Smooth jazz icon saxophonist
Kenny G delivers his first all-guest-star album with
At Last...The Duets Album. Featuring a coterie of big-name artists from the pop music world, including
Barbra Streisand,
Burt Bacharach,
LeAnn Rimes, and others,
At Last essentially maximizes the vocal crossover aesthetic prominent on many of
G's prior albums. The formula largely works, coming off as a breezy, laid-back concert with
G adding soft asides to his guest's vocal performances. To these ends,
Brian McKnight reinvigorates "Careless Whisper" with a quiet storm intensity;
Chaka Khan actually betters
Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful," suffusing it with an infectious gospel/soul vibe; and
Earth, Wind & Fire pull a "no brainer" on
OutKast's "The Way You Move." Add to this a fairly organic production style that mixes in lush orchestral arrangements, funky organs, and real percussion as well as artists who seem to really enjoy themselves, and you've got one of
Kenny G's most pleasing efforts...
At Last. ~ Matt Collar