Part I: Kenny G - The Stylist and Writer 4 ‘Without a doubt, Kenny G is the most popular saxophonist in the music industry today. His playing style is very distinctive. His fluid technique and innovative use of standard jazz licks creates a very unique style. Kenny's signature tone is smooth and romantic, full of soul with every tur, articulation and vibrato, ‘The musical ability of Kenny G stretches far beyond playing the saxophone. He is also an accomplished songwriter. He has written or co-written nearly every song on all of his recording projects. Being a songwriter encompasses significantly more musical territory than one might imagine. A songwriter must be concerned with melody, harmony, chord changes, rhythmic groove, tempo, mood, form, and motivic development. As you can see, there are many decisions to be considered. This book will attempt to educate, inform and enlighten all who are fascinated with Kenny G's popularity It will transcribe, diagram, and explain his stylistic tendencies, musical characteristics, and writing as clearly as possible. The first half of the CD will have the rhythm track and the saxophone track together. The second half will have just the rhythm track so you can play along with it. Most of Kenny's hits have been ballads: “Songbird,” “Silhouette,” “Going Home,” and “Forever in Love,” to name just a few. Let's look at some of his songs in more detail. “Songbird” was Kenny's first instrumental crossover hit. It was @ phenomenal success that quickly topped the pop charts. “Songbird” established a new sound to which listeners became accustomed. The song has a slow R&B feel which is a popular rhythmic groove. Notice that the bass drum is used on the first and third beats, with a sixteenth note pick-up to beat three. Traditionally, the snare drum falls on the second and fourth beats (the "back-beat’), but in this case, it occurs only on beat four, leaving the second beat empty. To change the feel of the bridge and make the groove a bit bigger there, a cross-stick is added on beat two. The hi-hat plays straight sixteenths, closed the whole way through, opening up when the bass drum plays on the first and third beats. The drum groove is a two-bar pattern, Both measures are the same. ‘The keyboard introductions to Kenny's songs are often simple arpeggiated pattems. ‘They are usually repetitive in nature, and are often considered to be the *hook’ of the song. ‘The hook is @ note or phrase that is unique or distinctive, Itis this distinguishing quality that gives the song its personality, and is usually responsible for the level of success of the song. In “Songbird,” the arpeggiated keyboard pattem rides over the top of the staff utilizing the Toot, second, third, and fifth of the given chord or scale. The keyboard pattem Is a four-bar phrase. The second two-bar phrase is almost identical to the first, except that it repeats the phrase a sixteenth note earlier.[ Dfietcates CD track) 5 Example 1 “Songbird” (concert key) ‘Am(ada9) G(aaeo) ‘Am(add9) G(add9) In “Silhouette,” as in “Songbird,” an arpeggiated keyboard motif starts the song. Again, the patter is simple and is four bars in length. az Example 2 “Silhouette” (concert key) F(ada2) F Gm9 Gm The song “Forever In Love” has almost no movement. The bass and strings play long tones and the drums are light. If it weren't for his characteristic arpeggiated keyboard pattern, the song would stand still, The success of the song is due to the melody and the ‘chord changes. Here is the introductory keyboard pattem: 2 Example 3 “Forever in Love” (concert key) F Am B c