[This is in reaction (from a couple of years ago) to Kenny G playing over Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World" (George Weiss / Bob Thiele)] Pat Metheny: "But this is different. When Kenny G decided that it was appropriate for him to defile the music of the man who is probably the greatest jazz musician that has ever lived by spewing his lame-ass, jive, pseudo bluesy, out-of-tune, noodling, wimped out, fucked-up playing all over one of the great Louis's tracks (even one of his lesser ones), he did something that I would not have imagined possible.
He, in one move, through his unbelievably pretentious and calloused musical decision to embark on this most cynical of musical paths, shit all over the graves of all the musicians past and present who have risked their lives by going out there on the road for years and years developing their own music inspired by the standards of grace that Louis Armstrong brought to every single note he played over an amazing lifetime as a musician.
By disrespecting Louis, his legacy, and by default, everyone who has ever tried to do something positive with improvised music and what it can be, Kenny G reached a new lowpoint in modern culture. We let it slide at our own peril." [Pat's generally a very respectful guy in his writing, and I have no absolute proof that these are his words. But I have read comments on his site that equal this position, and he clearly agrees. Regardless of whether he wrote this or not, I happen to agree with the position. All we're looking for is some integrity.
"I hear babies cryin', I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world"] *
