Kenny G Breathless CD

Live Recording

Personnel: Kenny G. (soprano saxophone, various instruments, drum programming); Peabo Bryson, Aaron Neville (vocals); Dean Parks, Michael Thompson (guitar); Walter Afanasieff (various instruments, keyboards, synthesizer bass, programming); Dan Shea (keyboards, synthesizer bass, programming); Vail Johnson (bass); John Robinson (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Ren Klyce, Gary Cirimelli (programming); Phillip Ingram, Fred White, Lynn Davis, Rose Stone, Jim Glistrap, Vann Johnson, Portia Griffin, Pat Hawk, Jean McLean (background vocals).
Producers: Kenny G, Walter Afanasieff, David Foster, Dan Shea.
Engineers include: Kevin Becka, Dana Jon Chappelle, Humberto Gatica.
Recorded at Studio G, Seattle, Washington; The Plant Studio, Sausalito, California; Village Recorders, Los Angeles, California.
"Forever In Love" won the award for Instrumental Composition in the 36th Annual Grammy Awards. "Sentimental" was nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in the 37th Annual Grammy Awards.
Personnel: Kenny G (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, drum programming); Aaron Neville, Peabo Bryson (vocals); Dean Parks, Michael Thompson (guitar); Walter Afanasieff (keyboards, synthesizer, bass synthesizer, drums); Dan Shea (keyboards, programming); Vail Johnson (bass guitar); John "J.R." Robinson (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Ren Klyce (programming, sampler); Gary Cirimelli (programming); Fred White , Pat Hawk, Jim Gilstrap, Alex Brown, Lynn Davis , Phillip Ingram, Portia Griffin, Rose Stone, Vann Johnson (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Mick Guzauski.
Recording information: Devonshrie Stu (1992); Ocean Way Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA (1992); Plant Studio, Sausalito, CA (1992); Studio G, Seattle, WA (1992).
Photographer: Matthew Rolston.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Eric Rudd; John Richards.
Arranger: Walter Afanasieff.
Throughout the 1990s, Kenny G was the whipping boy of the jazz world -- the instrumentalist who hardcore jazz improvisers loved to bash when the subject of smooth jazz came up. Kenny G's huge following responded that the attacks were silly and misguided because the saxman was the first to admit that he was primarily a pop instrumentalist and wasn't pretending to be anything else. True, it was silly for jazz artists to judge Kenny by hard bop standards when hard bop (or even soul-jazz or fusion) was a long way from what he was going for. And Breathless isn't bad because it's a pop album or because it's commercial; it's bad because of its complete lack of soul, substance or creativity. There's nothing even remotely tasteful about interchangeable tunes like "Sentimental," "Forever In Love" and "End of the Night," all of which are about as bloodless and schlocky as it gets. Always sounding like he's on automatic pilot, Kenny takes no risks whatsoever and sees to it that one song is as shamelessly contrived as the next. Even the presence of the great R&B crooner Aaron Neville on "Even If My Heart Would Break" can't save this one-dimensional release. Whether you're into pop or jazz, Breathless is unlistenable. ~ Alex Henderson
One among many huge hit albums featuring the shimmering, willowy soprano sax solos of Kenny G. He's the best-selling saxophonist of all time, and has never claimed to be a jazz musician, which is accurate. These are simple, sometimes enjoyable, pop tunes with forgettable melodies, and no harmonic tension or rhythmic excitement. ~ Ron Wynn
Kenny G is the quintessence of easy listening. His listener-friendly soprano sax is accessible to all--no hot jazz riffs, no wailing emotions, just easy-to-take, new age pop music.
From the warm notes of the opening "The Joy Of Life" you know you are in a tranquil, meditative territory. Whether he is "Forever In Love" or walking "In The Rain," whether he is feeling "Sentimental" or all "Alone," this album is all about feelings. Kenny is an accomplished enough player to express those feelings thr