Gabby on 2019-11-05Casino Rama Resort - Rama

    Is an experience of a life time. The only thing I missed is that there is no video recording of the show.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Respect

    by Joy on 2019-10-30Casino Rama Resort - Rama

    This is was my second time visiting Casino Rama. I love Kenny G and the concert was amazing. Kenny G and his band such an inspiration. Thank you for organizing this event. The theater was nice, the acoustic and seats. Available and free parking. What I did't like is that people constantly would move and leave during the concert. It was disrespectful to the audience and especially to such a talented musicians. I don't know where the people were leaving, probably back to Casino to play, but why they even come to the concert if they don't stay till the end. I'm not talking about small amount, all you can see as people leaving in groups. I couldn't concentrate on listening the music, too much destruction. Some rules to get in and out would be a solution for the future. Thank you.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Great concert,fantastic musician,amaizing team,awesome music

    by Nata on 2019-10-29Casino Rama Resort - Rama

    I was very excited to see and to hear Kenny and his fantastic musicians!

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    Great Show for Anyone

    by MX on 2019-10-28Casino Rama Resort - Rama

    A great show with interacitivities, the performance sounded as good as seeing thoughg the show started a bit too late (at Casino).

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    terrific awesome amazing

    by memo on 2019-10-28Casino Rama Resort - Rama

    He started around the public,He sign cd and took pictures with fans and gave awa one sax

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Kenny G at Rama

    by Parksie on 2019-10-28Casino Rama Resort - Rama

    Kenny G and band were fabulous. Would have liked to have heard a few more group numbers instead of the many solos. Seats at Rams are not comfortable after the first hour.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    by Smiley1234567890 on 2017-12-16FirstOntario Concert Hall (Formerly Hamilton Place) - Hamilton

    OMG one word to describe his concert would be like one of his albums title “Breathless” it’s one of the most ultimately amazing concert EVER!!!!!!!!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Kenny G was awesome!!!!

    by 1harleydave1 on 2017-12-16FirstOntario Concert Hall (Formerly Hamilton Place) - Hamilton

    Kenny G is an amazing musician and was an absolute pleasure to watch. He is very connected with the audience and his band can blow you away with their talent.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Amazing

    by Sunydee on 2017-12-16FirstOntario Concert Hall (Formerly Hamilton Place) - Hamilton

    The show was awesome. When the lights went down and the music started and then you heard the saxophone but you looked on stage but Kenny G wasn’t there and we turned in our seats and he was four rows behind and off to the side standing on top of a box. It was a thrill to see him that close and on the second song he held one of the notes and would wave at the audience in different parts of the theatre and when he came down off the box he gave a fist pump to a gentleman sitting on the end of one of the rows. He then proceeded to walk right behind our row (which was forth from the stage) and gave high fives to some of the people. He was funny, great and he introduced the band and each did a solo which was also amazing. He gave away one of his saxophone’s that he made was awesome and he signed his CDs that people bought once the show was over. He even ask the theatre staff to let people know that they can have their picture taken as he signs the CD. Love the show very much and we would definitely go and see him again.

  • Rating: 2 out of 5

    Less improvising

    by Paulacosmo on 2017-12-16FirstOntario Concert Hall (Formerly Hamilton Place) - Hamilton

    I get Kenny is talented and can hold a note for a long time and improvise but improvising on sax was annoying, loud, pitchy and not pleasurable. It was a gift for my mom and she had to hold her ears plugged several times. My impression with the name was that there would be soothing Christmas carols "miracle of Christmas" / his band also played random things like Billy Jean which just did not fit. / when Kenny did play his originals and Christmas carols it was however magical. Also his percussionist was so lively and truly wonderful. The verdict- less showboating and improvising please.