Band leaders Joan Hutton (alto sax, bass clarinet) and Sue Orfield (tenor sax) began their collaboration in 2019, drawn together by a passion for composing and performing original music. With tight harmonies and precise arrangements, the strength of this duo lies as much in their joyful collaboration as it does their distinct, stylistic differences.

Canadian native Joan Hutton is a performer, composer and educator residing in Minneapolis. Joan’s diverse interests have taken her from jazz, free improv and funk to classical, chamber music and pit orchestras. S

Sue Orfield is an award winning tenor saxophonist, composer and educator who tours internationally and has recorded on hundreds of albums. She makes her home in the Chippewa Valley of Wisconsin.

Jazz on the River is a series of free summer concerts held in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin at Kickbusch Plaza, directly behind the Marathon County Downtown Library. Concerts start at 5:00 PM and run until 7:00 PM. There is parking in the lot directly behind the library building. Food trucks provide snacks, or you can bring your own picnic. Bring a chair. You might come early and enjoy the beauty around you before and after the concert, as you walk or bike the trail by the river.

The rain location for the 2025 season is Malarkey’s Pub at 401 N. 3rd Street in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin.