SOPHIA ROOKSBERRY
Staff Writer
Before Kenneth Bruce Gorelick, popularly known as Kenny G, became the best-selling instrumentalist in history, he was a teenager who didn’t make the cut to join his high school band. Now one of the world’s most recognized saxophonists, Gorelick plans to share his journey and talents with Chautauquans today during a 12:30 p.m. Masters Series Masterclass in Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall and an 8 p.m. performance at the Amphitheater.
Although Gorelick has long since logged 10,000 hours in the pursuit of perfecting his craft, he believes continual rehearsal makes him and his band a better collective of musicians.
“The audience is going to see five musicians play their respective instruments at the very top level, so we hope that we will show the audience what someone is capable of doing when they practice their instrument for 50 plus years,” Gorelick said.
For the masterclass, Gorelick will be joined by Phil Lerman, a journalist and 25-year Chautauquan. Lerman is also the co-author of Gorelick’s memoir, Life in the Key of G, and will converse with him about the process of writing the book and the lessons they both took away from it. In addition to the performance, Gorelick said he looks forward to joining Lerman in Lenna Hall after spending years collaborating to put the story of Gorelick’s life into words.
“He has really good instincts and it was easy for me to trust him when we discussed topics that weren’t so straightforward about how to share them on paper,” Gorelick said. “What a great experience for me, and I look forward to a really fun and informative back-and-forth in person when we talk to each other at the Institution.”
Deborah Sunya Moore, chief program officer and senior vice president, said the opportunity to hear from Gorelick in multiple settings is unique to Chautauqua.
“We at Chautauqua celebrate all different types of programs, but two of our biggest platforms are the performing arts and the literary arts,” Moore said. “… What other community could put Kenny G on stage and have a conversation with literally the man that wrote the book with him, who’s a community member? That is an only-at-Chautauqua experience for people to not just hear about the process of the book, but hear Phil interview Kenny about his life, because he already knows it so intimately well.”
During the Masterclass, the pair plans to discuss themes of the memoir and the journey Gorelick took to achieve his current position in the music industry.
“He is one of the most criticized musicians ever, but what people don’t know is he’s also one of the happiest guys you’ll ever meet,” Lerman said. “How do you learn to absorb criticism? To be okay with it, to joke about it and to not let it make you bitter is a lesson that we all can learn from.”
One of the things Lerman hopes to emphasize in their discussion is Gorelick’s intense practice regimen that he still maintains, despite having spent over half a century with his instrument.
“He still practices three hours a day, every day,” Lerman said. “Understanding his process and the technical proficiency he has achieved, and understanding why after all these years he’s still practicing like that, gives you a sense of the story behind the story of what you’re seeing on the stage.”
Lerman hopes Chautauquans are pleasantly surprised by the concert’s content and advised that attending the Masterclass might give prospective audience members an inside look into how Gorelick curates his setlist.
“People are surprised when they come to his concert because you expect the smooth jazz,” Lerman said. “You don’t expect the incredible funk you’re going to hear, and you don’t expect the Stan Getz, John Coltrane, Miles Davis jazz you’re going to hear. They’re always a little surprised by that. Understanding where that comes from with him and his history with jazz … enriches your experience when you get there.”
Whether or not Chautauquans choose to attend the afternoon discussion between Gorelick and Lerman, the former is confident the performance will be worth attending.
“I never phone it in,” Gorelick said. “It’s always me trying my best to play my best. This doesn’t mean that I don’t have fun. It’s just the opposite. I practice and prepare very diligently, and then I let it all go and play with my heart. I am really lucky in the fact that people have responded so positively to my particular style of playing.”
