Kenny G – Live At Montreux 1987/1988 (Eagle DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C-     Concert: B-

 

 

So now again we look at another work by Kenny G, the safe, predictable, lightweight, nice guy musician with major commercial success, but will we ever see him do something of surprisingly more substance?  This link is to his previous recent concert on Blu-ray, which reflects my previous reactions to his work:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/9109/Kenny+G+%E2%80%93+An+Evening

 

 

When I saw the new Live At Montreux 1987/1988 DVD coming out, I figured here we go again, the same old boring, predictable Kenny G.  Then I watched the concert and to my surprise, he had taped two concerts that were more substantial than anything of his I had ever seen or heard of before.  Suddenly, he was dealing with real soul, blues and even (brace yourself) funk forms in a way that worked.  When both were done, I wondered, where has this man been hiding?

 

Maybe it is because these were taped before he became more commercial and lite (as if he were a member of Parliament Funkadelic or War to begin with), but no matter, he is a good showman here, playing well with some very richly talented musicians who can play exceptionally well.  Even legendary Jazz Pianist George Duke joins him on the 1987 closing number Champagne.

 

Too bad Kenny G did not continue down this road, but he chose another one and we at least have a record of how talented he can without self-restriction.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image on each concert on the DVD was shot on analog video (PAL or NTSC, it is hard to tell, but we’ll say NTSC for now) and offers good picture reproduction and color for its time.  The DTS 5.1 mix is a little better than the Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo mixes also included, but the audio is an older recording made before multi-channel sound was a consideration.  Extras include nothing on the DVD and a booklet inside the DVD case.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo