JAM: February/March 2003 Issue: From the Spit Valve

by Mike Metheny

Bovine Scatology ...in the Key of G
Think Kenny G has gotten a bum rap from the Jazz Police? Then check out the following clips from a notorious interview at Barnes&Noble.com. When it comes to shooting himself in the foot, G's aim seems to be improving with age.

The truth about "Bird" is
finally revealed.

"Learning about music wasn't interesting to me, but playing it has always been a joy." (The same could be said about the joy of pabulum, and the pleasure of being burped.)

"...pretty soon, after years of practicing this and practicing that, at some point I decided that my own style emerged, and I play the way that I play. It's cool. Because any time, I know that if I wanted to, I could play the fast Coltrane licks..." (Imagine, having all those "fast Coltrane licks" right at your fingertips... but never really needing them!)

"I don't say this to be disrespectful, but when you listen to Charlie Parker, on pretty much any record he's going to sound the same." (And that slacker Charlie Parker probably asn't able to hold the same note for 45 minutes, either.)

"Charlie Parker would squeak a lot, and that's why they called him Bird, because his reed would chirp. ...He played so fast, and his reed would chirp because it....I don't know, it just couldn't take the speed of his fingers." (It would appear that Jay McShann -- who was actually there -- has it all wrong. Thank you, G, for setting the record straight.)

"There's a lot of guys who like to play these things, and they think that they are the best players in the world because they can play these John Coltrane things. I go, 'Great, but I just feel like creating new stuff....whether you like it or not.'" (At last, a fearless innovator for the 21st century. Whether we like it or not.)

"...I don't listen to a lot of music at all. I'm actually more into... I don't know. I'm just more into playing golf."

....................FORE!!!