Revisiting Kenny G (Colloquy): Introduction - What Kenny G Can Teach Us About Jazz

Kenny G is the bestselling instrumentalist and bestselling saxophonist of all time. He is, in short, the most commercially successful artist in the history of jazz—a position that he holds despite the vehement objections of many within the jazz community. In this introductory essay, I provide an overview of the common criticisms levelled against Kenny G; I then deconstruct them and some of their underlying implications. As I argue, the popular backlash against him has much to teach us about the prevailing values of contemporary jazz discourse.