THERE was a whole lotta sax last evening at the Arena of Stars in Resorts World Genting, as American saxophone legend Kenny G entertained an attentive crowd – the 6,000-seat hall was almost at full capacity – with a medley of familiar tunes and instrumental classics.
The 66-year-old musician showed no signs of his age as he belted out numerous solos, some lasting minutes on end, only pausing to allow the members of his five-man backing band to each get their time in the spotlight.
After starting off the show on an elevated platform in the middle of the audience – playing Loving You, Silhouette, and G-Bop – Kenny took to the stage and gave a short speech, greeting the crowd with the best Bahasa he could manage, to much merriment.
“Saya tak bagus tetapi saya akan… cuba sebai mungkin. Saya rasa gembira saya cinta Malaysia.”
He was originally scheduled to perform in Malaysia a couple of years ago, but the pandemic put a pause on those plans.
But for the most part, Kenny let the music do the talking, displaying all the skills that have made him a household name throughout the decades.
Including the encore, the set lasted almost two hours, with a good variety of tracks, from the up-tempo feats of virtuosity, to the more reflective ballads, with Kenny’s rendition of My Heart Will Go On from Titanic being a showstopper.
It’s a testament to that song that you can tell what it is, almost instantly.
Other songs that were performed included Havana, Naima, and the classic Songbird, among about 20 that were played.
To give them their due, his backing band are Robert Damper (piano), John Raymond (guitar), Danny Bejarano (drums), Ron Powell (percussion), Dale Johnson (bass).
Given how intensely long some of Kenny’s solos are – there are times you wonder how it is possible someone can breathe into a flute for so long – it’s not a surprise he lets his band shine with their own solos.
Powell has an extensive solo as he plays the bongos, seemingly improvisationally, with hands and elbows, before taking out the tambourine and having some fun with the audience.
For a few tracks into the middle, Kenny brought out a full-sized saxophone, but for the most part he performed with his iconic soprano saxophone.
Towards the end of the show, while thanking the audience (with the help of a translator) for showing up, mentioned that he’d been playing with that sax for 50 years, earning some amazed gasps from the audience.
He then joked that it was the longest relationship he’d ever had and the only one that he could make work.
For the fans that turned out at the Arena of Stars on Sunday, that fruitful relationship was a feast for the ears. – The Vibes, April 3, 2023
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