Kenny G . . .
and all that jazz

By Rita Charleston
For the Times

Growing up in Seattle, little Kenny Gorelick never dreamed he’d end up making music.
"I took lessons once a week in public school just like all the other kids. It was nothing special, just something I liked. Believe me, I wasn’t amazing at it, so I never thought about a future playing the saxophone," says the man now known simply as Kenny G who will be appearing at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside this Friday at 8 p.m.
"I knew I would go to college but I didn’t give much thought to anything beyond that. I just set out to enjoy myself, figuring things would work themselves out at some point," he said. "I’m not much of a planner. I never had anything well planned out for myself. I just never liked thinking about the future. I just like doing stuff."
And some of that "stuff" came when Gorelick was just 17 years old and played a gig for Barry White. That was a defining moment for the saxophonist and a time he realized music was to be his future.
"Again, I think I just got lucky. I got into a jazz fusion band in Oregon, was heard b Clive Davis, and offered my own record deal," Gorelick explained. "It takes years and years to get really good at anything. Either you get good or you don’t. And if you get good you have a chance at having a career of it. It takes luck and then, suddenly, you look at yourself and here you are."
And as the years went on, Gorelick said his big moment come in 1988 on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. By the time he had finished performing Songbird, the landmark recording from his fourth album Duotones, a star was born.
From there, the artist went on to become a multi-platinum sensation, soon collaborating with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole and Frank Sinatra, winning numerous awards and accolades for his saxophone virtuosity.
Growing up with the word "jazz," which to Gorelick meant instrumental and improvisation, the musician does think of himself as a jazz musician. Because he often improvises and creates his own style of music, many admirers also use that word to describe him.
"I usually do enjoy listening to old jazz, and traditional jazz because I am a student of my instrument," he said. "I listen as much as I can so that I can become better at what I do. For me, it’s like going to school. I also practice a lot and work hard at it. Growing up, I just listened to music in my bedroom and tried to copy what I heard."
Saying he was definitely a "copycat," Gorelick added that he always wanted to be the "white Grover Washington Jr.. Then, while listening to other saxophone players, like Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, I thought I’ve got to learn those licks. But at some point my own style emerged, and today I just play the way I play."
Recently, Gorelick released his newest album, Rhythm and Romance, his first Latin Jazz album. With rich samba and salsa, ballads and bossa nova, Gorelick said, "musically, this is nothing like I have ever done before.
"Everyone loves the rhythm of Latin music," Gorelick added. "It makes you feel good, it makes you want to dance. And at the same time, it is very intimate and personal. As for me, I just wanted to try it. Having the rhythm of Latin music go along with my saxophone made me excited to try it." ••
For more information, call the Keswick box office at 215-572-7650.