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In Reply to: RE: Was the '80's really that bad for Jazz? posted by cactuscowboy@bresnan.net on May 25, 2012 at 14:28:15
+1, jazz had really taken up the "smooth" format and sucked big. It was about that time I got introduced (from CC and WR) to "classic" jazz, like BN and Bird, along with Miles, Trane, early Evans, etc. No comparison there. But, there was some good stuff out there that was trad (VSOP), fusion (DiMeola & Scofield, Metheny, Jaco) that is pretty good stuff. Also, got turned on about that time, maybe later, to Courtney Pine, who's stuff is amazing (to the eyes of creation, destiny's song, others well although he also had a "smooth' period), Blanchard & Harrison (Black Pearls, amazing album), Branford Marsalis... These may be more '90s stuff, but is good. Still, in the '50s and '60s, you almost couldn't buy a bad jazz album, that totally switched in the '80s... Kenny G, Yawnni, and John Tesh, I would rather listen to country...
Follow Ups:
Kenny G is NOT jazz. Easy listening, yes; Jazz, No!
he IS a good player and is capable of jazz. he plays other saxes than the soprano which i have heard and could be a force if he wasnt busy lining his pockets with his usual drivel.
he hosts a contemporary jazz segment on kkjz.org and its not horrible. he also plays real jazz on the program which shows he actually has sme taste.
but youre right, mostly, his music is not jazz per se.
...regards...tr
And please explain your answer, as I'm curious about this. I've often heard that remark, so-and-so "is not Jazz" but haven't really been able to put a finger on as to why, other than it's simply an opinion stated as fact.
I'm sure you didn't do that, right?
"Man, that mouse is Awesome." - Kaemon (referring to Jerry, of Tom and Jerry fame)
Lew, did a great job of explaining it. Technically speaking, Kenny G is considered "Smooth Jazz." While he made lots of money doing "What a Wonderful World," jazz musicians and jazz aficionados consider it sacrilegious what he did with Louis Armstrong's song.
If I was going to listen to saxophone smooth jazz, I would rather listen to Candy Dulfer. She is also much easier on the eyes! While "Lily was Here" was her biggest hit, check out her live version of Saxuality below.
From Wikipedia:
Dulfer's debut album, Saxuality, was released in 1990 and was nominated for a Grammy and certified gold for worldwide sales in excess of half a million. Her song "Lily Was Here" reached #11 on American the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Though Dulfer has had smooth jazz chart hits such as "For The Love Of You" and "Finsbury Park, Cafe 67".
Maybe if you can explain to me exactly what it is that Kenny G is doing or trying to do, then I can tell you why I don't think he is making jazz music. In fact, I think he and some others of his contemporaries are a cause of the general loss of popularity that "jazz" endured during the 80s and 90s. Young people heard Kenny G and did not always like his music. Then they were sold on the idea that he was a "jazz musician". Ergo, they decided they did not like jazz per se. I met some of those kids and tried to convince them that they had the wrong idea about jazz, by referring them to other sources. There were many great jazz artists performing in the 80s, some of whom are still with us. Sadly they never received the recognition afforded Kenny G and the other pop equivalents.
When I have had the misfortune to listen to Kenny G, like if I was stuck in an elevator or in someone else's car, or in a dream where I am a captive of the North Koreans and they are torturing me, my impression is that he is trying to make "beautiful sounds". There is no exposition, progression, denouement. No real emotion and nothing innovative about his playing, either. The musical equivalent of a bodice-ripper romance novel.
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