Kenny G built the best-selling instrumental catalog of the modern era on the back of a soprano saxophone — and on Thursday, August 27, he brings it all to the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater for an 8 p.m. show billed simply as “An Evening with Kenny G.” Over 75 million records sold and 1.5 billion global streams later, that saxophone is still the one people make the drive for.
About the Show
The Grammy-winning saxophonist first picked up the instrument after watching a performance on The Ed Sullivan Show — a detail that feels beside the point until you see how far the arc went. His 1986 album Duotones broke him into the Top Ten on pop and jazz charts with the hit single “Songbird.” His 1992 album Breathless became the best-selling instrumental album of all time. “Forever in Love,” from that record, earned him a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition.
He has been actively touring in 2026 across the U.S. and Mexico, with a live set built around those catalog staples — “Songbird,” “Silhouette,” “Forever in Love” — alongside new material. His latest studio album, Innocence (Concord Records, December 2023), is his 20th. The project pairs lullaby standards like “Rock-a-Bye Baby,” “Edelweiss,” and “Over the Rainbow” with seven original compositions, all arranged for orchestra and recorded at London’s AIR Studios. “It’s the melodies,” Kenny G said of the album. “They are beautiful and timeless, and whenever I hear them, wonderful memories start rushing back to me.” His previous album, New Standards, spent nine consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart. No support act is listed for this show.
Earlier the same day, the Chautauqua Institution hosts a Masters Series Masterclass: a candid conversation between Kenny G and Phil Lerman at 12:30 p.m. in Lenna Hall. Gate Pass holders have access included; single tickets are available separately from the concert.
Venue & Logistics
The Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater sits in Chautauqua, in western New York. Grounds access to the Institution requires a gate pass, separate from your concert ticket; factor that into your arrival if this is your first visit. The outdoor amphitheater is a fitting setting for a warm August evening. For questions, the ticket office is reachable at 716-357-6250 or ticketoffice@chq.org, daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets are $70–$145. Buy tickets.