Kenny G joins Alexander Zonjic at the River Raisin Jazz Festival

8/11/2011

Kenny G

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MONROE-- It's no surprise that Alexander Zonjic is playing the 10th anniversary of the River Raisin Jazz Festival.

The Detroit flutist is a regular at the summertime event in Monroe, but what's new this year will be an appearance by Kenny G, the smooth jazz horn player who will perform with Zonjic at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Kenny G is one of the leading purveyors of contemporary jazz and he has managed to climb the pop charts while playing music that is decidedly not very poppy by current standards.

Also performing at the event Saturday will be the Jeff Golub Band featuring Henry Butler at 5:45 p.m.; Matt Marshak at 4 p.m.; Jesse Coleman and The Jamm at 2:30 p.m., and the River Raisin Big Band at 1 p.m.

The music continues Sunday with Jeff Lorber Fusion at 7:30 p.m.; Nelson Rangell at 5:45 p.m; Tim Bowman at 4 p.m.; the Sean Dobbins Band at 2:30 p.m., and the Bob Rex Trio at 1 p.m.

The free festival is at St. Mary's Park at Elm Avenue and North Monroe Street. Audience members should bring a chair or blanket to sit on and coolers are allowed.

At the same time the jazz festival is taking place, the Eighth Annual Downtown Monroe Fine Art Fair will be occurring two blocks away. More than 50 artists will display their work at the arts festival throughout the day Saturday and Sunday.