Classics in the Key of G

Last updated

Classics in the Key of G
Classics In The Key Of G Kenny G.jpg
Studio album by
Kenny G
ReleasedJune 28, 1999
Studio
Genre Jazz
Length55:27
Label Arista
Producer
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 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]

Contents

The cover version of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" combined Kenny G's saxophone playing with Armstrong's archived vocals. The single reached number 22 on the US Adult Contemporary chart in September 1999. [2] Music critics were horrified at the presumption of Kenny G equating himself with the iconic jazz giant, appropriating his legacy in the manner of white musicians adapting and commercializing the work of black musicians, which has happened for many years in the United States. [3] Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny was appalled, writing a lengthy diatribe on his website, later deleted, saying that the combination of Kenny G and Amstrong was "musical necrophilia". Metheny's views were shared widely among jazz circles. [4] [5] [6] In his defense, Kenny G said that his fans "have no idea about Armstrong" which gave him the idea of educating them. Jazz saxophonist Charles McPherson agreed that Kenny G's fans probably do not know about Armstrong, but he said Armstrong's body of work does not need any validation from Kenny G. [7]

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

Production

Singles

Information taken from this source. [8]

YearTitleChart Positions
US Adult Contemporary
1999 "What a Wonderful World"#22

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Entertainment Weekly D+ [10]

The third track features G's music overdubbed on Louis Armstrong's original recording, a move that was criticized by musicians such as Pat Metheny [11] and Richard Thompson, [12] who were angered by what they perceived as arrogance on G's part to use a song by Louis Armstrong for personal gain. Additionally, some versions of the insert booklet of the Arista CD contained an error, attributing the writing of The Look of Love to Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, instead of the correct songwriters, Bacharach and David.

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [13] Gold100,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ) [14] Platinum15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [15] Gold50,000^
United States (RIAA) [16] Platinum1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Charts & Awards at Allmusic
  2. ↑ "Kenny G – Adult Contemporary". Billboard . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  3. ↑ Klotz, Kelsey (2023). "Kenny G and the Ignorance of Whiteness". Journal of Jazz Studies. 14 (1). Institute of Jazz Studies . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  4. ↑ Staff (June 14, 2000). "Controversy Growing Around Metheny Remarks About Kenny G". All About Jazz . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  5. ↑ Staff (June 21, 2000). "Not such a wonderful world". The Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  6. ↑ Ratliff, Ben (July 16, 2000). "Jazz Can Take Itself Too Seriously". The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 22, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  7. ↑ Varga, George (April 25, 2019). "Kenny G: Changes His Tune". JazzTimes . Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  8. ↑ Billboard Singles at Allmusic
  9. ↑ Allmusic review
  10. ↑ Entertainment Weekly review
  11. ↑ Jazz Guitar Online
  12. ↑ "I agree with Pat Metheny" video
  13. ↑ "Brazilian album certifications – Kenny G – Classics in the Key of G" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  14. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Kenny G – Classics in the Key of G". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  15. ↑ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 949. ISBN   84-8048-639-2 . Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  16. ↑ "American album certifications – Kenny G – Classics in the Key of G". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved October 3, 2019.
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