Ultimate Kenny G

by Kenny G

Overview

When it comes to smooth-jazz saxophone, Kenny G is still the main man. His latest collection of hits and popular selections adds to his previous official best-of collection, bringing on such new favorites as “What a Wonderful World” (G’s “duet” with Louis Armstrong), “One More Time” (with singer Chante Moore), and the saxophonist’s take on the bossa nova classic “The Girl from Ipanema,” complete with a vocal from Bebel Gilberto. Two unreleased cuts, including G’s rendition of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” round out an album sure to please both longtime fans and newcomers to the pellucid sound of this ever-popular saxophonist.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/10/2003
Label:	Arista
UPC:	0828765099721
catalogNumber:	50997
Rank:	7050

Tracks

1. Everlasting
2. Havana
3. Brazil
4. What a Wonderful World
5. The Look of Love
6. Silhouette
7. One More Time
8. Theme from Dying Young
9. Forever in Love
10. We've Saved the Best for Last
11. Songbird
12. Jasmine Flower
13. The Girl from Ipanema
14. By the Time This Night Is Over
15. The Champion's Theme
16. Don't Make Me Wait for Love
17. The Moment
18. My Heart Will Go On
19. The Wedding Song

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kenny G   Primary Artist,Soprano Saxophone
Smokey Robinson   Vocals
Lenny Williams   Vocals
Walter Afanasieff   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Michael Bolton   Composer
Kenny G   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Executive Producer
Vinícius de Moraes   Composer
James Newton Howard   Composer
Burt Bacharach   Composer
Andy Goldmark   Composer
James Horner   Composer
Peter Bunetta   Producer
Rick Chudacoff   Producer
Hal David   Composer
Norman Gimbel   Composer
Preston Glass   Composer,Producer
Paul Gordon   Composer
Will Jennings   Composer
Antonio Carlos Jobim   Composer
Dennis Matkosky   Composer
Narada Michael Walden   Composer
Lou Pardini   Composer
L.A. Reid   Executive Producer
Steve Shepherd   Engineer
Bob Thiele   Composer
Diane Warren   Composer
George David Weiss   Composer
Walter Afanasieff   Arranger,Composer,Programming,Producer
Karyn Rochelle   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Courtney Walter   Art Direction
J. N. Howard   Composer

Editorial Reviews

Kenny G had a hits collection in 1997, spanning 17 songs and perfectly capturing the time when the smooth jazz saxophonist was one of the most reliable hitmakers in mainstream pop. Released in 2003, Ultimate Kenny G covers more territory, including two previously unreleased tracks (one being a cover of "My Heart Will Go On"), which does not necessarily mean that it's a superior collection, particularly because the albums he released since 1997 didn't quite qualify as big hits or as his best material. This gives the album a slightly stronger MOR bent -- which, of course, is remarkable, since Kenny G has always traveled in the middle of the road, but the emphasis on covers ("The Girl from Ipanema," "What a Wonderful World," "The Look of Love," "The Wedding Song") emphasizes this strain in his music; plus, the newer numbers are slicker and more polished than before. This is a small matter, since most of the collection is given over to his biggest songs, but it is enough to recommend Greatest Hits over this collection, even if this will likely satisfy the needs of most casual listeners.

All Music Guide - Stephen Thomas Erlewine