Some jazz critics may point to Classics in the Key of G as proof of Kenny G's lack of jazz substance, but it really is proof of how well he makes instrumental pop albums. Yes, Kenny G has reworked a predictable set of pop classics, from Summertime to The Look of Love, to fit his signature smooth sound, but that should be expected from an album like this. Kenny G will never abandon his signature sound because that sound is him; he doesn't want to push musical boundaries, he just wants to make gentle, melodic music. If he's seen as a pop musician, not a jazz saxophonist, his virtues become evident. Unlike some of his peers, there's genuine warmth in his tone, and he never diverts his attention from the melody; he crafts records around songs, not improvisations. Simply containing ten songs everybody knows, Classics in the Key of G is a pleasant, unassuming listen (with the exception of What a Wonderful World, which contains a jarring original vocal from Louis Armstrong). As a matter of fact, it may be one