Concert review | Kenny G: Jazz showman offers warm-hearted performance

Kenny G charmed a relatively sparse, mostly middle-aged audience at the Palace Theatre on Wednesday night with a craftily constructed concert of smooth and occasionally more challenging jazz saxophone.

The musician, whose biggest hits were in the eighties and nineties, started out in the spotlight, performing some early works like “Silhouette” strolling through the aisles and on a separate platform, with the rest of his band in darkness.

Mellow and meandering, these songs also gave Kenny G the opportunity to show off some of his classic moves, like holding a note for several minutes while waving to and high-fiving members of the audience. One may not have wished to hear that particular note for so long, but the ability is undeniably impressive.

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Once on stage, and with the initial musical heavy lifting out of the way, the saxophonist relaxed into the comfort of being a member of a well-hewn band, the members of which have been together for decades, and who seemed to be enjoying themselves thoroughly.

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It's to G's credit that he doesn't confine these musicians to supporting roles. Each was given a long stint in the spotlights. Standouts included percussionist Ron Powell on a constantly expanding range of instruments, bassist Vail Johnson with some gutsy roots music, and pianist Robert Damper ringing subtle variations on a theme.

The meaty middle portion of the concert also included what its leader, who is given to slightly off-color dad jokes, called “sax education.” In the truest tribute to jazz in the program, the band took on Stan Getz's “Desafinado,” switching leads and sounding mercifully rough around the edges.

This salute to the early sixties was followed by another.

“This white boy is going to play some John Coltrane, whether you like it or not,” the saxophonist said, before launching in to a lush version of “Naima.”

Education over, a couple from Hilliard who bought the winning raffle ticket won not just a saxophone but a couple of seats on stage while Kenny G serenaded them.

The end of the concert found the saxophonist back center stage again, playing the long “Cadenza,” which shows off his technical virtuosity if not his emotional range.

This segued into probably his best-known piece, “Songbird,” and then into an unapologetically schmaltzy and fully fleshed-out “My Heart Will Go On.”

Jazz purists may find Kenny G less than thrilling, but those willing to forgive a little slick showmanship were treated to a generous and warm-hearted concert.

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