LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Four decades into his career 鈥� which include countless world tours, 20 studio albums, the Guinness World Record for bestselling jazz artist, and a Grammy 鈥� saxophonist is grateful that his music continues to resonate.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just my hard work, because I work hard. I practice every day for three hours 鈥� every single day,鈥� he told The Associated Press. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just that. There鈥檚 more to it. There鈥檚 the timing of things. Then there's the intangibles of why does a melody sound good to me.鈥�
That latter element is crucial. If there is a constant in the career of Kenny G, it鈥檚 found in his chase and appreciation for melodies. On Dec. 1, that hunt will result in 鈥淚nnocence,鈥� his latest album and a collection of lullabies 鈥� both familiar and new 鈥� arranged in an idiosyncratic Kenny G fashion.
鈥淚鈥檝e already made music that people get engaged to, and then I made music they get married to and then they tell me how they make babies to my music. Well, I said, I鈥檝e got to complete the circle now. Let me make them a record that you can use to put them to sleep,鈥� he jokes.
鈥淚 think it was more about making something that people could share in their family and intimate moments,鈥� he adds.
The title, 鈥淚nnocence,鈥� reflects the innocence of childhood, sure, but also the innocence of a lullaby 鈥� the sweet melodies we all share. Although Kenny G believes this album is 鈥渘ot just for kids.鈥�
On 鈥淚nnocence,鈥� next to familiar titles like 鈥淩ock-a-Bye Baby鈥� and 鈥淓delweiss鈥� is a lesser-known cut from , 鈥淣octurne Op. 9 No. 1.鈥� It's the kind of classical lullaby that Kenny G hopes inspires curious listeners to dive deeper 鈥� just like his original smooth jazz material has led to dives into improvisational music by his loyal fans.
He鈥檚 also quick to point out that there are differences in how lullabies are composed and structured across cultures 鈥� what he muses he might explore in the future.
But for now, on 鈥淚nnocence,鈥� he sees a common thread across these Western lullabies. 鈥淭he melodies are very simple and they resolve themselves,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 always a way of it coming back to something. It鈥檚 not a melody that just goes.鈥�
And returning to the start, no doubt, provides the listener with some comfort.
Asked if these songs will appear on his tour鈥檚 set list, Kenny G offers another joke: 鈥淚鈥檓 of putting people to sleep with my music,鈥� he says. 鈥淪o, the last thing I want to do is play lullabies during my concert.鈥�
Maria Sherman, The Associated Press
