After a COVID hiatus, the festival led by musician Alexander Zonjic pumps up Muskegon’s Heritage Landing Friday-Sunday with Maysa, Najee, Lin Roundtree and more. The lowdown at Local Spins.
Booking a ‘Good, Diverse Lineup’: Alexander Zonjic and band. (Courtesy Photo)
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After a two-year hiatus, Muskegon’s Heritage Landing will again host Alexander Zonjic’s Shoreline Jazz Festival.
And Zonjic couldn’t be happier.
“It will be a lot of fun,” the jazz flutist and artistic director vowed, while driving from one TV appearance to another to promote the festival. “This will be our seventh.”
Among the performers at year’s event, taking place Friday-Sunday (Aug. 26-28): vocalist Maysa, saxophonist/flutist Najee, keyboardist James Lloyd from Pieces of a Dream, rising singer Lindsey Webster, saxophonist Eric Darius, trumpeter Lin Rountree, 496 West and Organissimo.
Maysa: Grammy-nominated jazz/soul singer performs Saturday. (Courtesy Photo)
Zonjic said he always tries to keep a couple things in mind when developing a festival lineup.
“Coming out of COVID, I was careful to get a good, diverse lineup, and make it affordable.”
To that end, all tickets for the event are being routed through his assistant, rather than another ticket firm. “There’s no service charge. I’m all in with the music component and affordable tickets,” he said, which are $25 for Friday and $45 each for Saturday and Sunday. Find tickets details online here.
Zonjic helms several summer festivals in Michigan, including Jazz on the River in Trenton, the River Raisin Jazz Festival in Monroe, and the St. Clair Jazz Festival.
He said he strives to keep them all distinct from one another, without artists appearing at more than one of the events, with one exception. “I’m in them all, but even I mix it up,” he said, performing different tunes with different musicians.
AGING JAZZ GREATS CONTINUE TO IMPRESS AND DRAW FANS
Zonjic said the shows continue to grow, even as many of the performers and the fans grow older.
“It is amazing to me that this music in this genre does have longevity,” said Zonjic, who released his first album as a leader in 1978. His most recent, “Play It Forward,” came out two years ago. He’s still at it 44 years later. “In 2022 I’m still relevant,” he said almost wonderingly.
He noted the continuing appeal of performers his age and older, including his friend Bob James, 82, who just played with him at the Flint Jazz Festival, veteran guitarist Lee Ritenour, who headlined the first night of that event at 70, and Herb Alpert, still touring at 87.
“George Benson is 79 and still sounding great. Stephanie Mills is 65,” he said of the headliners at the recent Jazz on the River.
Still Relevant, Still On Top of His Game: Zonjic (Courtesy Photo)
As the performers are aging, so too are the audiences, but Zonjic said they continue to come to the shows and appreciate the music.
“The fans are living longer. They’re healthier longer. They love coming to outdoor events. They may not be dancing as much, but they’re still dancing,” he said. “Our audience is 40 to dead. I have 100-year-olds that come to hear me play.”
He said keeping his chops up while booking and coordinating all the shows as well as his radio and TV appearances is another challenge.
“I’m trying really hard to be an artist, keep my playing up. If my playing got compromised, I’d give up (the festivals). Right now I’ve found a balance. I’m spending a lot of time in my trailer. In between acts, I’m practicing.”
A highlight for Zonjic at the upcoming Shoreline Jazz Fest is his performance with the West Michigan Symphony on Friday evening.
“I have a classical background and have developed a relationship with the West Michigan Symphony. We experimented with a pops show way back when at the Frauenthal. I love the idea of bringing the concept to a jazz festival,” he said.
Friday’s show will feature Zonjic, the symphony, and “Zonjic Meets Motown” with the vocal group Serieux. He said it will pay homage to some of the music he, his fellow musicians and fans all grew up on.
“It (the Motown sound) is so iconic. There isn’t a jazz musician who hasn’t been influenced by it,” he said. (The Children’s Foundation of Detroit will also be presenting a check to the area Boys and Girls Club.)
For more information and tickets, visit ShorelineJazzFestival.com.
SHORELINE JAZZ FESTIVAL 2022: THE SCHEDULE
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