Ultimate Kenny G

• Artist: Kenny G
• Rating:
• Release Date: June 10, 2003
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Jazz

Review

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. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Everlasting [#]	Kenny G	Kenny G	(4:18)
Havana	Kenny G, Walter Afanasieff	Kenny G	(4:00)
Brazil	Kenny G, Walter Afanasieff	Kenny G	(4:13)
What a Wonderful World	Bob Thiele, George David Weiss	Kenny G, Louis Armstrong	(3:01)
The Look of Love	Burt Bacharach, Hal David	Kenny G	(5:16)
Silhouette	Kenny G	Kenny G	(4:27)
One More Time	Karyn Rochelle	Kenny G, Chanté Moore	(4:02)
Theme from Dying Young	James Newton Howard	Kenny G	(4:01)
Forever in Love	Kenny G	Kenny G	(4:07)
We've Saved the Best for Last	Paul Gordon, Dennis Matkosky, Lou Pardini	Kenny G	(4:18)
Songbird	Kenny G	Kenny G	(3:57)
Jasmine Flower	Traditional	Kenny G	(4:38)
The Girl from Ipanema	Vinícius de Moraes, Norman Gimbel, Antonio Carlos Jobim	Kenny G, Bebel Gilberto	(4:02)
By the Time This Night Is Over	Michael Bolton, Andy Goldmark, Diane Warren	Peabo Bryson, Kenny G	(4:24)
The Champion's Theme	Kenny G, Walter Afanasieff	Kenny G	(4:19)
Don't Make Me Wait for Love	Preston Glass, Narada Michael Walden, Walter Afanasieff	Kenny G	(4:04)
The Moment	Kenny G	Kenny G	(4:41)
My Heart Will Go On [Love Theme from Titanic]	James Horner, Will Jennings	Kenny G	(4:23)
The Wedding Song	Kenny G, Walter Afanasieff	Kenny G	(3:20)

Credits

Smokey Robinson (Vocals), Lenny Williams (Vocals), Kenny G (Arranger), Kenny G (Sax (Soprano)), Kenny G (Producer), Kenny G (Executive Producer), Peter Bunetta (Producer), Rick Chudacoff (Producer), Humberto Gatica (Mixing), Preston Glass (Producer), L.A. Reid (Executive Producer), Steve Shepherd (Engineer), Steve Shepherd (Assistant Engineer), Walter Afanasieff (Arranger), Walter Afanasieff (Keyboards), Walter Afanasieff (Programming), Walter Afanasieff (Producer), Tom Coyne (Mastering), Courtney Walter (Art Direction), Courtney Walter (Design), Joe-Mama Nitzberg (Creative Director), Michael Schroffel (Assistant Engineer)

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