One night with Kenny G

The saxophonist returns to perform at the Arena Of Stars in Genting Highlands next month, writes Dennis Chua

MAKE a date with legendary saxman Kenny G who is in Malaysian for his Kenny G World Tour In Malaysia 2018 concert in Genting Highlands, on Nov 11. The Grammy Award-winning musician performed to full-house audiences at the same venue in 2012 and 2015, gaining a huge followings here for his great showmanship.

After the release of his 15th album Brazilian Nights in 2015, he embarked on tours, mainly in the United States. Fans here can anticipate more of his signature tune on his third visit here.

In the course of over three decades, Kenny G has become a household name in the instrumental music scene, with his albums selling over 75 million copies worldwide. He has been nominated for Grammys 16 times, winning Best Instrumental Composition in 1994 for Forever In Love.

He has also collaborated with the big names in music including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion.

Born Kenny Gorelick in Seattle, he was first introduced to the saxophone when he saw a performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. He started playing the instrument in 1966 when he was 10 years old.

His first engagement was as a sideman for Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra in 1973. He continued to play professionally while studying for a major in accounting at the University of Washington in Seattle, and graduated magna cum laude. A decade later, he released his selftitled delight album which received warm reviews from critics.

His fourth studio album Duotones sold over five million copies in the US alone. It featured Songbird, which reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Kenny G has also worked on several film soundtracks, including Dying Young and The Bodyguard.

He earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1997 for playing the longest note ever recorded on a saxophone. Using circular breathing, Kenny G held an E-flat for 45 minutes and 47 seconds at J&R Music World in New York. He was named the 25th highest-selling artiste in America by the Recording Industry Association of America, with 48 million albums sold in the US as of July 31, 2006.

The Kenny G world Tour in Malaysia is brought by Star Planet (03-92233667) Tickets are priced between RM138 and RM588. For details, call 03-27181118