"Waltz In Blue" from Kenny G's 2021 album New Standards is a distinctive entry in the smooth jazz artist's catalog, featuring soprano saxophone over a waltz rhythm in B-flat minor. Co-written by Kenny G and Sam Hirsh, the piece moves at approximately 94 BPM in three-quarter time, giving it a graceful, flowing character that sets it apart from the album's predominantly four-four ballads. The waltz feel adds a European classical element to Kenny G's typically pop and R&B-influenced aesthetic, demonstrating the stylistic breadth he explores on New Standards. His soprano saxophone melody floats above the waltz rhythm with the characteristic smoothness and sustained tone that have defined his sound for over four decades. The minor-key tonality in B-flat minor gives the piece a melancholic, introspective quality, while the waltz meter creates a gently rocking motion that enhances its emotional impact. Kenny G has consistently demonstrated an interest in expanding the boundaries of smooth jazz, and the waltz format represents an uncommon rhythmic choice within the genre. The collaboration with Hirsh, who has become an increasingly important creative partner in Kenny G's recent work, yields a composition that balances accessibility with a subtle sophistication. The recording closes the album with a mood of elegant reflection.
