jw123 wrote:Peg I have a lot of respect for Pat Metheny, not really my cup of tea, I tend to lean toward things I can play, and hes way way over my head. Hes an ambassodor for what he does.
But the same could be said for Kenny G, he may have enlightened some listeners to jazz, that otherwise wouldnt have listened.
Well, I suppose it depends on your definition of "jazz". Because it's instrumental and because it has a saxophone.....does not make it "jazz" in my book.
And the fact that this is often the first and often ONLY exposure to alleged "jazz"....sheeeeet, that's a helluva way to represent "jazz" to a newbie.
Matheny is a purist, G is more of a capitalist, both have thier own audience, and both are entitled to do what they want musically, like I said it is business, and Im sure someone is making money off of the copywrights or publishing of the song, someone signed off and gave G permission. Now if he stole it, thats a whole different thing. But Im sure something that high profile he had to get granted the right to use the music and the tapes to record over it.
With all respect JW, I think you missed the point. The issue PM takes is not that KG "stole" anything. He never said that. His issue is KG having the chutzpah to overdub himself onto a classic recording.
The fact that KG got "permission" and a release and paid royalties to do it...that's besides the point. Yes, it would be worse if he DIDN'T but it's still a pretty tasteless thing to have done to make a buck.
How many songs has Matheny covered in his career?
To my knowledge...not all that many on his recordings. And the few that I'm familiar with....he brought an entirely new take to.
I am certain that he NEVER overdubbed himself onto anyone else's recordings and released them for public consumption!
Im sure you can go back to Wes Montgomery or someone like that and trace a lot of his stuff, so he should really look in the mirror before he starts pointing fingers, but thats just my opinion, as was said everyone that plays music has stolen something from somewhere, and not given the original credit, as far as G, hes given major credit to the original, so these things can be looked at a lof of different ways.
Well, it's one thing to be INFLUENCED by someone's style as PM readily admits he was hugely influenced by Jim Hall and another thing to overdub yourself onto a classic recording for a big payday.
ALL musicians are
influenced by other players. That's not "stealing"
But not ALL think they have the right to overdub themselves onto a classic recording. And for the record...that's not "stealing" either. PM never said it was.
