Into the heart & soul of Kenny G

Most of those Funfare does “sexy talk” with say that the saxophone is by far the sexiest musical instrument.

“It makes me feel like making love,” said Erik Santos.

Those who have been listening to the soothing — and sexy — music of Kenny G will agree with Erik who must be among the first to buy a copy of Kenny G’s new album, Heart and Soul, released locally my MCA Music.

A follow-up to Rhythm and Romance, his Latin jazz album released in 2008, Heart and Soul marks Kenny G’s return to R&B, the kind of music he said he grew up listening to in his native Seattle, Washington State.

“If I were to go back and start all over again, recording my first album,” said Kenny G in an exclusive 15-minute phone interview, “I think Heart and Soul would be it. It’s true to my roots,” added the 54-year-old sax icon, “it has soul, it has the kind of R&B that influenced me in the first place.”

Kenny G again partnered on this new CD with his long-time producer Walter Afanasieff. “I really tried to play without any restraints when we were recording, so I just let things take their natural course in the studio. The album is a snapshot of Walter and me in the laboratory. We tried to look at the project as an absolutely blank canvas and just write whatever we felt like writing and see where it would take us.”

The album contains 12 songs, in two of which Kenny G performs with guest vocalists Robin Thicke (on Fall Again) and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds (on No Place Like Home).

On the back cover of the album, Kenny G wrote the following “special note:”

To all of you,

 I grew up in Seattle and went to Franklin High School, an inner city public high school with a very mixed group of students from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. We were about one third each of White, African-American and Asian descent and the music that I listened to growing up was mainly R&B. When I think back to my days in high school and my musical start, I get a special feeling, and this new recording is my tribute to that feeling. I really hope you can all hear my ”roots” when you play these wonderful original compositions. I truly enjoyed making this album (I still call them albums) and hope that you all will enjoy it. I’m very proud of these songs. As always, thanks for your support.

—Kenny G

The following interview was scheduled thrice and postponed thrice because Kenny G was busy “on the road.” It was finally pushed through on the fourth time two weeks ago when Kenny G was home in L.A.

How is Heart and Soul different from your other albums, like Rhythm and Romance?

“Well, Rhythm and Romance was very much of a Latin CD and Heart and Soul is more R&B so it’s different in that way.”

Why did it take you a year and a half to complete the album?

“You know, I wish I could tell you. I worked really hard on it. Making this album was a heartfelt experience. It took us that long to finish because we paid a lot of attention to every song, every melody, every note.”

What were your criteria in choosing the selections on the album?

“As I said, it takes a long time to write the music and find the songs that really feel good.”

How can you tell if a song is good enough to be played on your sax?

“It takes time to figure that out. I wish I knew why. I can’t describe it but I know the song once I listen to it…if it gives me a certain feeling.”

Could you recall how you felt the first time you played a sax?

“I was 10. That was a long time ago so I don’t even remember what song I was playing. I discovered the saxophone one evening while I was watching The Ed Sullivan Show. It inspired me to pick up the instrument in the first place. I haven’t let go of my saxophone since then.”

Have you been attracted to any musical instrument aside from the sax?

“Not really. The saxophone is the only instrument that I play.”

Do you sing as well as you play the sax?

“Oh no, no, I don’t. I’m not that good.” (Laughs) “But I do sing in the bathroom like anybody else. Everybody is a great singer in the bathroom, isn’t it?”

Among your compositions, what’s your favorite?

“Songbird, definitely. I wrote it for a woman I have a crush on.”

Who’s the lucky woman?

“She’s now Mrs. G, my wife.”

G stands for…?

“Yes, Gorelick. That’s what the ‘G’ in my name stands for. Gorelick.”

And what do you do when you’re not playing the sax?

“I play golf. That also starts with the letter ‘g’.”

In 1997, you were mentioned in The Guinness Book of World Records for playing the longest note ever recorded in a saxophone, using a circular breathing. What is a circular breathing like?

“Well, that means I can hold a note and breathe at the same time.”

You need lung power for that, don’t you?

“You also need to know how the technique works, so… it takes a while to learn the technique.”

How do you keep your lungs in shape?

“No, diet and working out have nothing to do with it. I just practise a lot.”

What about maintaining your body?

“That has to do with everybody, whatever job or shape you are in. It’s always best to maintain good health. If you are healthy, you usually do better things, so I try to keep myself as healthy as I can.”

I understand that you have recorded some Chinese songs, like Jasmine Flower and The Moon Represents My Heart. What about doing Filipino songs?

“That’s okay, but it has to be the right song. When I hear the right music that I think will work with my saxophone, then I will definitely be very happy to record it.”

Are you familiar with any Filipino song?

“Not really. I need someone to send me some (Filipino) music.”

What kind of music do you like?

“I like every kind, but my favorite is traditional jazz.”

Who have been your musical influences, artists who have influenced your style?

“You know, I like the old jazz masters like Dexter Gordon and Sonny Roland. I like a lot of different people.”

People say that the sax is one of the sexiest musical instruments. Do you agree?

“I don’t know. I’m the one playing it, so I cannot tell.”

By the way, how many saxophones do you have in your collection and what’s your favorite?

“Well, my favorite is the one that I have since I was a kid in high school. I have my three saxophones that I usually play in my concerts and my recordings. And then I make my own saxophones now — my Kenny G Saxophones. So I have an unlimited number of saxophones in my collection now.”

What pieces of advice can you give to aspiring sax players?

“Yes, just practise a lot and do the things that make you feel good. Play the songs that you love and, yes, keep on practising.”

My favorite question: If you were to serenade a lady, what song would it be?

“I probably will make up a song.”

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