Classics in the Key of G

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.
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. 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. 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. 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.

Track listing

"Summertime" - 6:46
"The Look of Love" - 5:32
"What a Wonderful World" - 3:03
"Desafinado" - 5:52
"In a Sentimental Mood" - 4:56
"The Girl from Ipanema" - 4:17
"Stranger on the Shore" - 3:09
"Body and Soul" - 7:20
"'Round Midnight" - 6:26
"Over the Rainbow/ The Girl from Ipanema " - 7:49

Personnel

Kenny G – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
Greg Phillinganes – Fender Rhodes
Randy Waldman – acoustic piano
David Foster – keyboards
Felipe Elgueta – synthesizer programming
Walter Afanasieff – keyboards, synthesizers, programming, acoustic piano
Greg Bieck – additional keyboards, additional synthesizers, additional programming, programming
Adam Rossi – additional programming
George Benson – guitar, guitar intro
Dean Parks – acoustic guitar
Nathan East – bass
Ricky Lawson – drums
David Reitzas – drum programming
Paulinho da Costa – percussion
Jeremy Lubbock – orchestration and conductor
Jules Chakin – orchestra contractor )
William Ross – orchestration and conductor
Patti Zimmitti – orchestra contractor

Production

Kenny G – producer and arrangements
Walter Afanasieff – producer and arrangements
David Foster – producer and arrangements
Humberto Gatica – mixing, recording, string recording
David Reitzas – recording, additional recording, mixing
Felipe Elgueta – recording
John Richards – recording
Steve Shepherd – recording
David Gleeson – additional recording, recording
Mike Butler – assistant engineer
Andy Haller – assistant engineer
Cristian Robles – assistant engineer
Mike Scotella – assistant engineer
Christine Sirois – assistant engineer
Dann Thompson – assistant engineer
Peter Doell – assistant engineer
Aaron Lepley – assistant engineer
Chris Brooke – assistant engineer
Cristian Gonzalez – assistant engineer
Ryan Hewitt – assistant engineer
Pete Krawiec – assistant engineer
Vlado Meller – mastering at Sony Music Studios
Margery Greenspan – art direction
Jemal Pugh – design
Jeff Schultz – design
Lyndie Benson – photography
William Claxton – photography
Cory Felman – stylist
Dennis Turner – management for Turner Management Group, Inc.

Singles

Information taken from this source.

Reception

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 and Richard Thompson, 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.