by Michael P Coleman
If there was a bad note played during Kenny G’s final performance of a five day year-end mini-residency at Blue Note Napa, I didn’t hear it. That night, the legendary sax man did what you would expect a legend to do: he played the hell out of that horn.
Very technically, he played the hell out of those horns. I know he played at least two of them, a soprano — his original from high school — and a tenor sax. I don’t pretend to know the details behind the instruments, but I know what they’re supposed to sound like.
So does Kenny G. And he showed all of us what they’re supposed to sound like Tuesday night.
Very honestly, “he played the hell out of that horn” is a sanitized version of the four words that kept going through my head throughout that show. You wanna hear what I really thought? OK, since you asked:
That Negro can blow.
Yes, I know he’s a skinny Jew. But close your eyes while you’re listening to him play and I swear to Black Jesus you wouldn’t know that.
The 63-year old Kenny G repeatedly reminded fans of why he is the best selling instrumental artist of all time, via faithful live versions of radio smashes like “Songbird,” “Forever In Love,” “Silhouette,” and “Going Home,” stunning covers like “My Heart Will Go On” and “Pick Up The Pieces,” and underrated funk workouts like his original “G-Bop” from his multiplatinum 1992 Breathless album. If you’ve not heard “G-Bop” live, you’ve not heard it.
Read MPC’s full review, and find out about the freelance writer’s first-ever concert experience at Kenny G’s show. Also, find out the song that reduced the woman sitting next to him to tears.
Click here to connect with freelance writer Michael P Coleman, click here to check out his blog, or follow him on Instagram and Twitter: @ColemanMichaelP
