Kenny G

Kenny G’s live shows are a rare chance to witness a musician who’s become shorthand for a whole genre. If you think you know what smooth jazz sounds like, you probably have Kenny to thank—or blame, depending on your taste. But even the skeptics tend to walk away surprised by the sheer technical skill and sly humor he brings to the stage. The setlist is a time capsule of late-night radio and dinner parties, but there’s a looseness to his playing that keeps things from feeling like a museum piece. The crowd is a mix of diehards and the jazz-curious, and the vibe is more relaxed than reverent. If you haven’t seen him live, it’s worth it just to hear how those famously silky solos land in person. You might leave humming “Songbird” whether you planned to or not.