![kenny g album image kenny g album image](https://anyjazz.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Kenny-G-The-Best-Of-2012.jpg)
In the music industry, there exist albums that are hailed by critics as "best of the year" or as "taking R&B/Pop/Alternative/whatever to the next level." After hearing praise like this, I always rush to listen to the album, and do indeed find a few songs that are new and interesting. It just doesn't get any better than this. Pick up the pieces? Yeah, that was the stuff falling off the wall after I blew out the speakers with this cranked up.
![kenny g album image kenny g album image](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/puoAmV_UfcI/maxresdefault.jpg)
Hot? This song is five-alarm! Complex? I need better speakers to be able to appreciate it all. The intro part that's available on the Amazon preview is enough to get jumping, but that's the slow part that doesn't even begin to warm up the jam. It's possible to hear this song without breaking out the air-sax, cranking up the volume, and scaring the pets.
![kenny g album image kenny g album image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81osW9ZWt5L._SL1500_.jpg)
BUT, surprisingly, Kenny G and David Sanborn blow this away! It's not just toe-tapping time - I don't think I loved AWB's version, and it's hard for a cover to improve on a great original. I always thought that if this song didn't make you tap your toes, you didn't have a pulse. Yes, it's a cover of The Average White Band's hit from the 70's. Now, that said, "Pick Up The Pieces" is AMAZINGLY good. It's the reason that Kenny G gets such a Michael Bolton-esque weenie-ish reputation. The rest of the disc? Well, it's okay, but nothing special. Other than that, it's at the top of my favorites in my library of 3,000+ CDs! My favorite is the remix of "The Way You Move".nice grooves in there! If I had one complaint, it would be that the songs didn't actually line up in the order on which they were listed on the CD cover. Maybe some Chicago, Rascal Flatts, Peter Cetera, Tower of Power, and any number of other great voices in the business! I hope he comes out with more duet albums in the future. If you appreciate great musicians coming together to produce some really listenable music, (and I do mean, over and over without ear fatigue), then this CD is for you! I only hope he doesn't stop here. He's made millions, so there is an enormous fan base out there that doesn't care much for the jealous comments by aspiring performers. To trash his talent and success is to also trash the notable musicians and singers who obviously respect him enough to record with him on this CD. Bottom line - he is successful, he caters to the "average" listener without the ear fatigue that normally accompanies heavy jazz, he is respected among his peers in the business (as evidenced by his duets), and he repeats what works for his success. I always find it humerous that far less accomplished "musicians" will blast Kenny's success all over the place, and basically rate him with the likes of a middle school wannabe.