People who think of Kenny G when they hear the word "Jazz"?

Question

Do you know people who, when you mention to them that you love jazz, say "I like jazz too. I love Kenny G!"? This makes me cringe and realize that any chance of a meaningful discussion with them about jazz music is gone.

Why are people so ignorant about America's only original genre of music?

Answer 1

I don't like Jazz, it usually puts me to sleep.

Answer 2

I really don't like to talk to people that come out their mouth and say Kenny G. when they here the word jazz. That not what I consider jazz music or what I grew up on. And believe it or not most people never heard of Kenny Garrett actually he was in Miles band and I do have his last est CD Beyond The Wall. So a little advices when someone said Kenny G. just walk away.

Answer 3

First let me qualify my statements by stating that I AM a professional musician http://www.chrisfostermusic.com

Kenny G is not classified as a "Jazz" artist. He is actually classified as either Easy Listening, Adult contemporary or Smooth Jazz. There is a big difference between SMOOTH Jazz and STRAIGHT AHEAD Jazz as my comments will explain.

Smooth Jazz is a very melodious form of jazz that is targeted toward the casual listener. It emcompasses very predictable rhythms and melodies that are designed to relax the listener. These melodies are generally very hummable. Some of the songs even cross over to and show up on other charts. (Like such artist AS Kenny G and Basia.

AS you know Straight ahead Jazz is quite different. You only need to listen to Cotrane, live at the Montreax Jazz festival to get an example of what cutting edge straight ahead jazz is. It is the cutting edge expression of music. Designed to push the known rules of music.

I have never heard Straight ahead Jazz on a smooth jazz station. It is not for the average persons consumption. They don't understand it. They don't get it. But before we cast stones, ask yourself, would you understand theorums discussed by worlds top scientist? I think not unless you are in that circle.

Straight ahead jazz is the musicians music. Yes there are maybe some that enjoy it outside of that rhealm but for the most part it is cutting edge and too difficult for mass consumption.

The fact that some people consider Kenny G jazz doesn't make him a "jazz" artist. Yet few care to distinguish beyond what they understand. Cut them some slack. At least they are listening.

Peace
Chris

Answer 4

Kenny G "jazz" is not jazz because there is no adventure in the music.

I particularly like the mid 1960's Blue Note records, (Eric Dolphy, Bobby Hutcherson, Andrew Hill, Sam Rivers). These guys broke the mold. They could have had steady high paying gigs, but exploring new ways of approaching music was their passion. It was new, adventurous and very risky. they knew that their audience would be less than if they stayed be bop, but they did what was right for them. That is what jazz is to me.

Kenny G is safe, boring, and unadventurous, NOT like the jazz I know. The motivation of the smooth jazz players is to please the audience first. Its pop jazz, not for the musicians themselves.$$$$$$$
Kenny G. is so easy to listen to, its all about giving the people a chance to say they like "jazz". People like to think that they are sophisticated, and Kenny G is their scapegoat to associate themselves with the word "jazz". Fools.

Kenny G. and Eric Dolphy share nothing.

PS-I'm not saying you shouldn't like smooth "jazz", but I am saying it is blasphemous to put Kenny G in the same category as the real jazz masters who innovated and constantly reshaped the way jazz was played.

Answer 5

The jazz genre is too wide and too diverse to be pinned down to a very limited category. Jazz is not only Satchmo,Coltrane or Davis,If you subscribe to that view you are giving jazz a great disservice.You just limited the range of the genre to a small group of artist. So what would Kenny G music belong to? Rock?pop?Hip hop? Please dont get too hang up on the who.Just listen and enjoy.Have an eclectic taste, so to speak.

Answer 6

Because it's past their time. When they hear Kenny G and are told this is jazz, that's what they believe. They have never heard real jazz and don't know that kenny g is no more than smooth instrumental pop. So if any one who is reading this that is not familiar with jazz and want's to. Don't listen to kenny g, unless it's kenny garrett.

Answer 7

I do not tend to think of a particular musican when you say the word "Jazz". Instead, I think about some typical sound of Jazz, like percussion. And after some times, I'll think of Coltrane, Parker, etc.

But when I hear the word "Kenny G", I do not think of the word "Jazz". Instead, I think about all the Complains - saying something like 'Kenny G plays no jazz!!!' or 'Kenny G sucks', etc.

Answer 8

Yes, I cringe, cry and puke!
Have you ever read Pat Metheny's article he wrote for Harper's Magazine: "Oh My God, He Killed Kenny G!" ? If not, you MUST see this. You need to subscribe to Harper's to read it online, or you could reply with your email address and I'll send you the full text. I made copies and gave to all my jazz musician friends. Pat M. said it more eloquently than I ever could about how Kenny G overdubbed himself on a 30-yr-old Louis Armstrong recording of "What a Wonderful World", an act of incredible arrogance. An excerpt: , ".....When Kenny G decided that it was appropriate for him to defile the music of the man who is probably the greatest jazz musician that has ever lived by spewing his lame-***, jive, pseudo-bluesy, out-of-tune, noodling, wimped-out, f___ed-up playing over one of the great Louis's tracks he........s__t all over the graves of all the musicians past and present who have risked their lives by going out there on the road for years and years developing their own music inspired by the standards of grace that Louis Armstrong brought to every single note he played over an amazing lifetime as a musician." I'll send you the entire text if you like, but in a nutshell, that's exactly how I feel about Kenny G.

Answer 9

I'd read the question and the previous answers.

agree with Stephen K and Fire Lemon. and many thanks to galactic

Kenny G......... IS NO JAZZ, neither playing somebody else music in a guitar,flute or piano is jazz.

neither, playing the guitar turn Your in a Musician.

Jazz is the mother of the Modern Music.....
is improvisation ON THE FLY ,right FROM THE SCALES .
not matter what intrument You are playing.
and if You are playing in a group,the other musicians only will say .....
THE TONIC .( and that's all) and from there you have to play.
STRETCHING THE SCALE(more specific,the blue scale)


when You hear Louis Armstrong's music( notice .one small example) what you hear is ORIGINAL MUSIC ,CREATED ON THE FLY.

and "copied" and "reproduced" by a record company.

let me "say" and extra comment.......
about..." is not for the average person consumption,they don't understand it.They don't get it".........

IF "THE AVERAGE PERSON" CAN WHISTLE THE TUNE,
THAT'S IT.
THEY UNDERSTAND IT,
SUBSECUENTLY , THEY GET IT AND IS FOR THEM.

elitism in music?

Answer 10

When Kenny G plays like Johnny Hodges,then and only then will I consider him Jazz.

Answer 11

Don't be too hard on folks, susandiane. Those folks' parents would have said "I like jazz, too. I love Louie Armstrong." In fact, both are jazz musicians unless you are using a narrrower definition of what jazz music is. I know folks who love Roland Kirk -- but think Ornette Coleman is just whacked noise. Jazz is a mighty big house with room for everybody. You don't have to like all the rooms, or even all the family members in a given room. But let folks be. And let other folks enjoy what they enjoy. Don't get hung up in the labels.

I'd be curious to see a list of jazz musicians you really like and admire.

*****

Wow! I just read chrisfostermusic's response. It is awesome. I defer.