Kenny G The Duets [mp3 192][h33t][schon55]

Kenny G - The Duets
Audio CD (November 23, 2004)
Original Release Date: November 23, 2004
Label: Arista
Bitrate: 192 kb/s

\"Kenny was born in Seattle, Washington, and first came into contact with a saxophone when he heard someone performing with one on The Ed Sullivan Show. He learned how to play under the direction of local trumpeter Gerald Pfister and by practicing along with records (mostly of Grover Washington, Jr.), trying to emulate the sounds that he was hearing. At Franklin High School he failed to get into the jazz band when he applied, although was accepted the following year when he tried again. He also played for his high school golf team, a sport which he had loved ever since his older brother, Brian Gorelick, introduced it to him when he was ten years old. Brian Gorelick is currently a music professor and choir conductor at Wake Forest University.\"

\"Kenny G has long been the musician many jazz listeners love to hate. A phenomenally successful instrumentalist whose recordings make the pop charts, Kenny G\'s sound has been a staple on adult contemporary and smooth jazz radio stations since the mid-\'80s, making him a household name. Kenny G is a fine player with an attractive sound (influenced a bit by Grover Washington, Jr.) who often caresses melodies, putting a lot of emotion into his solos. Because he does not improvise much (sticking mostly to predictable melody statements), his music largely falls outside of jazz. However, because he is listed at the top of \"contemporary jazz\" charts and is identified with jazz in the minds of the mass public, he is classified as jazz. \"

The genius of At Last...The Duets Album is in its matchups and cross-pollinations. If producer Walter Afanasieff weren\'t already a much sought after music man--check out his arrangements here if his talents are unfamiliar--he might have built a brilliant career as a modern-day cupid. These are covers with a what-if factor (what if Brian McKnight covers Wham!? What if Richard Marx covered Elton John?) you don\'t want to miss: LeAnn Rimes wraps Bryan Adams\' anthem-y \"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You\" in rainy-day heartache; Yolanda Adams reaches for the stars in a rendition of R. Kelly\'s \"I Believe I Can Fly\" as inspiring as the original; Barbra Streisand waltzes through \"The Music That Makes Me Dance\" like the years since her heyday haven\'t mattered; and Earth, Wind & Fire dig the depth out of Raphael Saadiq\'s \"The Way You Move.\" This, of course, is to say nothing of the sensuality brought to these collaborations by the goldilocked sax man himself. As with all Kenny G projects, the music is smoother than a frappuccino and oddly suited to a soap opera living room set; its swirls, swells, and crescendos seem meant to fall on bejeweled ears in pretty, carefully appointed spaces only. All-instrumental tracks like \"Don\'t Know Why\" with David Benoit and \"Pick Up the Pieces\" with David Sanborn have a fun look-at-me-sharing-the-spotlight quality, but in the end Chaka Khan puts across her point most convincingly: She, not Christina Aguilera, should have sung \"Beautiful\" to begin with. -Tammy La Gorce

I always find it humerous that far less accomplished \"musicians\" will blast Kenny\'s success all over the place, and basically rate him with the likes of a middle school wannabe. Bottom line - he is successful, he caters to the \"average\" listener without the ear fatigue that normally accompanies heavy jazz, he is respected among his peers in the business (as evidenced by his duets), and he repeats what works for his success. To trash his talent and success is to also trash the notable musicians and singers who obviously respect him enough to record with him on this CD. He\'s made millions, so there is an enormous fan base out there that doesn\'t care much for the jealous comments by aspiring performers. My advice is to judge for yourself!

If you appreciate great musicians coming together to produce some really listenable music, (and I do mean, over and over without ear fatigue), then this CD is for you! I only hope he doesn\'t stop here. I hope he comes out with more duet albums in the future. Maybe some Chicago, Rascal Flatts, Peter Cetera, Tower of Power, and any number of other great voices in the business!

My favorite is the remix of \"The Way You Move\"...nice grooves in there! If I had one complaint, it would be that the songs didn\'t actually line up in the order on which they were listed on the CD cover. Other than that, it\'s at the top of my favorites in my library of 3,000+ CDs! ~ E.G. \"Music Mommy\"

Personnel:
Vinnie Colaiuta - drums
Greg Phillinganes - Fender Rhodes piano
Nathan East - bass instrument
Abe Laboriel Jr.
Kenny G - saxophone
Walter Afanasieff - piano, programming
Mike Landau - electric guitar
Tracy Nelson
Barbara Wilson
Emanuel Kiriakou - programming
Mabvuto Carpenter - background vocals
Dorian Holley
Conesha Mone\'t

Also: David Sanborn, Chaka Khan, Barbra Streisand, Yolanda Adams, LeAnn Rimes, Brian McKnight, Gladys Knight, Daryl Hall, David Benoit, Arturo Sandoval, Richard Marx, Earth, Burt Bacharach, Wind & Fire

Kenny G - The Duets
01 (Everything I Do) I Do It For You - (featuring LeAnn Rimes)
02 At Last - (featuring Arturo Sandoval)
03 I Believe I Can Fly - (featuring Yolanda Adams)
04 Careless Whisper - (featuring Brian McKnight)
05 Beautiful - (featuring Chaka Khan)
06 Pick up the Pieces - (featuring David Sanborn)
07 Baby Come to Me - (featuring Daryl Hall)
08 Misty - (featuring Gladys Knight)
09 Don\'t Know Why - (featuring David Benoit)
10 Way You Move, The - (featuring Earth, Wind & Fire)
11 Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word - (featuring Richard Marx)
12 Alfie - (featuring Burt Bacharach)
13 Music That Makes Me Dance, The - (featuring Barbra Streisand)