Kenny G Opens North American Tour In Oakland

Contemporary jazzman Kenny G embarks on a limited tour of North America tonight (11/23), and will finish the year with a New Year's Eve show in Seoul, Korea. Last week, he released "Faith - The Holiday Album" (Arista), which he will promote with a series of December television appearances.

After wrapping up a two-night stand in Oakland tomorrow, the popular saxophonist will finish November with two more California appearances before heading to Florida, where he will play five cities in five days.

''Faith'' features Kenny G playing saxophone and alto sax in a mix of traditional and contemporary holiday songs, as well as an original composition he wrote with Walter Afanasieff. Other musicians who perform on the album include Randy Waldman (piano), Greg Phillinganes (Fender Rhodes keyboard), Nathan East (bass), Ricky Lawson (drums) and Paulinho Da'Costa (percussion). The orchestra was arranged and conducted by famed William Ross.

Kenny G has several upcoming television appearances, including a Nov. 30 stop at NBC's ''The Tonight Show,'' the syndicated ''Soul Train Christmas Starfest Special'' on Dec. 10, TNT's ''Christmas In Washington'' on Dec. 12, ABC's ''Good Morning America'' on Dec. 20, and ''BET on Jazz'' on Dec. 25.

Kenny G's first holiday album, ''Miracles: The Holiday Album,'' has sold more than 7 million copies, which Arista Records claims makes it the best-selling holiday album in history.

Since his ''Classics In The Key Of G'' (Arista) was released more than 18 weeks ago, Kenny G has dominated the top slot on Billboard's contemporary jazz album chart.