For those who’d prefer a truly silent Christmas, Kenny G isn’t too raucous, and he comes minus the lyrics. Ten tracks that sound the traditional holiday anthems, "Wishes" is his third Christmas album. Back for the most part with orchestra, the songs are mild and quieting, rendered an occasional departure from their signature melodies by G’s sprees on the saxophone.
Initiating the season with "Deck The Halls", the album contains other favourites like "Joy To The World", "Frosty The Snowman", "O Holy Night" and "Rudolph The Red-nosed Reindeer". "Wishes", a piece composed by Kenny G himself, is the only disparate track from the retinue of spirited songs.
The album winds up with "Auld Lang Syne - Freedom Mix", which is an unusual tribute to the defining events of America. This is less the promised Christmas carol, and more propaganda for Americanism. But the rest of it makes for a very restive Christmas Eve.
This article was first published on15 Dec 2002.