Kenny Gorelick, better known as Kenny G, is a musical hero for legions of fans around the world. Yet, to an equally fervent degree, the smooth jazz icon is also the subject of memes, mockery and more than his share of scathing reviews.
A new HBO documentary, Listening to Kenny G, sets out to explore why the music of one of the best-selling instrumental artists of all time is both revered and reviled by so many.
In it, we get to hear from the man himself. And Kenny G is fully aware of how much his music is hated. But his feelings aren't hurt.
"I don't mind that they say what they say," he says in an interview with NPR's David Folkenflik.
Nevermind the dismay of the dogmatic protectors of traditional, Gorelick says, he's doing his own thing.
"They must think that my music somehow is going to damage the reputation of traditional jazz, which — it shouldn't have any effect on anything," he said. "They have every right to be protective if that's what they want to do. I've got other things to do, which is create and practice."（excerpt from NPR.com）