Smooth jazz superstar exploring new ground
Kenny G, performing at Rose Music Center in Huber Heights on Thursday, June 28, is one of the most successful smooth jazz artists of all time. He has sold more than 75 million records and scored seven number-one albums and seven numberone singles and continues to explore new sonic territory. The award-winning saxophonist, born Kenneth Bruce Gorelick, is currently working on the studio followup to his 2015 album, “Brazilian Nights.”
The 62-year-old native of Seattle recently discussed his approach to music.
NEW STANDARDS
“I’m working on a new album right now. Hopefully it’s going to be done some time in the next few months and then we’ll decide on a time for it to be released. I like the old jazz ballads. There is a certain quality to them and they sound beautiful so I’m doing new songs that we’re writing and performing them in that style. In musical terms, we call them standards so my album is going to be called ‘New Standards.’ When you hear it, you’ll think we’re redoing songs from the old days, but they’re not remakes, they’re brand new ones in that style.”
SLOW & STEADY
“When I listen to a lot of the players putting out new albums, it sounds like they decided what songs they wanted to do on Monday, they put them together on Tuesday, recorded it Wednesday and mixed it Thursday. That can’t possibly be the best that you can do. I’m not criticizing. People should record the records the way they want to, but I like to think of every song, solo and note played as super important so it’s going to take me a long time to do it. It’s going to take me a long time to listen back to it, analyze it and see what I want to change. I’ll try some new things, so it’s a long process, but at the end of it I think people are thankful for an artist that really puts a lot of time and effort into what they put out.”
PUTTING IN WORK
“I’ve had the same band for the last 30 years. It’s the six of us. We’re like the Golden State Warriors. What we’re doing takes a lot of time and effort but it’s fun. I love it. There are a lot of things coming, but it’s mainly about practicing every day and performing the best I can when I do my shows. Hopefully people walk away amazed at the musicianship they hear from me and the guys.”