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Kenny G

Kenneth Gorelick began his career as a musician when he acquired his first ever professional job as saxophone soloist for Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra in 1976 at the age of 20, when White was impressed by his mastery of the blues scale. Kenny was also studying for a major in accounting at the same time. After he graduated from the University of Washington he played with the funk band Cold, Bold & Together before becoming a credited member of The Jeff Lorber Fusion. He began his solo career after his period with Lorber.

In 1982, Kenny G signed with Arista Records as a solo artist, after label president Clive Davis heard his rendition of ABBA's "Dancing Queen". He has released many solo albums and collaborated with various artists including Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Natalie Cole, Steve Miller (which marked the only time he appeared on a rock and roll album), Michael Bolton, and Aretha Franklin. Influenced by the likes of saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. and the lyricism of Barry Manilow, his own albums are usually classified as smooth jazz.

He received success quite early on, with both G Force and Gravity, his second and third studio albums respectively, achieving platinum status in the United States. These sales were topped by his fourth studio album, Duotones, which shifted over five million copies in the U.S. alone. His fifth studio album, Breathless, became the number one best selling instrumental album ever, with over 15 million copies sold, of which 12 million were in the U.S. He broke another record when his first holiday album, Miracles, sold over 13 million copies, making it the most successful Christmas album to date.

In 1997, Kenny G earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for playing the longest note ever recorded on a saxophone. Kenny G held an E-flat for forty five minutes and 12 seconds.

Gorelick's 1999 single, "What A Wonderful World" stirred controversy among the jazz community regarding the overdubbing of Louis Armstrong's classic recording. A common criticism was that such a revered recording by a musician known especially for improvisation should not be altered. The "duet" was produced by David Foster who also recorded the Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole duet. Gorelick stated at the time,"...I didn't want to spoil the original. I said, 'Whatever we do, if we're not going to make it better, let's throw it away and we won't do it.' So (Foster) guaranteed that it would be better, and I hope that we did a good job on it." Some columnists countered the criticisms suggesting such a recording would bring classic jazz to a wider audience. Nevertheless, Kenny G fans considered the live performance of this duet with Armstrong on a video taped backdrop a "show stopper." Additionally, Gorelick has stated that all the proceeds from this single go to his Kenny G Miracles Foundation which "funnel(s) the money to charities to purchase musical instruments and to supplement funding for the arts in schools."

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Extended Analysis

At Last...The Duets Album

Read "At Last...The Duets Album" reviewed by Mark Sabbatini


This album is the pinnacle of artistic inspiration, an achievement nonpareil for annihilating depression, a lone triumph among the hundreds of albums scrutinized annually in search of gems. Kenny G's At Last -The Duets Album is, in short, everything a jazz reviewer might possibly hope for. The ultimate stage for creative indulgence, limited only by natural ability. Mine, of course, not his. Mr. Gorelick has never been the subject of a review at AAJ ...

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Performance / Tour

The Dead Kenny G's: Tour Dates with Primus

The Dead Kenny G's: Tour Dates with Primus

Source: JamBase

TOUR KICKS OFF MAY 27 IN FAYETVILLE, AR Straight from a three week tour with Garage A Trois, saxophonist Skerik and percussionist/vibraphonist Mike Dillon rejoin bassist Brad Houser in their other primary band, The Dead Kenny Gs, for ten dates supporting Primus in the Southeast at the end of May. The trio will also headline a handful of its own shows during the run. The Dead Kenny Gs are touring behind their critically-acclaimed new album, Operation Long Leash, out now ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Jane Monheit, Kenny G, and More

Jazz This Week: Jane Monheit, Kenny G, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

As the winter break begins for local universities and we head toward the holidays, the amount of jazz and creative music activity here in St. Louis tends to drop rather precipitously for a couple of weeks and then pick up again in the new year. That said, there are several noteworthy events happening this week, starting with singer Jane Monheit (pictured), who this evening will open a four-night stand at Jazz at the Bistro. Monheit's got a considerable fan base ...

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Video / DVD

Kenny G: An Evening of Rhythm and Romance

Kenny G: An Evening of Rhythm and Romance

Source: Universal Music Group

Grammy-Award Winning Saxophonist’s First Ever Blu-ray Release On DVD and Blu-ray October 6 New York, NY: An Evening Of Rhythm & Romance, a DVD and Blu-ray from Grammy-Award winning saxophonist Kenny G will be simultaneously released on October 6 through Eagle Rock Entertainment. [MSRP $14.98 for DVD, $24.98 for Blu-ray]. With global album sales in excess of 50 million copies, this is a new milestone for the accomplished artist, as this is his first ever performance released in the Blu-ray ...

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Music Industry

Controversy Growing Around Metheny Remarks About Kenny G

Controversy Growing Around Metheny Remarks About Kenny G

Source: All About Jazz

(6/14/00, 10 a.m. ET) - Controversy has been growing over comments guitarist Pat Metheny made about saxophonist Kenny G on his website (patmethenygroup.com). In the website's “question and answer" section, Metheny placed remarks he made during an interview for a Polish TV show in context -- he had been asked to talk to 8-to-11 year olds about jazz and he encouraged them to seek out the music of the greats and “not to get confused by the sometimes overwhelming volume ...

James Blackburn
saxophone
SM Shahbaj
multi-instrumentalist
B. Thompson
multi-instrumentalist

Photos

Concerts

Dec 10 Tue

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Brazilian Nights

Concord Music Group
2015

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Rhythm & Romance

Concord Music Group
2008

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At Last...The Duets...

Arista Records
2004

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