Wishes: A Holiday Album

Wishes: A Holiday Album is the third Christmas album and twelfth studio album by saxophonist Kenny G. It was released by Arista Records on October 22, 2002, and peaked at number 1 on the Contemporary Jazz chart, number 2 on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, number 29 on the Billboard 200, number 34 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 64 on the Internet Albums chart.[3] It was the second best-selling Christmas album in the US for 2002 with sales of 501,000 copies for the year.[4]

Wishes: A Holiday Album
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 22, 2002
Genre
Length38:36
LabelArista
Producer
Kenny G chronology
Paradise
(2002)
Wishes: A Holiday Album
(2002)
Ultimate Kenny G
(2003)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyD[2]

Track listing

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  1. "Deck the Halls / The Twelve Days of Christmas" (Traditional) - 3:01
  2. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / O Come All Ye Faithful" (Felix Mendelssohn/Charles Wesley/John Francis Wade/Frederic Oakeley) - 4:37
  3. "Joy to the World" (Lowell Mason/Isaac Watts) - 2:29
  4. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Traditional) - 4:34
  5. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Frosty the Snowman" (Johnny Marks/Steve Nelson/Jack Rollins) - 5:21
  6. "Wishes" (Walter Afanasieff/Kenny G) - 3:59
  7. "Do You Hear What I Hear?" (Noel Regney/Gloria Shayne) - 3:08
  8. "Cantique de Noel (O Holy Night)" (Adolphe Adam) - 4:27
  9. "Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring" (Johann Sebastian Bach) - 2:07
  10. "Auld Lang Syne (Freedom Mix)" (Robert Burns/Traditional) - 4:53

Personnel

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  • Kenny G – arrangements, soprano saxophone (1-4, 6-10), tenor saxophone (5)
  • Walter Afanasieff – keyboard programming (1-4, 6-9), rhythm programming (1-4, 6-10), arrangements (1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10), keyboards (10), synthesizers (10), drum programming (10)
  • John Binder – programming (1-4, 6-9)
  • Greg Bieck – programming (2, 4), digital programming (10), Macintosh programming (10), additional drum and rhythm programming (10)
  • Robert Conley – programming (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9)
  • Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (5)
  • Randy Waldman – acoustic piano (5)
  • Frank Maranzino – programming (6)
  • Dave Foxx – additional synthesizers (10), additional drum programming (10)
  • Ramón Stagnaro – nylon guitar (6)
  • Nathan East – bass (5)
  • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums (5)
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion (5)
  • William Ross – orchestral arrangements and conductor (1, 2, 4, 6, 10)
  • Harvey Cohen – horn and orchestral arrangements (5)
  • Jorge Calandrelli – orchestral arrangements and conductor (7, 8)
  • Matthew Delapolla – scoring consultant (1, 2, 4, 5, 6)
  • Debbie Datz-Pyle – orchestra contractor (1, 2, 4-8, 10)
  • Patti Zimmitti – orchestra contractor (10)

Production

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  • Kenny G – producer, liner notes
  • Antonio L.A. Reid – executive producer
  • Dave Foxx – audio collage producer and arrangements (10)
  • Lou Simon – audio collage producer and arrangements (10)
  • Steve Shepherd – engineer (1-4, 6-9)
  • Nick Thomas – engineer (1, 6), assistant engineer (2, 3, 4, 8)
  • David Gleeson – engineer (2, 4, 10)
  • Humberto Gatica – engineer (5, 6, 10), orchestra engineer (6), mixing (10)
  • David Reitzas – engineer (6)
  • Cesar Ramirez – assistant engineer (1, 7, 9)
  • Chris Brooke – assistant engineer (5, 10)
  • Brian Dixon – assistant engineer (6)
  • Nick Marshall – assistant engineer (6)
  • Peter Doell – assistant engineer (10)
  • Mark Eshelman – assistant engineer (10)
  • Pete Krawiec – assistant engineer (10)
  • Grant Schmitz – assistant engineer (10)
  • Bill Smith – Pro Tools engineer (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8)
  • Joe Wohlmuth – Pro Tools engineer (5-9)
  • Al Schmitt – orchestra engineer (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8)
  • John Rodd – orchestra recordist (7, 8)
  • Mick Guzauski – mixing (1-9)
  • George Spatta – mix assistant (1-9)
  • Vlado Meller – mastering
  • Tom Steel – stage manager (7, 8)
  • Damon Tedesco – stage manager (7, 8)
  • Rich Davis – production coordinator for Walter Afanasieff
  • Joe Mama-Nitzberg – creative director
  • Courtney Walter – art direction, design
  • Lyndie Benson – photography
  • Dennis Turner – management
  • Turner Entertainment Group, Inc. – management company

Studios

Charts

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Singles

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Information taken from this source.[9]

Year Title Chart Positions
US AC US R&B
2002 "Deck the Halls/The Twelve Days of Christmas" 22
2003 "Auld Lang Syne (Freedom Mix)" 98

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[10] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ Entertainment Weekly review
  3. ^ Charts & Awards at Allmusic
  4. ^ Paul Grein (October 29, 2013). "Chart Watch Extra: What Will Be This Year's Top Christmas Album?". Chart Watch. Yahoo.
  5. ^ "Kenny G Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  6. ^ "Kenny G Chart History (Top Contemporary Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  7. ^ "Kenny G Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  8. ^ "Canada's Top 50 Jazz Albums of 2002 in Canada". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  9. ^ Billboard Singles at Allmusic
  10. ^ "American album certifications – Kenny G – Wishes". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 30, 2023.