Classics in the Key of G

Classics in the Key of G
Studio album by Kenny G
Released June 28, 1999
Genre Jazz
Length 55:27
Label Arista
Producer Kenny G
Walter Afanasieff
David Foster
Kenny G chronology
Greatest Hits
(1997)		 Classics in the Key of G
(1999)		 Faith: A Holiday Album
(1999)

Classics in the Key of G is the first cover album and ninth studio album by saxophonist Kenny G. It was released by Arista Records on June 28, 1999, and reached number 1 on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, number 13 on the Internet Albums chart, number 17 on the Billboard 200 and number 27 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[1]

Track listing

  1. "Summertime" (featuring George Benson) (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) - 6:46
  2. "The Look of Love" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) - 5:32
  3. "What a Wonderful World" (lead vocal: Louis Armstrong) (George David Weiss, Robert Thiele) - 3:03
  4. "Desafinado" (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Newton Mendonça) - 5:52
  5. "In a Sentimental Mood" (Duke Ellington, Manny Kurtz, Irving Mills) - 4:56
  6. "The Girl from Ipanema" (lead vocal: Bebel Gilberto) (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Norman Gimbel, Vinícius de Moraes) - 4:17
  7. "Stranger on the Shore" (Acker Bilk, Robert Mellin) - 3:09
  8. "Body and Soul" (Edward Heyman, Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Robert Sour) - 7:20
  9. "'Round Midnight" (Bernie Hanighen, Cootie Williams, Thelonious Monk) - 6:26
  10. "Over the Rainbow/ The Girl from Ipanema (Instrumental)" (E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, Harold Arlen / Antonio Carlos Jobim, Norman Gimbel, Vinícius de Moraes) - 7:49

Personnel

  • Kenny G: soprano sax (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10), tenor sax (2, 4, 6, 8)
  • Walter Afanasieff: keyboards (6, 7), synth (6, 7), programming (6, 7), acoustic piano (10)
  • George Benson: guitar and guitar intro (1)
  • Greg Bieck: additional keyboards (6), additional synth (6), additional programming (6), programming (7)
  • Jules Chakin: orchestra contractor (1, 9))
  • Paulinho da Costa: percussion (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9)
  • Nathan East: bass (1, 2, 4, 5, 8)
  • Felipe Elgueta: synth programming (3)
  • David Foster: keyboards (3)
  • Ricky Lawson: drums (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9)
  • Jeremy Lubbock: orchestration and conductor (1, 9)
  • Greg Phillinganes: Fender Rhodes (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9)
  • David Reitzas: drum programming (3)
  • William Ross: orchestration and conductor (2-8, 10)
  • Adam Rossi: additional programming (7)
  • Randy Waldman: acoustic piano (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9)
  • Patti Zimmitti: orchestra contractor (2-8, 10)

Production

  • Producers and Arrangements: Kenny G and Walter Afanasieff (tracks 1, 2, 4-10); David Foster (track 3).
  • Recorded by Humberto Gatica (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7-10); David Reitzas (tracks 1 & 6); Felipe Elgueta (track 3); John Richards (track 6); David Gleeson (tracks 6 & 7); Steve Shepherd (track 7).
  • Assistant Engineers: Mike Scotella (track 1); Christine Sirois (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 & 9); Andy Haller (tracks 1-5, 7-10); Mike Butler (tracks 1-5, 7-10); Cristian Robles (tracks 1-5, 7-10); Dann Thompson (tracks 1 & 9); Peter Doell (tracks 2-5, 7 & 10); Aaron Lepley (tracks 2 & 4); Chris Brook (track 3); Cristian Gonzalez (track 3); Ryan Hewitt (track 6); Pete Krawiec (track 6).
  • Additional Recording: David Gleeson (track 1); David Reitzas (tracks 2 & 4).
  • Strings on track 3 recorded by Humberto Gatica
  • Mastered by Vlado Meller
  • Art Direction: Margery Greenspan
  • Design: Jemal Pugh and Jeff Schultz
  • Photography: Lyndie Benson and William Claxton
  • Management: Dennis Turner at Turner Management Group, Inc.

Singles

Information taken from this source.[2]

Year Title Chart Positions
US Adult Contemporary
1999 "What a Wonderful World" #22

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]
Entertainment WeeklyD+[4]

The third track features G's music overdubbed on Louis Armstrong's original recording. This move was criticized by musicians such as Pat Metheny[5] and Richard Thompson,[6] who were angered by what they perceived as arrogance on G's part to use a song by Louis Armstrong for personal gain.

References

  1. ↑ Charts & Awards at Allmusic
  2. ↑ Billboard Singles at Allmusic
  3. ↑ Allmusic review
  4. ↑ Entertainment Weekly review
  5. ↑ Jazz Guitar Online
  6. ↑ "I agree with Pat Metheny" video


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