He’s no longer rolling up to Franklin High School in a blue Oldsmobile Super 88 with homemade white wall tires, or knocking out accounting tests on the University of Washington campus, but Kenny G is still in touch with his Seattle roots -- even after selling more than 75 million records worldwide.

The iconic sax-man played a run of sold-out shows at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley over the turn of the new year. In case you couldn’t make it to a show, the story of how Kenneth Gorelick of Seward Park became one of the best-selling instrumentalists of all time is chronicled in Kenny G’s new memoir, “Life in the Key of G.”

The book explores the craft of saxophone playing and the mind of a meticulous artist, always striving to improve. Readers also get some unexpected stories -- like how Kenny G once tried his best to get fired from Whitney Houston’s tour, or the time Elton John gave him a “pinch” of approval.

Soundside's Libby Denkmann caught up with Kenny from his LA studio ahead of his return to Jazz Alley.

Guests:
Kenny G

Related Links: 
Kenny G 

 

He&rsquo;s no longer rolling up to Franklin High School in a blue Oldsmobile Super 88 with homemade white wall tires, or knocking out accounting tests on the University of Washington campus, but Kenny G is still in touch with his Seattle roots -- even after selling more than 75 million records worldwide.
The iconic sax-man played a run of sold-out shows at Dimitriou&rsquo;s Jazz Alley over the turn of the new year. In case you couldn&rsquo;t make it to a show, the story of how Kenneth Gorelick of Seward Park became one of the best-selling instrumentalists of all time is chronicled in Kenny G&rsquo;s new memoir, &ldquo;Life in the Key of G.&rdquo;
The book explores the craft of saxophone playing and the mind of a meticulous artist, always striving to improve. Readers also get some unexpected stories -- like how Kenny G once tried his best to get fired from Whitney Houston&rsquo;s tour, or the time Elton John gave him a &ldquo;pinch&rdquo; of approval.
Soundside's Libby Denkmann caught up with Kenny from his LA studio ahead of his return to Jazz Alley.
Guests:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">Kenny G</li>
</ul>
Related Links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kennyg.com/">Kenny G</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

Soundside

How Kenny G went from local fill-in to global saxophone phenom

Soundside will be off the air on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. We will be back with some fresh new stories Jan. 2. 

For today, we’ve revisiting a mix of some of Soundside producer Alec Cowan's favorite segments from this past year, including his patrol with a pair Seattle's "real-life superheroes" and the musicians keeping jazz music alive in Seattle. 

We also have one newstory for you, courtesy of producer Jason Megatron Burrows. 2024 was the 50th Anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons. Burrows explored how the game is staying up to date after 5 decades of gameplay, and its attempt to stay relevant in 2025.

Hear and read the original stories below. 

Stories Featured:
KUOW - A night on patrol with Seattle's 'real-life superheroes'
KUOW - Jazz has a storied past in Seattle. But what about its future?
KUOW - Soundside looks back at the 50th Anniversary of D&D

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside will be off the air on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. We will be back with some fresh new stories Jan. 2.&nbsp;
For today, we&rsquo;ve revisiting a mix of some of Soundside producer Alec Cowan's favorite segments from this past year, including his patrol with a pair Seattle's "real-life superheroes" and the musicians keeping jazz music alive in Seattle.&nbsp;
We also have one new story for you, courtesy of producer Jason Megatron Burrows.&nbsp;2024 was the 50th Anniversary of Dungeons &amp; Dragons. Burrows explored how the game is staying up to date after 5 decades of gameplay, and its attempt to stay relevant in 2025.
Hear and read the original stories below.&nbsp;
Stories Featured:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/beyond-fiction-a-night-on-patrol-with-seattle-s-real-life-superheroes">KUOW - A night on patrol with Seattle's 'real-life superheroes'</a></li>
<li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/jazz-has-a-storied-past-in-seattle-but-what-about">KUOW - Jazz has a storied past in Seattle. But what about its future?</a></li>
<li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/soundside-looks-back-at-the-50th-anniversary-of-d">KUOW - Soundside looks back at the 50th Anniversary of D&amp;D</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside's Producer Picks: Jazz clubs, real-life superheroes, and late nights in Pioneer Square

The tabletop role playing game Dungeons & Dragons was first published in 1974.

5 decades later, there’s a new ‘edition’ of the game out, and D&D has changed dramatically from its origins in a little house in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

The anniversary is happening at a delicate time for the company, Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro. Arguably the first modern tabletop role playing game is, today, fighting for market share – squaring off against a horde of fierce competitors seeking to lure players away to different adventures.

So what’s the Renton-based publisher doing to remain on top?  

Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is our resident “dungeon master” here at Soundside. He spent 2024 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the game at events around the country.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

RELATED LINKS: 
Dungeons & Dragons turns 50 this year. Here’s what the game has meant to you - NPR


Dungeons & Dragons' New Core Rulebooks Want to Show, Not Tell - IGN

GUESTS: 
Chris Perkins - Creative Director at Wizards of the Coast
Ginny Di - YouTube D&D Creator

The tabletop role playing game Dungeons &amp; Dragons was first published in 1974.
5 decades later, there&rsquo;s a new &lsquo;edition&rsquo; of the game out, and D&amp;D has changed dramatically from its origins in a little house in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
The anniversary is happening at a delicate time for the company, Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro. Arguably the first modern tabletop role playing game is, today, fighting for market share &ndash; squaring off against a horde of fierce competitors seeking to lure players away to different adventures.
So what&rsquo;s the Renton-based publisher doing to remain on top?&nbsp;&nbsp;
Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is our resident &ldquo;dungeon master&rdquo; here at Soundside. He spent 2024 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the game at events around the country.
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/09/20/g-s1-23824/as-dungeons-dragons-turns-50-this-year-we-asked-listeners-for-their-stories-about-the-game-here-are-5">Dungeons &amp;</a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/09/20/g-s1-23824/as-dungeons-dragons-turns-50-this-year-we-asked-listeners-for-their-stories-about-the-game-here-are-5"> Dragons </a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/09/20/g-s1-23824/as-dungeons-dragons-turns-50-this-year-we-asked-listeners-for-their-stories-about-the-game-here-are-5">turns 50 this year. Here&rsquo;s what the game has meant to you</a> - NPR</li>
<li>
<a href="https://gizmodo.com/dnd-2024-core-rulebook-preview-phb-dmg-dungeons-dragons-1851545464">Dungeons &amp; Dragons' New Core Rulebooks Want to Show, Not Tell</a> - IGN
</li>
</ul>
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Chris Perkins - Creative Director at Wizards of the Coast</li>
<li>Ginny Di - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@GinnyDi">YouTube D&amp;D Creator</a></li>
</ul>

Soundside looks back at the 50th Anniversary of D&D

The Soundside team is taking the week off to rest and prepare for some upcoming shows we’re working on in the new year.

So in the meantime, we're going to revisit two of Libby's segments from 2024.

And to do that, we're going back in time, to the Seattle of the 1990s. 

We’ll look back on the music of grunge band The Gits, and hear from the band’s former drummer about his decision to revisit and reclaim the group's history.

And later, we’ll revisit the story of a bank robber that feels practically ripped from the silver screen.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

STORIES FEATURED:
Mia Zapata and The Gits are often defined by a tragic murder, drummer Steve Moriarty's book tells a different story about the band 
Netflix's new hit "How To Rob a Bank" chronicles Seattle in the 90's

The Soundside team is taking the week off to rest and prepare for some upcoming shows we&rsquo;re working on in the new year.
So in the meantime, we're going to revisit two of Libby's segments from 2024.
And to do that, we're going back&nbsp;in time, to the Seattle of the 1990s.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ll look back on the music of grunge band The Gits, and hear from the band&rsquo;s former drummer about his decision to revisit and reclaim the group's history.
And later, we&rsquo;ll revisit the story of a bank robber that feels practically ripped from the silver screen.
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.
STORIES FEATURED:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/mia-zapata-and-the-gits-are-often-defined-by-a-tra">Mia Zapata and The Gits are often defined by a tragic murder, drummer Steve Moriarty's book tells a different story about the band&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/netflixs-new-hit-how-to-rob-a-bank-chronicles-seat">Netflix's new hit "How To Rob a Bank" chronicles Seattle in the 90's</a></li>
</ul>

How Kenny G went from local fill-in to global saxophone phenom

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