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To fans, this Kenny is the one
While not as well-known as headliner Kenny G, Kenny Drew Jr. brings true jazz chops to open Clearwater Jazz Holiday.
By TAMARA EL-KHOURY
Published October 19, 2006
CLEARWATER - The other Kenny lives in St. Petersburg, plays the piano and once proposed a nationwide boycott of rap music. He wears his hair short, listens to John Coltrane, Beethoven and Phil Collins, and wonders why there's nutritional information on bottled water. The other Kenny is Kenny Drew Jr., 48, who will open for smooth jazz saxophonist Kenny G tonight, the opening night of the Clearwater Jazz Holiday. Jazz aficionados encourage true jazz lovers to come early, as the other Kenny is the one to watch, they say. "Kenny Drew Jr. is a genius," said Jimmy Lyons president of the Tampa Jazz Club and co-host of the Charles Vann Jazz Show on WMNF 88.5-FM. "Kenny is a great musician," said Bob Seymour, jazz director at WUSF 89.7-FM. "Truly a great musician." It's not the first time the two Kennys have been connected. In 1988, Drew said he spent three months opening for Kenny G on a 70-city national tour, though he said they never got to know each other. It's a compliment to play on Thursday night, Drew said, particularly as organizers have said they wanted to start this year's event at Coachman Park off with a bang. "Well, the G-man will do that," Drew said of Kenny G. "He's way more popular than I am." The other Kenny is a fidgety man who is quick to joke, but uses the "Kenny's Korner" section of his personal Web site to rant about things that anger him, including the George W. Bush administration, the decline of music and the peanuts jazz musicians are paid to perform at local clubs. In his first undated entry, Drew lamented what he called the decline of black popular music, and called for a boycott of rap music and picketing in front of record company offices and major record store chains. "I'm not with that idea anymore," Drew said. "These guys have guns." Drew also wrote that he would no longer play at local clubs because they pay "chump change." "Most of these clubs don't have a piano so I have to bring my electric piano and amplifier," Drew wrote. "As far as the audience goes, the place is either almost empty or it's packed with people who are talking (or yelling) and couldn't care less about the music." Drew said he's concerned that jazz isn't respected in the country that it came from, "one of the only good things that came out of America," he said. He still plays at concerts and weddings, which pay a little better than clubs, but he said at least the concerts have a listening audience. And he's never bought a Kenny G CD. man who is quick to joke, but uses the "Kenny's Korner" section of his personal Web site to rant about things that anger him, including the George W. Bush administration, the decline of music and the peanuts jazz musicians are paid to perform at local clubs. In his first undated entry, Drew lamented what he called the decline of black popular music, and called for a boycott of rap music and picketing in front of record company offices and major record store chains. "I'm not with that idea anymore," Drew said. "These guys have guns." Drew also wrote that he would no longer play at local clubs because they pay "chump change." "Most of these clubs don't have a piano so I have to bring my electric piano and amplifier," Drew wrote. "As far as the audience goes, the place is either almost empty or it's packed with people who are talking (or yelling) and couldn't care less about the music." Drew said he's concerned that jazz isn't respected in the country that it came from, "one of the only good things that came out of America," he said. He still plays at concerts and weddings, which pay a little better than clubs, but he said at least the concerts have a listening audience. And he's never bought a Kenny G CD. FAST FACTS 27th annual Clearwater Jazz Holiday Today 5 p.m. - Gates open. 6-7:30 - Kenny Drew Jr. Quartet. 8-10 - Kenny G. Friday 4:30 p.m. - Gates open. 6-7:15 - Bossacucanova. 7:45-9 - Mindi Abair. 9:30-10:45 - Richard Elliot. 10:45-11 - Jam with Mindi Abair and Richard Elliot. Saturday 1 p.m. - Gates open. 2-3:15 - Valerie Gillespie. 3:45-5 - Jose Valentino Ruiz. 5:30-6:45 - Jazz to the Maxx. 7:15-8:45 - John Pizzarelli. 9:15-10:45 - Manhattan Transfer. 10:45 - Fireworks. Sunday 12:30 p.m. - Gates open. 1-2:15 - Ruth Eckerd Hall/Clearwater Jazz Holiday Jazz Youth Band. 2:45-4 - Chuck Owen & the Jazz Surge. 4:30-5:45 - Don Byron Ivey-Divey Trio with Edward Simon & Billy Hart. 6:15-7:45 - Buckwheat Zydeco. 8:15-9:45 - Cherry Poppin' Daddies. Organizers say music lovers should keep these things in mind: Not allowed - Pets except registered guide dogs - Grills, hibachis or open flames - Glass containers or bottles - Beer bottles, six-packs, or kegs - Tents or pup tents - Overnight camping - Videocameras - Audio recording devices - Inline skating or skateboarding - Unattended infants or small children - Guns, knives or weapons - Umbrellas - Backpacks - Coolers, outside food or drinks. Recommended - Lawn chairs - Blankets - Sunglasses - Sunscreen - ID tags for small children Online To learn more, visit www.clearwaterjazz.com. For online coverage and extra Jazz Holiday features, visit www.sptimes.com/2006/webspecials06/clearwaterjazz/
[Last modified October 19, 2006, 07:21:37]
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