Kenny G Hits Jazz "Home Run" at the Award Winning 10th Anniversary River Raisin Jazz Festival

Kenny G is, without a doubt, the best known name in Jazz. Possibly one of the best known in music. Ten year's ago, when the vision for a world class Jazz Festival in Monroe, Michigan came to me, I dreamed of having the Sax Superstar perform at our 10 Year Anniversary. I knew if the event were successful over a decade span of time, the dream could become reality. It has been...and it did.

Kenny Gorelick, began his playing as an aspiring high school saxophone player. At a very young age, he was asked to perform with the Love Unlimited Orchestra, created by Barry White. Then, he became the saxman for Jeff Lorber's Fusion band. The rest is history. With appearances on such programs as the Tonight Show performing his soon to be hit, "Songbird"...his star rose quickly and has been floating in musical paradise ever since.

With more than 100 million in "record" sales worldwide and sold out performances across the globe, KG has enjoyed Hall of Fame success to this day. His day at the River Raisin Jazz Festival was no exception.

The lineup for the festival was stellar. The weather was perfect and the crowds were record breaking in their own special way. The River Raisin Jazz Festival has become a phenom unparalleled in bringing notoriety to the community it calls home. It has also brought economic impact to the entire region and scores of visitors from across the nation...things that other communities spend countless dollars and resources attempting to duplicate. Over 50,000 Jazz fans flock to Monroe's St. Mary's Park on the banks of the Historic River Raisin each year. This year, Monroe Police estimate that 30,000 were in attendance for Kenny G's performance alone. The legend continues.

The next decade of the River Raisin Jazz Festival holds even greater promise. Despite having hosted the biggest names in Jazz, including but not limited to Chris Botti, Chuck Mangione, Spyro Gyra, Earl Klugh, Rick Braun and many others...there are many more to come. We hope you will be with us.

You can stay up to date on our Facebook page. Cheers!

WGPR 107.5 Radio in Detroit to Host "A to Z" with Alexander Zonjic on Sunday Evenings

Detroit's WGPR FM Radio 107.5 will host Alexander Zonjic's "A to Z" Radio Show on Sunday evenings begining Sunday May 15 and every Sunday night 8 pm till Midnight. Zonjic will play music from all our favorite artists and introduce us to some fresh and new ones as well as informative and interesting interviews and other features. A calendar of events will keep us all up to date on the region's impressive festival and concert scene.

With a career spanning 40 year's during which he has performed Jazz, Symphony, R & B and more, Zonjic is quite possibly the foremost authority on music and the artists who perform it from this era. Having toured with the legendary Bob James as well as performing with the biggest names in the industry, his perspective is enlightening to us both from the artist and fan point of view. "I don't just play music, I am a fan myself which gives me a diverse viewpoint. I remember listening to many of the greats I have now performed with thinking how amazing they all were. I love the relationships I have developed with them and have so many stories from over the years and want to share it with the audiences that have provided such wonderful support for me and my career. This is an awesome opportunity. I hope everyone will tune in and let me know what they think about the show. Facebook has created a whole new world of staying in touch with friends and fans. I am very excited about 2011...it's going to be a great year!" Zonjic told me during a recent dinner meeting.

Since the changeover of V98.7 Smooth Jazz, audiences throughout the region have been craving a connection to the music they love. As the morning personality on WVMV, he became developed the station into the #1 station in the nation during its' 15 years on the air.

So tune in and enjoy, once again.

The River Raisin Jazz Festival Wins the Michigan Governor's Award

The River Raisin Jazz Festival was presented with the 2011 Michigan Governor's Award at the Governor's Conference on Tourism in Kalamazoo March 21. Governor Rick Snyder presented Monroe County Convention & Tourism Bureau President/CEO John Patterson with the beautiful hand made award created at the Glass Shop at The Henry Ford in Dearborn. The River Raisin Jazz Festival will celebrate it's 10th Anniversary August 12 - 14, 2011 in St. Mary's Park in Downtown Monroe, Michigan. The Annual FREE Jazz Festival attracts over 50,000 Jazz fans each year.

The Unique Logo of the River Raisin Jazz Festival

I have been asked many times where we came up with the logo design for the River Raisin Jazz Festival. It is a short story, so here goes. My son and I attended a Travel Conference in Scottsdale, AZ in 2002. While we were there, we had the opportunity to enjoy some "tourist time" and came across a delightful little shop in Sedona. The shop featured Native American art and one piece in particular caught my attention. An amazing little fellow known as "Kokopelli" was extremely interesting. Further inquiry uncovered that "Kokopelli" the Hopi flute player, is the symbol of music & dance among other things including fertility and replenishment. His playing is also said to be heard during the change of seasons in the warm breezes that accompany the change from winter to summer. Perfect! The figure dates back over 3,000 years when the first known petroglyphs were carved. It is said that this flute playing Casanova is a sacred figure to many Southwest Native Americans. When I purchased the carving, the clerk asked my son and I, "So what brings you to AZ"? That sealed the deal. My friend Alexander Zonjic (AZ) is a world renowned flute player! The rest is history. Upon returning to Monroe, I immediately asked my graphic designer to come up with a unique variation of Kokopelli for our festival. He now graces the promotion and marketing of all of our River Raisin Jazz Festival work. In 2002, "AZ" as he was appropriately named, appeared alongside the name, River Raisin Jazz Festival. Now, 10 years later, he appears solo. Much like the golden arches of McDonald's now appear solo as folks recognize and easily associate them with the hamburger giant..."AZ" is now the official symbol of our highly successful festival that attracts over 50,000 Jazz fans each year and that has featured headliners that include David Sanborn, Chris Botti, Spyro Gyra, Chuck Mangione, Rick Braun, Larry Carlton, Nelson Rangell and many more. So, the legend lives on, with the warm breezes of summer, music & dance and the replenishment and joy of our beloved music festival.

Alexander Zonjic with Marion Meadows for Mother's Day

Alexander Zonjic & Marion Meadows will be perfoming two LIVE shows at ICE Restaurant & Jazz Club in Toledo, OH on May 5 at 6 pm and 9 pm. Reservations need to be made quickly...419.246.3339. Enjoy the Cool Jazzy atmosphere of Toledo's newest Jazz Supper Club located at 405 Madison in the Lower Level of the PNC Bank building! See you there!

Alexander Zonjic with Marc Antoine & James Lloyd for Valentine's Event

Our good friend Alexander Zonjic will be performing two show's at Toledo's ICE Restaurant & Jazz Club on Thursday February 10 at 6 pm and 9 pm. Tickets are $20.00 before February 8 and $25.00 at the door. These three veteran Jazz performers promise an exciting show in a beautiful venue with GREAT food. All three artist's have major solo careers. Zonjic with his magical flute performs throughout the Mid-west and has performed all over the world with superstars Bob James and more. Antoine and Lloyd are featured artists on Zonjic's newest CD "Doin' the D". James Lloyd, of course, is the legendary keyboard player from the supergroup Pieces of a Dream. This is an unbelievable opportunity to see some of the biggest names in the business...as well as three of the most talented. Get your reservations early as seats are going fast. Call ICE at 419.246.3339. ICE has become the premier Jazz Club in Toledo featuring LIVE JAZZ every Thursday as part of their Cool Jazz Thursday's Series that has run for the past 19 weeks and is booked through April with such local and regional stars as Jesse Coleman, Athena Johnson, Gerrard Gibbs, Lin Rountree, Herbie Russ and more. See you at ICE every thursday from 5 pm till 9pm. ICE is located at 405 Madison in the lower level of the PNC Bank Building.