By disrespecting Louis, his legacy and by default, everyone who has ever tried to do something positive with improvised music and what it can be, Kenny G has created a new low point in modern culture - something that we all should be totally embarrassed about - and afraid of. We ignore this, "let it slide", at our own peril. His callous disregard for the larger issues of what this crass gesture implies is exacerbated by the fact that the only reason he possibly have for doing something this inherently wrong (on both human and musical terms) was for the record sales and the money it would bring.
I would add that Kenny G blows chunks, and anyone who voluntarily listens to his insipid instrumental pop bilge should be forced to live in an elevator.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
that was big news when it hit the pat metheny discussion boards. i was a little surprised that pat could be so venomous since his personality is pretty laid back.
but pat does has a ton of respect for the founding fathers of jazz.
before this armstrong flap i was willing to cut kenny g some slack. i mean, there was an interview with him once in Downbeat where he pretty much admitted that what he did was not jazz....i think he called it something like "pop music for adults".
2 - Bill Sherman
Can't decide which that phrase demeans more: pop music or adults.
3 - Mark Saleski
i prefer to think of it as music for people who don't really like music.
4 - Vince Outlaw
Hey Eric and All Blogcritics!
Here's was my angle when the subject came up in a Fusion-era jazz class taught by San Diego Pop Music Critic George Varga that I took last year,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PostKenBurnsJazz/message/5
"When all of this first came out in June 2000, I thought the best
thing about it (other than hearing an artist really speak without
much thought for any personal back-lash...in a non PC way), was all
of the hoopla surrounding it. As you say, there are lots of copies of
his initial comments on the web (you seem to point to one of the ones
with the full text) and that's a big sign of what he stirred up. Pat
was saying what a lot of serious music people had been saying amongst
themselves for awhile about Mr. G (and fusion, rightly and wrongly,
as we've been learning in the class) for a long time. Having a honest-
to-goodness musician say it just gave it a little more credence and a
lot more voice."
And Pat continued to entertain when expressed his feelings about the response to his remarks, or should I say lack-of response by other people in the know and of like mind.
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/articles/arti0900_02.htm
"...are we all so
numb to all the crap out there and so worn down by the apathy of the
general public to any higher musical intentions that it really
doesn't matter to anyone anymore, something like this?"
Keep the Blogcriticism coming. Looks like a perfect match with The New Jazz (Blog) Things:
http://thenewjazzthing.com/2003/04/15.html#a909
Much Love...VO
5 - Mark Hasty
Is there anything more pleasurable in life than watching a critic really lay into an artist who had it coming? Metheny's is some of the best invective EVER!
If interested, you can read my take on the matter here:
http://hastyman.blogspot.com/2003_04_20_hastyman_archive.html#93043013
6 - Dale Leopold
Of course, the ultimate comment on this was by Richard Thompson, who wrote (and frequently performed) the following ditty, entitled "I agree with Pat Metheny":
I agree with Pat Metheny
Kenny's talents are too teeny
He deserves the crap he's going to get
He overdubbed himself on Louis
What a musical chop suey
Raised his head above the parapet
Well Louis Armstrong was the king
He practically invented swing
Hero of the twentieth century
He did duets with many a fella
"Fatha" Hines, Bing, Hoagy, Ella
Strange he never thought of Kenny G
A meeting of great minds, how nice
Like Einstein and Sporty Spice
Digitally fused in an abortion
Kenny fans will doubtless rave
While Satchmo turns inside his grave
Soprano man's bit off more than his portion
Oh brainless pentatonic riffs
Display our Kenny's arcane gifts
But we don't care, his charms are so beguiling
He does play sharp, but let's be fair
He has such lovely crinkly hair
We hardly notice, we're too busy smiling
How does he hold those notes so long?
He must be a genius. Wrong!
He just has the mindlessness to do it
He makes Britney sound like scat
If this is jazz I'll eat my hat
An idle threat, I'll never have to chew it
So next time you're in a rendezvous
And Kenny's sound comes wafting through
Don't just wince, eliminate the cause
Rip the tape right off the muzak
Pull the plug, or steal a fuse, Jack
The whole room will drown you in applause
Yes, Kenny G has gone too far
The gloves are off, it's time to spar
Grab your hunting rifle, strap your colt on
It's open season on our Ken
But I await the moment when
We lay off him and start on Michael Bolton
I agree with Pat Metheny
Kenny's talents are too teeny
7 - baritoneguitar
I think what Metheny is targeting is his discomfort with someone as popular as Kenny G. playing Armstrong's tunes (overdubbing them) and calling his work jazz. I believe most musicians would feel this is misleading and irreverent. Many musicians mention on the Internet that Kenny is lying to his audience by telling his listeners that he playing Armstrong is jazz. Kenny is an R&B sax player who takes jazz tunes and makes them popular in the referenced recording effort. It is sort of the opposite of what jazz musicians do when they take pop tunes and make them jazz.
I think it needs to be recognized that not always does a jazz musician take pop music and further its "truth." In fact, many jazz musicians simply reiterate the phrases they have heard other greats play and emulate them as best they can. Is this worse then Kenny G. who clearly copies none of the greats? I am unsure. I think Kenny maybe an introduction for some listeners who need to develop their musical mind before they can accept the uniqueness of a musician playing the "truth". The "truth" is that we all hear differently... however, we all don't venture to become more in touch with our differences in concept... this is very scary for most musicians as our human nature is to want to be appreciated by others regardless of how mundane, simplistic or uninspired we are. Pat is willing to take some chances that most aren't willing to. Yet he often displays his fears by recording some of the more commercial efforts (and yes I acknowledge he needs to eat too).
Ultimately, what Kenny does is exploit his instrument and his ability to play soulfully as a white man. I don't think there is anything wrong with that especially since he does that well. As musicians, we all wish to be loved for what we hear. Our investment in the "truth" is based on how fearless we can be. I think musicians need to sh!t or get off the pot. If you are unwilling to play popular, then accept you don't sell as well as others. If you want to display your truth and you are conceptually different others... then do it because it’s you. Chase the note vigorously until you are completely exposed. Treat it as war!!! Stop crying about it and accept it!!!
While I tend to agree with Metheny for the most part, reverence for the dead is probably not such a concern. I think Louis would have laughed about the effort, possibly even had been a little pleased at the attempt. Sometimes people don’t understand that whether a musician is considered a genius or not it doesn’t make him or her infallible. Every musician has off days. Every musician can show lack of luster. Greatness was not spewed out of Louis’s horn each time he played. Louis had no more depth and understanding beyond his concept then anyone else. Louis was noted to make comments about his lack of appreciation for be-bop for example. Does that make him less of a musician? No. And it does not make Metheny less for saying things to 13-year-old kids in fear of being associated with musicians he does not respect. It makes him human.