"Paris By Night" from Kenny G's 2021 album New Standards captures the smooth jazz legend on soprano saxophone in one of the album's most atmospheric ballads. Co-written by Kenny G, Sam Hirsh, and Walter Afanasieff, the piece moves at a hushed tempo of approximately 50 BPM in B-flat minor, evoking the romantic imagery suggested by its title. Kenny G's soprano saxophone has been his primary voice since the early 1980s, and its distinctive, breathy tone is instantly recognizable to millions of listeners worldwide. His approach to the instrument emphasizes sustained, singing tones and graceful melodic curves that draw from pop, R&B, and jazz influences in roughly equal measure. The minor-key tonality gives the piece a slightly more introspective quality than some of Kenny G's brighter major-key ballads, while still maintaining the polished, accessible sound that has made him one of the most commercially successful instrumentalists in music history. New Standards continued his longstanding collaboration with producer Walter Afanasieff, whose lush arrangements and sophisticated production values provide an ideal backdrop for Kenny G's expressive soprano saxophone. The recording demonstrates Kenny G's enduring ability to create evocative musical landscapes that transcend genre boundaries and connect with a broad audience.
