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Some jazz critics may point to Classics in the Key of G as proof of Kenny G's lack of jazz substance, but it really is proof of how well he makes instrumental pop albums. Yes, Kenny G has reworked a predictable set of pop classics, from "Summertime" to "The Look of Love," to fit his signature smooth sound, but that should be expected from an album like this. Kenny G will never abandon his signature sound because that sound is him; he doesn't want to push musical boundaries, he just wants to make gentle, melodic music. If he's seen as a pop musician, not a jazz saxophonist, his virtues become evident. Unlike some of his peers, there's genuine warmth in his tone, and he never diverts his attention from the melody; he crafts records around songs, not improvisations. Simply containing ten songs everybody knows, Classics in the Key of G is a pleasant, unassuming listen (with the exception of "What a Wonderful World," which contains a jarring original vocal from Louis Armstrong). As a matter of fact, it may be one of his better records, simply because he's working with ten terrific songs, and his performances show real affection for the music. He sticks to the original songs, only updating the production or throwing some minor glissandos into the melodies. His solos are extensions of the original themes -- at times, it's hard to tell when he's slipping into a solo since it's so smooth -- and it all comes together as nice, pleasant music. That may mean that Classics in the Key of G may occasionally fade into the background, but like any good instrumental pop album, it's sweet to the ears whether it's in the foreground or sonic wallpaper.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Kenny G, Arranger, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Producer, Soprano Saxophone, Arranger, Associated Performer, Producer, Soprano Saxophone - George Benson, Associated Performer, Featured Artist, Guitar - Kenny G feat. George Benson, Associated Performer - George Gershwin, Composer, Lyricist - Ira Gershwin, Composer, Lyricist - Walter Afanasieff, Arranger, Producer - Jeremy Lubbock, Arranger, Conductor - Dorothy Heyward, Composer, Lyricist - Heyward DuBose, Composer, Lyricist - Humberto Gatica, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - DAVE REITZAS, Recording Engineer - Greg Phillinganes, Associated Performer - RANDY WALDMAN, Piano - Nathan East, Bass Guitar - Ricky Lawson, Drums - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - Orchestra, Associated Performer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1999 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Kenny G, Arranger, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Producer, Tenor Saxophone, Arranger, Associated Performer, Producer, Tenor Saxophone - Walter Afanasieff, Arranger, Producer - Humberto Gatica, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - David Reitzas, Recording Engineer - Burt Bacharach, Composer, Lyricist - Hal David, Composer, Lyricist - William Ross, Arranger, Conductor - Orchestra, Associated Performer - Greg Phillinganes, Associated Performer - RANDY WALDMAN, Piano - Nathan East, Bass Guitar - Ricky Lawson, Drums - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1999 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Kenny G, Arranger, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Producer, Tenor Saxophone, Arranger, Associated Performer, Producer, Tenor Saxophone - Antonio Carlos Jobim, Composer, Lyricist - Walter Afanasieff, Arranger, Producer - Newton Mendonça, Composer - Newton Mendonça, Lyricist - Humberto Gatica, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - David Reitzas, Recording Engineer - William Ross, Arranger, Conductor - Orchestra, Associated Performer - Greg Phillinganes, Associated Performer - RANDY WALDMAN, Piano - Nathan East, Bass Guitar - Ricky Lawson, Drums - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - Dean Parks, Acoustic Guitar - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1999 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Kenny G, Arranger, Main Artist, Producer, Soprano Saxophone, Arranger, Producer, Soprano Saxophone - Duke Ellington, Composer, Lyricist - Manny Kurtz, Composer, Lyricist - Walter Afanasieff, Arranger, Producer - I. Mills, Composer, Lyricist - Humberto Gatica, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - William Ross, Arranger, Conductor - Orchestra, Associated Performer - Greg Phillinganes, Associated Performer - RANDY WALDMAN, Piano - Nathan East, Bass Guitar - Ricky Lawson, Drums - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1999 Arista Records LLC
Kenny G, Arranger, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Producer, Tenor Saxophone, Arranger, Associated Performer, Producer, Tenor Saxophone - Bebel Gilberto, Associated Performer, Featured Artist - Kenny G feat. Bebel Gilberto, Associated Performer - Antonio Carlos Jobim, Composer, Lyricist - Vinicius De Moraes, Composer, Lyricist - Norman Gimbel, Composer, Lyricist - Walter Afanasieff, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer, Programmer, Synthesizer - William Ross, Arranger, Conductor - Humberto Gatica, Recording Engineer - Steve Shepherd, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Greg Bieck, Keyboards, Programmer, Synthesizer - Orchestra, Associated Performer - Steve Ferroni, Drums - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - Nathan East, Bass Guitar
(P) 1999 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Kenny G, Arranger, Main Artist, Producer, Soprano Saxophone, Arranger, Producer, Soprano Saxophone - Mr. Acker Bilk, Composer, Lyricist - Walter Afanasieff, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer, Programmer, Synthesizer - Robert Mellin, Composer, Lyricist - Humberto Gatica, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - David Gleeson, Recording Engineer - Steve Shepherd, Recording Engineer - William Ross, Arranger, Conductor - Orchestra, Associated Performer - Greg Bieck, Programmer - Adam Rossi, Programmer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1999 Arista Records LLC
Kenny G, Arranger, Main Artist, Producer, Tenor Saxophone, Arranger, Producer, Tenor Saxophone - John Green, Composer, Lyricist - Edward Heyman, Composer, Lyricist - Robert S. Sour, Composer, Lyricist - Frank Eyton, Composer, Lyricist - Walter Afanasieff, Arranger, Producer - William Ross, Arranger, Conductor - Humberto Gatica, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Orchestra, Associated Performer - Greg Phillinganes, Associated Performer - RANDY WALDMAN, Piano - Nathan East, Bass Guitar - Ricky Lawson, Drums - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1999 Arista Records LLC
Kenny G, Arranger, Associated Performer, Main Artist, Producer, Soprano Saxophone, Arranger, Associated Performer, Producer, Soprano Saxophone - Thelonious Monk, Composer - Bert Hanighen, Composer - Cootie Williams, Composer - Walter Afanasieff, Arranger, Producer - Humberto Gatica, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - DAVE REITZAS, Recording Engineer - Jeremy Lubbock, Arranger, Conductor - Orchestra, Associated Performer - Greg Phillinganes, Associated Performer - RANDY WALDMAN, Piano - Nathan East, Bass Guitar - Ricky Lawson, Drums - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1999 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Kenny G, Arranger, Main Artist, Producer, Soprano Saxophone, Arranger, Producer, Soprano Saxophone - Arlen Harold, Composer, Lyricist - Walter Afanasieff, Arranger, Piano, Producer - E.Y. Harbourg, Composer, Lyricist - Humberto Gatica, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - William Ross, Arranger, Conductor - Orchestra, Associated Performer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer
(P) 1999 Arista Records LLC
Kenny G, Arranger, Main Artist, Producer, Tenor Saxophone, Arranger, Producer, Tenor Saxophone - Antonio Carlos Jobim, Composer, Lyricist - Walter Afanasieff, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer, Programmer, Synthesizer - Vinicius De Moraes, Composer, Lyricist - Norman Gimbel, Composer, Lyricist - William Ross, Arranger, Conductor - Orchestra, Associated Performer - Humberto Gatica, Recording Engineer - Steve Shepherd, Mixing Engineer, Recording Engineer - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer - Greg Bieck, Keyboards, Programmer, Synthesizer - Steve Ferroni, Drums - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - Nathan East, Bass Guitar
(P) 1999 Arista Records LLC
Album review
Some jazz critics may point to Classics in the Key of G as proof of Kenny G's lack of jazz substance, but it really is proof of how well he makes instrumental pop albums. Yes, Kenny G has reworked a predictable set of pop classics, from "Summertime" to "The Look of Love," to fit his signature smooth sound, but that should be expected from an album like this. Kenny G will never abandon his signature sound because that sound is him; he doesn't want to push musical boundaries, he just wants to make gentle, melodic music. If he's seen as a pop musician, not a jazz saxophonist, his virtues become evident. Unlike some of his peers, there's genuine warmth in his tone, and he never diverts his attention from the melody; he crafts records around songs, not improvisations. Simply containing ten songs everybody knows, Classics in the Key of G is a pleasant, unassuming listen (with the exception of "What a Wonderful World," which contains a jarring original vocal from Louis Armstrong). As a matter of fact, it may be one of his better records, simply because he's working with ten terrific songs, and his performances show real affection for the music. He sticks to the original songs, only updating the production or throwing some minor glissandos into the melodies. His solos are extensions of the original themes -- at times, it's hard to tell when he's slipping into a solo since it's so smooth -- and it all comes together as nice, pleasant music. That may mean that Classics in the Key of G may occasionally fade into the background, but like any good instrumental pop album, it's sweet to the ears whether it's in the foreground or sonic wallpaper.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:55:11
- Main artists: Kenny G
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Arista
- Genre: Jazz
(P) 1999 Arista Records, Inc.
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