Recently, WNUA sent me a new email reminding me that today is Kenny G's birthday. His photo gallery can be found at the following link below:

http://www.wnua.com/cc-common/gallery/display.html?album_id=64678

I grew up listening to Kenny G, and in my mind, he is the greatest soprano saxophone player I've ever heard! Although I like his alto and tenor works the same, he's at his absolute best when he plays the soprano sax. I have most of his albums, and I'm in a sentimental mood whenever I hear him on the radio. I imagine a romantic night by the fireplace, sipping champagne and admiring the beautiful lights of the Chicago skyline. Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to do so, because I'm too busy composing songs on the piano. And even my piano has nothing on Kenny G!

He has done a lot of great guest appearances on songs by Michael Bolton (Missing You Now, You Send Me), Whitney Houston (All the Man I Need), Babyface (Everytime I Close My Eyes), Peabo Bryson (By the Time This Night is Over), Lenny Williams (Don't Make Me Wait for Love), and Aaron Neville (Even if My Heart Would Break). My favorite guest appearance is on the Johnny Gill classic My, My, My (which was later redone by alto saxman Gerald Albright, and made ten times better than ever before!). I also like his own take on Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On (the song you hear watching Titanic).

Whenever I drive to North Carolina or Maryland, I'm always sure to keep some smooth jazz CDs on hand, especially those by the man who put the "smooth" in the music! And you can hate on him all you want (everybody else does), but I see him as one of the greatest jazz artists of all time. So, from the bottom of my heart, I say Happy Birthday, Kenny G, and here's to many more!