Kenny’s Leap

Kenny G on the R&B; chart? A lot of folks would argue that he doesn’t belong there with those easy-listening-style, pop-jazz sax instrumentals. Yet, there he is, perched on top of The Times’ Southern California R&B; chart with a collection of Yuletide tunes, “Miracles, the Holiday Album.” Even more suprising is that the album tops both the Southern California and national pop album charts too. It’s remarkable because instrumental albums rarely crack the pop Top 10, let alone make it to No. 1. Ice Cube is doing strong business with a package, “Bootlegs & B-Sides” of mostly old material. In Southern California, it’s not only the leading rap album but also ranks No. 7 on the pop chart.

TOP 10 ALBUMS

Title, Artist (Nat’l Rank) Last Week 1 Miracles, Holiday Album, Kenny G (1) 10 2 Hell Freezes Over, The Eagles (3) 1 3 Unplugged in New York, Nirvana (5) 2 4 II, Boyz II Men (2) 3 5 Best Of, Sade (15) 4 6 Merry Christmas, Mariah Carey (4) 15 7 Bootleg & B-Sides, Ice Cube (19) -- 8 Fields of Gold, Sting (20) 5 9 Duets II, Frank Sinatra (9) 9 10 Smash, Offspring (6) 6

TOP 10 SINGLES

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 The Hotstepper, Ini Kamoze (1) 1 2 On Bended Knee, Boyz II Men (3) 2 3 Tootsee Roll, 69 Boyz (6) 4 4 Creep, TLC (2) 6 5 Playaz Club, Rappin’ 4-Tay (32) 3 6 I Wanna Be Down, Brandy (8) 5 7 Before I Let You Go, Blackstreet (10) 12 8 Short Dick Man, Twenty Fingers (12) 7 9 Never Lie, Immature (16) 8 10 Another Night, Real McCoy (5) 10

TOP 10 R&B; ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Miracles, Holiday Album, Kenny G (1) 4 2 II, Boyz II Men (2) 1 3 Best Of, Sade (5) 2 4 Merry Christmas, Mariah Carey (3) 6 5 Bootlegs & B-Sides, Ice Cube (8) -- 6 Murder Was the Case, soundtrack (6) 3 7 CrazySexyCool, TLC (7) 5 8 Rhythm of Love, Anita Baker (12) 8 9 Dare Iz a Darkside, Redman (4) -- 10 Black Album, Prince (16) --

Source: SoundScan Inc., for week of Nov. 27