Kenneth & Kenny: Watching one, Listening to the other

Kenny G 2009 Syracuse Jazz Fest

Kenny G JazzFest 2009

I had the opportunity to cover the 2009 Syracuse Jazz Fest at OCC last week and see Spyro Gyra and Kenny Gorelick (aka Kenny G.)  I’m familiar with some of Gorelick’s work, and maybe my favorite cut is “Hi! How Ya Doin, ” which was produced by Kashif.  If you check out the video, you can see Kenny G before he had the long curly hair and you can even see his dance moves.

What I didn’t know about Kenny G is that he has sold over 50 million albums, he started out playing with Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra and his wife is photographer Lyndie Benson.

Before Kenny G took the stage I had a wonderful conversation for the Jazz Fest’s piano tuner Kenneth Williams back stage. I know Williams from a previous job and we’ve had brief conversations about his vision (he’s legally blind) his hearing (he has what he calls “good relative pitch.”) and his love of music (he doesn’t own a piano but he is actually a trumpet player).

Kenneth Williams, piano tuner

Kenneth Williams, piano tuner

Williams is a jovial personality who does some of the best impressions I’ve heard outside of Hollywood. He does a great John Wayne, Pearl Bailey and Jimmy Stewart. I asked him how long would he continue to work (he’s been a piano technician and tuner for longer than I’ve been alive).  I’m never going to retire, he said. I’m having too much fun.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

3 Responses to “Kenneth & Kenny: Watching one, Listening to the other”

  1. […] was also good to see, photograph and talk with piano tuner Kenneth Williams.  According to Jazz Fest Producer Festival Frank Malfitano: “[Williams] is the best in the […]

  2. khall3721 says:

    Does anyone know how to contact Mr. Williams? We used him to tune our pianos years ago and would love to find him again and I am having a difficult time.

  3. […] For more information about Kenny G’s new album, click here. To see photos from Kenny G’s 2009 visit to Jazz Fest, click here. […]

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.