Kenny G's work can be divided into three main categories: first, his improvisatory fusion efforts as a
Jeff Lorber sideman in the late '70s; second, his R&B-oriented albums of 1982-1985; and third, the elevator Muzak he has specialized in since 1986. Falling into the second category,
G Force is a fairly decent urban contemporary release that clearly benefits from the input of
Kashif (who serves as executive producer).
Kashif was hot at the time, and the R&B singer/producer/songwriter had been burning up the charts with hits by
Evelyn "Champagne" King,
George Benson,
Howard Johnson and himself.
Kashif's stamp is all over this sleek album; you can hear it on both the tunes with R&B vocals ("Hi, How Ya Doin'" and "Do Me Right") and groove-oriented instrumentals like "I've Been Missin' You" and "I Wanna Be Yours."
G Force,
Kenny G's second album, is a long way from the adventurous fusion
Kenny G had recorded with
Lorber, and the sax solos he was taking in 1983 were hardly breathtaking. But thanks to
Kashif's participation,
G Force is an enjoyable, R&B-oriented date and is probably the best album he did as a leader (which isn't saying a lot, considering how boring most of his subsequent projects would be). ~ Alex Henderson