Kenny G and his humble saxophone go a long way back. After all, it’s the instrument that helped him find universal acclaim with songs like ‘Going Home’ and ‘Forever In Love’. But now he’s pushing his sax talents to the limit in a bizarre, and seemingly impossible, world record attempt.
Back in 1997, Kenny G set the Guinness World Record for the longest note held on a saxophone when he maintained an E-flat for 45 minutes. After that record was nabbed from him just three years later, Mr G now intends to win it back.
Teaming up with an as-yet-unknown airline, he will try and hold a note for the entirety of a flight lasting over one hour. In an interview with the Huffington Post, he added: “So I'll sit in the back and I'll hold the note, and they'll take off and hopefully I can hold the note all the way through take-off to landing."
Watch Kenny G explain the record attempt below:
It’s even going towards a great cause, with Kenny G urging businesses to donate money for every minute he holds on. All proceeds will go to supporting music education in school.
Hang on, though. How on earth can one man hold a note for so long? The trick lies with a technique called circular breathing, in which air comes in through the nose while simultaneously being expelled out through the mouth.
The record attempt is an onerous task, even for Kenny G’s standards. But the American instrumentalist, born Kenneth Bruce Gorelick, is hoping to learn from past experience. When he last set the record, his hand suffered from extreme cramping after holding the key down for so long. But after a little respite, he was back on form. He added: "I iced my lips for a couple of hours and I was ready to go again.”
Kenny G's full upcoming UK tour dates are below. Tickets are on sale from 9am on Friday 11 December. For tickets and information, visit here.
Kenny G will play:
Sun June 26 2016 - GATESHEAD Sage
Mon June 27 2016 - MANCHESTER Bridgewater Hall
Tue June 28 2016 - BIRMINGHAM Symphony Hall
Thu June 30 2016 - LONDON Royal Albert Hall
