Does Kenny G play jazz, or should his name evoke “howls of derision from jazz musicians,” as the authors put it? Why are so many jazz musicians outraged by Kenny G? Many jazz musicians would say that Kenny G does not play jazz and that smooth jazz is not jazz at all. Throughout the course we have repeatedly demonstrated how the definition of jazz changes depending on who defines it. For New Orleans enthusiasts, swing was not jazz; for swing fans, bebop was not jazz; for boppers, fusion was not jazz. At this point, what does, should, and can one include in the category of jazz?
Why are so many jazz musicians outraged by Kenny G?
