Paradise (Kenny G album)

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Paradise
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 10, 2002 (2002-09-10)
GenreSmooth jazz
Length52:27
LabelArista
Producer
Kenny G chronology
In America
(2001)
Paradise
(2002)
Wishes: A Holiday Album
(2002)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyD[2]

Paradise is the eleventh studio album by saxophonist Kenny G. It was released by Arista Records in 2002, and reached number 2 on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, number 9 on the Billboard 200 and Internet Albums charts and number 15 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Track listing[edit]

  1. "Brazil" (Kenny G/Walter Afanasieff) - 4:37
  2. "Paradise" (Kenny G/Walter Afanasieff) - 4:16
  3. "Malibu Dreams" (Kenny G/Walter Afanasieff) - 5:07
  4. "One More Time" (featuring Chanté Moore) (Walter Afanasieff) - 4:13
  5. "Spanish Nights" (Kenny G/Walter Afanasieff) - 6:11
  6. "Seaside Jam" (Kenny G/Walter Afanasieff) - 4:52
  7. "Ocean Breeze" (Kenny G/Walter Afanasieff) - 4:39
  8. "Falling in the Moonlight" (Kenny G/Walter Afanasieff) - 5:15
  9. "All the Way" (featuring Brian McKnight) (Brian McKnight) - 4:18
  10. "Midnight Magic" (Kenny G/Walter Afanasieff) - 5:17
  11. "Peace" (Kenny G/Walter Afanasieff) - 3:43
  12. "Harmony" (Kenny G/Walter Afanasieff) - 4:40 (Japan)
  13. "Casablanca" (John Healy/Higgins/Limbo) - 4:17 (bonus track)

Personnel[edit]

  • Kenny G – arrangements (1, 2, 3, 5–8, 11), soprano saxophone (1-9, 11), tenor saxophone (10)
  • Walter Afanasieff – arrangements (1-8, 10, 11), keyboard and rhythm programming (1-8, 10, 11), Hammond B3 organ (10)
  • Josh Binder – programming (1, 2, 3, 5–8, 11)
  • Frank Maranzino – programming (1-5, 7, 8, 11)
  • Brian McKnight – instruments (9), lead and backing vocals (9)
  • Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (10)
  • Randy Waldman – acoustic piano (10)
  • Heitor Pereum – nylon guitar (1)
  • Michael Landau – electric guitar (2, 3, 4, 6, 8)
  • Ramon Stagnaro – nylon guitar (5)
  • Phil Upchurch – guitar (10)
  • Alex Al – bass (10)
  • Donnell Spencer – drums (10)
  • Jorge Calandrelli – orchestra arrangements and conductor (1, 11)
  • William Ross – orchestra arrangements and conductor (2-8)
  • Debbie Datz-Pyle – orchestra contractor (1-8, 11)
  • Matthew Della Polla – orchestra consultant (2, 4, 5)
  • Chanté Moore – lead and backing vocals (4)

Production[edit]

  • Producers – Kenny G (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5-8 & 11, co-producer on track 9 ); Walter Afanasieff (tracks 1–8, 10 & 11); Brian McKnight (track 9).
  • Executive Producer – Antonio "L.A." Reid
  • Production Coordination on tracks 1–8, 10 & 11 – Rich Davis
  • Engineers – Humberto Gatica (tracks 1–8, 10 & 11); David Reiztas (tracks 1–5, 8 & 11); Steve Shepherd (tracks 1–5, 8 & 11); Nick Thomas (tracks 1–5, 8 & 11); Chris Wood (track 9).
  • Second Engineer – Paul Wertheimer (tracks 1-8 & 11).
  • Additional Engineering – Chris Brooke (tracks 1 & 4)
  • Assistant Engineers – Brian Dixon (tracks 1–8, 10 & 11); Nick Marshall (tracks 1–5, 7, 8 & 11); Jason Rankins (tracks 1, 2, 5, 8 & 10); Chris Brooke (tracks 2, 4 & 10); Mary Ann Souza (track 9); Steve Jenewick (track 11).
  • Recorded at WallyWorld Studios (Marin County, CA); Studio G (Seattle, WA); Signet Sound Studios (Los Angeles, CA); Backroom Studios (Glendale, CA).
  • Orchestra on tracks 1-8 & 11 engineered by Humberto Gatica at Paramount Studios (Hollywood, CA).
  • Pro Tools Engineering – Jason Wolmouth (tracks 1–8, 10 & 11); Bill Smith (track 3).
  • Mixing – Humberto Gatica (tracks 1, 2, 5–8, 10 & 11); Al Schmitt (track 3); Mick Guzauski (tracks 4 & 9).
  • Mix Assistants – Chris Brooke (tracks 1, 2, 5–8, 10 & 11); Steve Sheppard (tracks 2 & 5); Tom Bender (tracks 4 & 9).
  • Mixed at Westlake Studios (Los Angeles, CA); Capitol Studios (Hollywood, CA); Barking Doctor Studios (Mount Kisco, NY).
  • Mastered by Vlado Meller at Sony Music Studios (New York City, NY).
  • Technicians on tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 & 11 – Norm Dulgatch and Dominic Gonzales
  • Creative Director – Joe Mama-Nitzberg
  • Art Direction and Design – Courtney Walter
  • Photography – Herb Ritts
  • Management – Dennis Turner at Turner Management Group, Inc.

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (2002) Position
Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)[3] 64

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[4] Gold 50,000*
United States (RIAA)[5] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ Entertainment Weekly review
  3. ^ "Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  4. ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Kenny G – Paradise" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  5. ^ "American album certifications – Kenny G – Paradise". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 30, 2023.

External links[edit]