With 25 years of platinum recordings behind him, jazz saxophonist Kenny G couldn't decide which direction to take for his new album. As VOA's Doug Levine tells us, there were really only three directions he considered taking: old songs, new songs or both.
Returning to the studio to make his first all-instrumental album in more than four years, Kenny G initially wanted to record original material, but his boss, Arista Records' founder Clive Davis, persuaded him to tackle the classics. Not just timeless classics, like "Fly Me To The Moon," but contemporary hits such as James Blunt's "You're Beautiful."
When it came time to narrowing down the playlist for his new album, I'm In The Mood For Love … The Most Romantic Melodies of All Time, Kenny G says he relied on Davis' expertise in modern pop music. After all, Davis is responsible for signing everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Alicia Keys.
In what could be considered a meeting of two Arista superstars, Kenny G plays Alicia Keys' "If I Ain't Got You."
Kenny G has never had trouble attracting new fans or keeping his old ones. His worldwide fan base has earned him numerous music awards as well as record sales that consistently top the one million mark for each new release. In addition, he's recorded both the best-selling instrumental album of all time and the best-selling holiday album of all time.
His latest effort has already conquered the jazz world, debuting at Number One on the Contemporary and Current Overall Jazz Charts. Not bad for someone who got his start as a sideman in Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra.
If Kenny G sounds right at home playing a Josh Groban tune, he admits it was even easier to remake the classics, like "As Time Goes By."
