Kenny G Gives ME a Saxophone Lesson!

#bettersax #saxophone #kennyg
Jay Metcalf shares advice, inspiration and a saxophone lesson from Kenny G.
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[@chaplainmattsanders4884]

I went to a Kenny G concert years ago in Sacramento. He was the most generous performer I ever saw in my life. He walked off stage, with his tenor mic’ed up, still jamming while off stage, then went up to all three tiers of the concert hall. He played right there in the aisles , and took a special pause to play directly for a guy in a wheelchair. I’m telling you-a brilliant player, a class act, and seems to be a very kind person. Thanks!!

[@Jwellsuhhuh]

Hope the guy in the wheelchair brought his earplugs

[@froogmaster7869]

he isn't really very kind, he has a massive ego

[@lamaspacos]

​@@froogmaster7869He deserves it.

[@sammiesoul5]

​@@froogmaster7869he is human and sometimes our other side might show up so just cut him a slack not an easy feat been a celeb

[@sidd2347]

If you go to a Kenny G concert location two days after he played, the reverb will still there :))))

[@alejandrodonceltalavero7385]

Hahajahaja exactly

[@bettersax]

😂

[@DrJoeyBean]

Best comment

[@deegeorge5711]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@orionseesall76]

👍🏼😎👍🏼

[@dillonring6372]

Dave Pollack is going to be SO mad 😂😂

[@Aaron-Qman]

FACTS 😂💯

[@troysmithfr]

TRUE

[@DavePollack]

I'm just proud Jay is starting to see the light of the Chosen One!

[@troysmithfr]

@@DavePollack Oh, he's actually here

[@2D2Productions]

@@DavePollack LOL

[@Saxologic]

“I hope you have just even a fraction of the joy that I’ve had playing the saxophone. I wish that in your life (it would be a lot by the way).” Kenny why are you like this 😂😂😂 I love it

[@vandenbrandenmerlin6629]

Hey there saxologic, Love your Videos 👌

[@mikefuentes8]

Saxologic what's up bro

[@brandonszczech6516]

Oh hello, nice beanie

[@demonexi6762]

H

[@hkhoe]

Hi, Saxologic😄

[@joaquinmendoza2306]

At first, I thought you were really getting a lesson from him when he said "HEY JAY KENNEY G HERE" haha

[@G8RDuc]

The man has brought more attention to instrumental playing and to jazz than most and he's extremely gifted. Kudos to you and Kenny for the great video.

[@Sirvalorsax]

Gotta be honest, I'm waiting to see a full review/playthrough of that Super Yanagisawa!!! Kenny is awesome 👌

[@bettersax]

I will do this for you Adriane

[@johnchapin7707]

Yeah... that is a gorgeous tenor for sure!

[@frankwankerl7021]

Jay is learning the lord ventheiro death stare while he’s playing.

[@jasonknight1085]

Next he'll be waving his finger at us during rests.

[@tuxsax]

You mean lord vinheiro?

[@DavePollack]

I see the Smooth Jazz Therapy™ (©Dave Pollack 2020) is going well!

[@saxhubdotjazz]

Very funny..😅

[@brycehudson1125]

Ayeeee Dave

[@BernellJonesII]

Here it is!

[@iantrewhella9470]

We are all still walking towards the light after your smooth jazz course brother!

[@sjs4711]

Thank you, I honestly believe that all the Kenny G bashing is a disservice to the saxophone community. I saw him in concert, I took my daughter who is a huge fan. I go to jazz concerts fairly often, I've seen Some of the very best players, a few seemed so bored and so uninteresting and gave the impression that they could care less about the audience that paid (sometimes large amounts) to see them. On the other hand, Kenny G gave a totally professional performance and he sold out a good-sized theater. He engaged the audience, he entertained and played flawlessly for an hour and a half. His band was as good as any big-name jazz guy I've ever seen. I'm old and it seemed that performers of my day were more guarded with their opinions it recorded interviews. I never heard anyone say Jimmy Durante could not sing like Sinatra. Durante did his thing and Sinatra his. Let Kenny G be Kenny G.

[@KadrianThomas]

This was an amazing comment. Kenny G found his place and made his mark just as many others have. I grew up so poor I didn't even know what a sax was until I was 22 years old when I went to college and the first saxophonist I was exposed to was Kenny G.

[@joeblankenship377]

He's a great player, no doubt, but his music just doesn't do it for me. But I feel like I defend Kenny G more than I bash him. He kills it in that version of At Last with Arturo Sandoval.

[@KadrianThomas]

He’s a great and masterful player. The same way Kenny G is looked upon for his style was the same treatment that Coltrane and Charlie Parker had, same story different times-it’s just humans. We don’t all like Jazz, we don’t all like country music, we don’t all like Reggae, we don’t all like any twist to our favorite genre of music and that’s fine. The challenge I find with bashers/haters of Kenny G and of course I’m not saying you in particular, is that once something is different from what we “perceive” to be the real or authentic it’s no good, it’s useless and the same people I find have never created anything of value to be known for or be remembered by. Watching Jay breaking down these lines one will realize that Kenny G isn’t just playing a bunch of frills and that’s what I love about music it’s not boxed it to any genre or one dumb set of rules that everyone has to follow like mindless sheep. All the great artist’s never truly get their recognition until dead, however, living or dead Kenny G will remain etched in the mind of millions for years and years to come. Then again, some artist’s who bash Kenny G does so because others do it having no reason or opinion of their own and some do it because they will never be as famous as the guy who spent thousands upon thousands of hours honing his craft, and brought something different to the world that most who don’t understand the complexities of Hard core Jazz can appreciate it in part.

[@patrickkelcey2435]

...I went to one of his concerts, I'm still blown away... It was 25 years ago.

[@tonypargva]

You’re speaking the truth. He is great. He made me love saxophone soprano. Today I listen to other saxophone players, especially tenors. It’s also thanks to him. I’m so thankful for that. His music is still so beautiful to me.

[@MrBoybergs]

Meanwhile, back in our universe; 'Jay gives Kenny a sax lesson'

[@fluxcapacitor1988]

I had my Kenny G years - late 80s, 90s. When I was about 19, I rushed to NBC studios in Burbank (Tonight Show with Jay Leno) after working a graveyard shift at Ben Frank's Restaurant on the Sunset strip in Hollywood, just to catch him perform live. I had already seen him at the Starlight in Kansas City, about a year or two prior. I ended up sitting in the front row. After the show, I walked toward the stage and asked Kenny if he'd sign my music book - Album Breathless - piano notation. He was incredibly nice, humble... held his soprano sax under his arm and grabbed my sharpie... signed the book, and then thanked me. What a nice guy, seriously. And yes, he can jam people... when he plays live, he tears it up on tenor!

[@billmoody2600]

I used to listen to Kenny G back in the day when he was playing with Jeff Lorber fusion. Really enjoyed that band.

[@TheNeatwork]

Met Kenny G when he came here to Oklahoma, took my Mom for Mother's day, she's been listening since she was a teen and we're both sax players... He signed her CD and after listening to our story told her, "you have a wonderful son" and she balled like a baby 😅 Coolest day ever. Oh, and seeing George Benson that day was cool too 😝

[@MrNicks-gn8jc]

Solid smooth jazz show !!

[@andrewrigales8910]

Very cool man! Thanks for the lesson.

[@fineyeken3091]

What a gig Jay. Two lessons for the price of one, two champions of my sax world and as an extra, a taster for the silver Yani review along with Kenny and his umbilical cord. Nectar!

[@garyreid6165]

To learn from two masters is a great thing. Thank you, Jay. Beautiful Yanagisawa tenor you have there.

[@bettersax]

Thanks Gary!

[@julienm702]

I think his saxophone comes naturally with reverb. Kenny G without reverb might sound like KennyG with no hair. There's just no way. Thanx Jay for your hard work. YOu rock.

[@SaxlRose]

Another great video, as always man! Definitely enjoyed this!

[@bettersax]

thanks man

[@sorenfuhrer401]

Dave Pollack must be so jealous right now :)

[@gangofgreenhorns2672]

Kenny G is the first saxophonist I ever listened to as a little, little kid.

[@Itsjustifemusic]

me tooo first song I heard from HIM was forever in love ♥️♥️💖😅

[@paridox4ever]

i was more a herb alpert person

[@unhooked25]

I think is first ever hit tune was back in 1988 called "Songbird"

[@KadrianThomas]

Great video Jay, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to break this down. Amazing. I was exposed to the saxophone through Kenny G's work Kenny is my guy.

[@dianereed8597]

Luv The SAX ... it is Definitely AMAZING! Thks Sharing!

[@HonestSaxSound-unEdited-]

Great video Jay, many thanks! Kenny G is one of the giants, and along with Fausto Papetti, they were the sax icons for the masses.

[@player197SD]

looooooved the close up shots of the sax!

[@Urraca122]

Say what you want ..... he is awesome, lov it, saw him in concert and he was great.

[@ciscojulian5552]

Jay thanks for this video, Kenny G is the reason I took up or trying to learn to play a Sax, much Aloha

[@satriahadjobaru2718]

Really loved this way of breakdown. Great!!

[@bettersax]

Glad you liked it!

[@oncologyinformationgroup7714]

Thank you for that!!!!

[@ezrapetersen9913]

Awesome!

[@chrisf4216]

The smoooooooth jazz king😂

[@silvioluciano1022]

Fantastic!

[@elsaxofonista]

KENNY G IS A VERY CRITICAL SAXOPHONIST BECAUSE I THINK HIS talent IS UNKNOWN, and he is the one who opened the door to thousands of saxophonists to the mass market, is there a before and after of Kenny G, ... his best song? falling in the moonlight

[@gsco82]

I agree that his contribution to making the saxophone popular is immense. But, as I am not a fan of smooth jazz, and prefer the tenor to the soprano sax, I don't listen to his music very much.

[@BruceWayne-je3fy]

@@gsco82 he can play everything else really. Go to a concert if u can

[@justm6712]

Omg I didn't expect this

[@Craig2760]

Went with some friends to see Kenny at Radio City Music Hall 30 years ago. He did a few tunes in his set outside of his smooth jazz pop tunes. The stage set was changed to look like an old 52nd St club or French cafe. He played a few jazz standards on tenor. Was pleasantly surprised. On that same note, I was in Nashville back in the early 80’s walking down Historic Printers Alley. Just for kicks I walked into Boots Randolph’s club. That guy could play!

[@AllanSorenseninToronto]

actually pretty funny - and of course instructive. The good stuff!

[@Obviously_not_mars]

I'm so glad I got to meet him back in March!!

[@anthonymangino5074]

I love Kenny G’s music. He is truly a genius when it comes to the playing the saxophone. I wanna learn how to play the saxophone. I’ve been listening to his music since I was 15 years old. Practice makes perfect.

[@dcp8nts]

Oddly fun to play along with my alto. =D Happy Thanksgiving Jay!

[@desireapple2630]

Even I don't like Smooth Jazz. But this is better than I expected. good job, kenny and jay.

[@Samuel-ge7im]

What a cool video Jay what an awesome collab.

[@bettersax]

thanks!

[@balaba9352]

Kenny G, ever smooth. He is my inspiration of learning to play the sax at nearly 60 years. Just bought the Soprano sax and learning.

[@gsco82]

If you have never played a reed instrument, you might find the soprano a bit challenging. To learn saxophone, I would recommend playing an alto sax to get used to fingerings, and especially the embouchure. Then you can switch to soprano.

[@balaba9352]

@@gsco82 You are right, just like many people told me. But I did not listen and you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Lol

[@camthesaxman3387]

Nah, it's fine to start on soprano.

[@donaldhusted5551]

Just Epic!!

[@b0geman117]

pat metheny is punching the air right now

[@shawjazzy]

Lmao

[@Funkdumpling]

Absolutely! Pat really needs to chill over Kenny😉

[@BruceWayne-je3fy]

Pat Metheny who?

[@josiahmedina5812]

I love your video and Kenny G is my favorite saxophonist

[@johnnyharrison5760]

I want a sax Lesson from my Idol Kenny G🎼🎷🎵🎶🎙🎤🔊😂😁😄

[@SharpElevenMusic]

"All that practice certainly does pay off and I don't mean... financially" 😂😂. Yeah, and especially the soprano, because "Why don't you also bring your soprano sax to the gig?" - said nobody ever that pays you.

[@bettersax]

😂

[@carlman1955]

This video is right on time for me, My wife gave me a new soprano for my birthday nov 11th Now watching this video I had gotten the yamaha WX5 in year 2006 on my birthday listening to Kenny G than which I had recorded my first smooth jazz album. Its so amazing to to see kenny G on your site today. What a coincidence. i will download lessons and learn to play this instrument as well. Wish me luck!!!! (CarlmanJazz)

[@bettersax]

good luck!

[@veanukavi5341]

This was the video that I was waiting for a long time

[@EstebanCamacho]

Nice!

[@TheToneBender]

You know what, I'll watch this video tomorrow, because it's 10pm now and I know that I'll end up playing my sax after watching. So I'd better do that during the day.

[@shaddjimenez4524]

Did not expect this 😂

[@farmpunk_dan]

I slept on this video when it dropped but this was unironically cool and useful content.

[@liamring]

Good Lord Kenneth really does like his reverb

[@janendres3647]

He could at least have it turned off whilst talking...

[@onesyphorus]

Pollack, Graybeal & Metcalf. can't wait for the day

[@supremefatty5941]

Graybeal is so overrated as a saxophone youtuber. He's only popular because of the cringey Mario Kart lick. He's like the Adam neeley of saxophone

[@saxophonerman1239]

@@supremefatty5941 Honestly I find his videos actually very enjoyable. He's also very competent as a saxophonist. Adam neely is actually pretty fun to watch also. I agree they're very popular, but they're definitely not overated.

[@DavePollack]

Well, I am having them both on (separate) videos for my Christmas Tune of the Day series! I'll get them on the same video one day.

[@onesyphorus]

@@DavePollack Thanks for replying!!

[@jaedancurcio1545]

@@supremefatty5941 his appeal isn’t as some professional, best player in the world type stuff. While he is an exceptional player and musician, keep in mind that he is still a college student, and that he is still a phenomenally good musician and comedian

[@dennis9242]

I enjoyed the video, Jay. Can't help it, curious about your setup. Thanks.

[@r.g.p.7164]

a class from the chosen one!

[@iamachildofGod]

🔥🔥🔥that intro🤩🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Seras51]

hey Jay, i've been playing for a bit over a year now and finally pulled the trigger on a yanagisawa alto, man its so lovely to play compared to my cheap starter horn

[@smoothvelvetsinger]

My take on Kenny G. Instead of disliking him so much, the jazz world should embrace him for bringing "jazz in a broader sense" to the mass public. I've seen his concerts around the world, he's treated like a rock star. And he constantly acknowledges influences like Getz, Adderley and Coltrane as inspirations and influences. I'm sure lots more people will be checking out these jazz masters based purely on Kenny G' s praise for them.

[@billcarson1714]

Jay, you are very well regarded by everyone out here. Great stuff and thank you very much.

[@gilmoura2387]

Very nice

[@maydaymika]

I just went to his concert a few hours ago! He was awesome! He signed my jacket!!!!!

[@maydaymika]

Even Better! I got a Dave Kessler Soprano Sax for Christmas!!!

[@saxman7131]

I’ve always loved Kenny G.

[@bernardussamuel8445]

Cool lick for my improvisation later!

[@slegs001]

“I hope you have just even a fraction of the joy that I’ve had playing the saxophone. I wish that in your life (it would be a lot by the way).” Replace joy by the word money and it still make a lot of sense for KG... Seriously, around 75' I was listening to music like Bowie and a saxophonist on the tune ''Young Americans'' caught my attention, it was David Sanborn. I do not compare Sandborn to KG, Sandborn is very respectfull of his roots, he made a superb tv show ''Night Music'' few years later, but at that time he was very popular in pop music. After reading a journal article nentionning that Sandborn was a fan of Phil Woods, I bought a Phil Woods album and voilà bebop jazz was now revealed to me. Probably that Kenny G did the same effect for part of his listener.

[@MikeySaxMusic]

What is this!!!!! Love!!!!

[@twjamjam]

Yooo this is epic

[@thisnamesucksrealbad]

WOW!

[@intimacywithchrist4574]

The more you practice The better you get... thank you sir

[@gamerhalim4717]

Fans from Indonesia 🇮🇩

[@harryingd2674]

Nice

[@shealinbanta4169]

Your tenor saxophone is so beautiful, I wish my tenor was silver

[@msftwong]

Wow !

[@michlo3393]

Though not my style, Kenny has got some chops. And he really does seem like a very nice guy.

[@m.w.]

A dream comes through !!! Thank you so much for presenting my personal Saxophon hero !! Greetings from Germany!🇩🇪

[@davidczajkowski5956]

Reason I started playing was Kenny G...learned all my Bergonzi licks at Berklee which made everyone think they’re great, went along with the Kenny G hate club for a while, but you can hate all you want on type of music he plays...but met very few that could play with his technique (think you got chops KZbin Kenny G-solo (live in Baden Baden 87) 3:30 mark.

[@shealinbanta4169]

I would love to meet Kenny G and he has the same birthday as me which is June 5th. The best thing is that him and I both play saxophone

[@NTgamezZ]

Kenny is the best

[@bobblues1158]

Jay- you got that horn before I did you rascal! I almost went there about 6 weeks ago. You know you have to let me try it!

[@bettersax]

Bob, this was made special for me at the factory in Tokyo. Yes of course you can try it.

[@bobblues1158]

@@bettersax My Man! I know i am going to order one through Gottfried. Only live once.

[@TCNHC]

Hi Jay. That's your best video playing on soprano. Impressed! I'm playing a Yanagisawa WO1 soprano myself. Can you tell me what model do you use here? Also the mouthpiece and ligature?

[@CesarGallegosMusicComposer]

THEY SAY YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL WHEN YOU HAVE PRACTICE 10,000 HOURS. I SUPPOSE I HAVE 9,999 LEFT TO GO.

[@christophertsiliacos8958]

I play both the alto saxophone and the soprano saxophone. And I enjoy playing both of them equally for hours, just not at the same time. 😉🎷

[@jasonzhang4854]

I watched him perform in vancouver

[@robertmac7833]

Actually the number one selling, most recorded instrumentalist of all time was a very good friend to Boots Randolph. His name was Chet Atkins. Well over a hundred full LP’s over a 50 plus year career.

[@lusarmientomusic]

KENNY G REVERB KINGGGGG

[@SY-ky8xi]

Which sax you use to breakdown the Kenny G’s sample? Can you recommend a good one for beginner? The straight saxophone looks much smaller and lighter to hold though. - saxophone lover Mike 💕

[@jimmymiller5465]

Did you just order one of those cameo type things and edit it?

[@NathanielAlvarezJr]

Wow👍👍👍

[@HB-ve4wi]

You might want to ceck out early Kenny G, live in Montreux, "Midnight Motion". I know it's dated. But the dude can actually play some serious sax.

[@BruceWayne-je3fy]

Yea that’s actually one of the greatest sax solos of all time

[@little.enderman_]

What mouthpiece do you use for your soprano sax??

[@japan2188]

POG

[@anrianka]

jay meet the curly golden hair man😇

[@crazywisdom2]

well .... that's cool !

[@SEVERiNpark]

hahaha all the reverb even in the one sentence at 7:12

[@spencernoble5925]

I can smell red wine just looking at KG

[@gilmoura2387]

What mouth pieace you use?

[@luisruizliriano]

Hola Steve, que marca es ese saxofón soprano...? Gracias.

[@bunchinbemunchin6310]

I cant wait until i can play jazz ive been playing for only a couple weeks but im trying very hard to learn

[@toyandgamezone2028]

I encourage you to keep going

[@CJ-ki1wb]

I was waiting for Kenny g to comment