Kenny G "At Last – The Duets Album" Smooth Jazz Music CD Review
Kenny G, the smooth jazz icon saxophonist for almost 20 years now, has released his first all guest star CD entitled At Last…The Duets Album.
This release finds the smooth jazz saxophone superstar paired with vocal giants ranging from Barbra Streisand, Gladys Knight, and Chaka Khan to pop stars including LeAnn Rimes, Daryl Hall, Richard Marx, Brian McKnight, and Earth, Wind and Fire just to name a few.
He also enlisted some instrumental industry heavyweights to pitch in as well. Including trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, saxophonist David Sanborn, pianist David Benoit, and the legendary composer Burt Bacharach.
The CD formula largely works, coming off as a breezy, laid back concert with G adding soft asides to his guest’s vocal performances.
On track 7 Brian McKnight delivers a very nice rendition of Careless Whispers, and on what could be the highlight of the collection, track 5, Chaka Khan actually betters Christina Aguilera’s already outstanding Beautiful. Making it her very own as only she can.
Another very good song is track 6, Pick Up The Pieces on which G teams up with fellow sax smooth jazz Hall of Famer David Sanborn. The pairing of the two saxophone legends leads to a very intriguing sound combination.
I give At Last… The Duets Album my highest recommendation. It just plain belongs in any serious music collectors collection regardless of genre preference.
One of the refreshingly nice things about this CD is the way all of the participating artists seem to be really enjoying themselves. Combine that with the overall presentation and you’ve got one of Kenny G’s most impressive releases ever.
While this entire CD is outstanding the truly standout tunes and SmoothJazz247.com favorites are Don’t Know Why [track 2], Pick Up The Pieces [track 6], and Baby Come To Me [track 9]. My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 7, Careless Whisper. Very nice!
Release Notes:
Kenny G originally released At Last… The Duets Album on November 23, 2004 on the Arista record label.
CD track list follows:
1. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You- featuring LeAnn Rimes
2. Don’t Know Why- featuring David Benoit
3. I Believe I Can Fly- featuring Yolanda Adams
4. At Last- featuring Arturo Sandoval
5. Beautiful- featuring Chaka Khan
6. Pick Up The Pieces- featuring David Sanborn
7. Careless Whisper- featuring Brian McKnight
8. Misty- featuring Gladys Knight
9. Baby Come To Me- featuring Daryl Hall
10. The Way You Move- featuring Earth Wind & Fire
11. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word- featuring Richard Marx
12. Alfie- featuring Burt Bacharach
13. XThe Music That Makes Me Dance- featuring Barbra Streisand
By: Tom Milson