Sax and the city

The River Jazz, the annual event held on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, returns next month to Asiatique The Riverfront with a line-up that includes American saxophone Kenny G, local outfit ETC and a jazz band from the College of Music, Mahidol University.

“This is the fourth year that we are organising the festival and we are glad to once again be able to bring happiness to Bangkok’s jazz fans,” Wiwan Kannasutra, managing director of Maximage, told reporters at the press conference.

A long-time favourite of Thai fans, Kenny G is the biggest-selling instrumental musician of the modern era and one of the best-selling artists of all time, with global sales totalling more than 75 million records. He holds the Guinness World Record for the longest note ever skronked from a sax (a 45-minute, 47-second E flat). His sound has been a staple on adult contemporary and smooth jazz radio stations since the mid-'80s, making him a household name.

He’ll be performing several of his hits including “Songbird”, “Forever in Love”, “Havana”, and “Silhouette” at the event and his music was celebrated during the press conference too with the newly formed band B&P playing saxophone on covers of his “The Joy of Life”, a single from his sixth studio album “Breathless” and 1989’s instrumental hit “Going Home”.

Vocalist Myra Maneephatson Malloy, winner of the first season of reality show Thailand’s Got Talent, also impressed with a powerful rendition of “Pen Ther Dai Mai”.

Part of the proceeds will go to Siriraj Foundation to mark Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s 60th birthday.

 

 

All that jazz

_ River Jazz takes place on November 16 at Asiatique the Riverfront starting at 6pm.

_ Tickets are priced from Bt1,000 to Bt3,000 at Thai Ticket Major outlets and online at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

_ Fans purchasing Kenny G’s CD at the concert will receive an autographed copy.