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Date: 14 Nov 2006 05:57:45
From: slot
Subject: SA Express: Energetic, effortless music
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Review: Kenny G and his soprano saxophone make sweet, mournful music
Web Posted: 10/29/2006 11:03 PM CST
Hector Salda=F1a
Express-News Staff
Let's get one thing straight: You're not going to hear music this good
in any elevator.
Smooth jazz superstar Kenny G and his five-piece band effortlessly made
that point with an astonishingly energetic and entertaining concert at
Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University on Sunday for some 1,500 fans.
The rail-thin, curly-locked master of the soprano saxophone, who looks
like something out of "The Simpsons," is savvy enough to poke fun
at himself and his platinum image. But mostly the highly stylized music
told the real story: whether Afro-Cuban, breezy pop, funky urban jazz,
fun disco or lush ballads.
A new Kenny G album - "I'm In the Mood For Love: The Most Romantic
Melodies of All Time" - is due in stores Nov. 14.
Though he opened the concert with P.T. Barnum aplomb, dramatically
spotlighted at the back of the theater on "Home," it was on the
mournful love ballads that Kenny G reveals himself.
There is a hint of sadness in the breathy melodies that drip and
caress. There is a casual shyness in his self-deprecating onstage
patter. It played well here.
Especially extraordinary is the circular breath control that allows him
to hold notes for minutes at a time. It is impressive and showy - and
almost unbelievable.
The star went to humorous lengths to prove that it wasn't a technical
trick, or as he put it, a Milli Vanilli moment. And if the "G"
stands for "geeky," so be it.
"I wasn't faking it. I'm playing and breathing at the same time,"
Kenny G explained with a sly smile as he held his tradek soprano
saxophone over his head. "It's not hooked up to an oxygen tank."
Of course, he couldn't pull any of it off for long without his
extraordinary band: pianist Robert Damper, bassist Vail Johnson,
percussionist (and onstage comedy foil) Ron Powell, guitarist John
Raymond and drummer Daniel Bejarano.
Highlights included "Forever In Love," which received a cool David
Benoit treatment, and "What A Wonderful World," which borrowed a
page from Natalie Cole's playbook and featured Kenny G in a duet with
video and audio image of Louis Armstrong on the original arrangement.
But such sentimental nostalgia was just as often punctured by a
Primus-styled bass solo from Johnson or percussionist Powell cutting up
on tambourine. Indeed, on this last night of his current tour, Kenny G
promised they were "gonna blow our brains out tonight." And this
elevator ride was a blast.
hsaldana@express-news.net
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA103006.pm.kennyg.en.89cb=
1ddd.html
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Date: 14 Nov 2006 22:48:51
From: Horatio Q Dorkbucket
Subject: Re: SA Express: Energetic, effortless music
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Post it again, you google-posting twat.
"slot" <jazzjitsu@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1163512665.596971.308800@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
<NOTHING >
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Date: 14 Nov 2006 10:15:01
From: Michael Anselmo
Subject: Re: SA Express: Energetic, effortless music
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Interesting mix of newsgroups.
"slot" <jazzjitsu@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1163512665.596971.308800@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Review: Kenny G and his soprano saxophone make sweet, mournful music
Web Posted: 10/29/2006 11:03 PM CST
Hector Saldaņa
Express-News Staff
Let's get one thing straight: You're not going to hear music this good
in any elevator.
Smooth jazz superstar Kenny G and his five-piece band effortlessly made
that point with an astonishingly energetic and entertaining concert at
Laurie Auditorium at Trinity University on Sunday for some 1,500 fans.
The rail-thin, curly-locked master of the soprano saxophone, who looks
like something out of "The Simpsons," is savvy enough to poke fun
at himself and his platinum image. But mostly the highly stylized music
told the real story: whether Afro-Cuban, breezy pop, funky urban jazz,
fun disco or lush ballads.
A new Kenny G album - "I'm In the Mood For Love: The Most Romantic
Melodies of All Time" - is due in stores Nov. 14.
Though he opened the concert with P.T. Barnum aplomb, dramatically
spotlighted at the back of the theater on "Home," it was on the
mournful love ballads that Kenny G reveals himself.
There is a hint of sadness in the breathy melodies that drip and
caress. There is a casual shyness in his self-deprecating onstage
patter. It played well here.
Especially extraordinary is the circular breath control that allows him
to hold notes for minutes at a time. It is impressive and showy - and
almost unbelievable.
The star went to humorous lengths to prove that it wasn't a technical
trick, or as he put it, a Milli Vanilli moment. And if the "G"
stands for "geeky," so be it.
"I wasn't faking it. I'm playing and breathing at the same time,"
Kenny G explained with a sly smile as he held his tradek soprano
saxophone over his head. "It's not hooked up to an oxygen tank."
Of course, he couldn't pull any of it off for long without his
extraordinary band: pianist Robert Damper, bassist Vail Johnson,
percussionist (and onstage comedy foil) Ron Powell, guitarist John
Raymond and drummer Daniel Bejarano.
Highlights included "Forever In Love," which received a cool David
Benoit treatment, and "What A Wonderful World," which borrowed a
page from Natalie Cole's playbook and featured Kenny G in a duet with
video and audio image of Louis Armstrong on the original arrangement.
But such sentimental nostalgia was just as often punctured by a
Primus-styled bass solo from Johnson or percussionist Powell cutting up
on tambourine. Indeed, on this last night of his current tour, Kenny G
promised they were "gonna blow our brains out tonight." And this
elevator ride was a blast.
hsaldana@express-news.net
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA103006.pm.kennyg.en.89cb1ddd.html
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Date: 14 Nov 2006 09:21:25
From: Bobby Knight
Subject: Re: SA Express: Energetic, effortless music
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On Tue, 14 Nov 2006 10:15:01 -0500, "Michael Anselmo"
<manselmo@NOEFFINGSPAMoptonline.net > wrote:
>Interesting mix of newsgroups.
>
>"slot" <jazzjitsu@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>Review: Kenny G and his soprano saxophone make sweet, mournful music
He hasn't found one that agrees with him yet.
bk
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Date: 14 Nov 2006 17:36:13
From: Chris Bellomy
Subject: Re: SA Express: Energetic, effortless music
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In rec.sport.golf Bobby Knight <bknight@conramp.net > wrote:
: On Tue, 14 Nov 2006 10:15:01 -0500, "Michael Anselmo"
: <manselmo@NOEFFINGSPAMoptonline.net > wrote:
:
: >"slot" <jazzjitsu@yahoo.com> wrote in message
: >Review: Kenny G and his soprano saxophone make sweet, mournful music
:
: > Interesting mix of newsgroups.
:
: He hasn't found one that agrees with him yet.
I just added what may be the best one.
--
Chris Bellomy
C-List Charter Member
http://clist.org/
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