Make no bones about it. I’ve loved Kenny G for most of my life. However, I’ve found the hate on the man to be one of the most baffling things I’ve seen online over the years. Now, thanks to Bill Simmons, cinephiles can have a complete examination as to why folks love and hate one of the most popular instrumentalists of all time. In his second documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival, Bill Simmons Listening To Kenny G offers a fascinating look that may not fully answer the question as to why we hate or love Kenny. Still, it will surely leave you wondering if you’re on the right or wrong side of history.
Director Penny Lane steps up to the plate to tell this story. With her past work, Our Nixon and Hail Satan?, a look at Kenny G should be a cakewalk. From the film’s opening moments, Lane brings us a side of Kenny that shows that while the hate he receives doesn’t overtly run through his mind, his overall status in the industry may. Lane asks him, “How are you feeling?” Kenny replies, “Underappreciated in general. But other than that, I’m fine.” That is a telling picture about Kenny’s feelings as he follows this comment up with a level of sarcasm the rest of the way through.
Yes, the film looks at the rise of Kenny’s career and the relationship he developed with Clive Davis, and we are well aware of all the records he’s sold, but the moment he blew up was the stuff of “biopic heaven.” On The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, rather than playing the single, that was intended, he followed his gut and played “Songbird.” That bold choice would change the course of his career and would lead to Kenny G becoming the best-selling instrumentalist of all time and, quite frankly, probably the most famous living jazz musician.
One of the most exciting aspects of the film is the number of jazz artists and critics interviewed. While most respect the work he’s done, they surely don’t like his music. To the extent that some feel that he is not representative of what authentic jazz is. Despite the hate he constantly has received over the years, a line from the great philosopher Sean’ Jay-Z’ Carter comes to mind, “Men Lie, Women Lie, the numbers don’t,” and when it comes to Kenny G, the hate can keep on coming, but the receipts show that Kenny is on top of the mountain.
When it comes to Kenny G staying relevant in today’s social media-driven world, he is well aware that at this point of his career, it’s not only about album sales, but it’s about engaging with his audience. He does that through social media and features on songs with The Weeknd and serenading Kim Kardashian on Valentine’s Day in 2019, among other stunts.
Listening To Kenny G is such a fascinating film as Penny Lane does not take a side but lets her audience choose whether hating or loving Kenny G is right. Kenny plans to perform well into his 80’s (he’s 65) along with scoring a movie one day, it’s safe to say there’s no stopping him anytime soon. It’s Kenny G’s world, and we’re just living in it.
