By Lindsay Peyton

Kenny G enjoys coming home to Seattle. He looks forward to a waterfront jog, a stroll through Pike Place Market and a meal at Wild Ginger, if he actually gets the chance to sit down for dinner.

The nights that Kenny G is in town will be spent mainly on stage. He has eight sold out shows planned at Dimitiriou’s Jazz Alley, for a stint starting Thursday, April 28 and ending Sunday, May 1.

The Grammy-winning saxophone star will sign albums in the lobby. “Even if you don’t have a ticket, you can come by and get a CD and an autograph,” he said.

Kenny G will also bring his signature line of saxophones for sale.

Dimitiriou’s Jazz Alley is one of three small venues where the artist performs. The line-up also includes Yoshi’s in Oakland and the Blue Note in New York.

Usually, his concerts are in large arenas and concert halls.

“At the jazz club, we get to show off our chops,” Kenny G said. “This gets us in touch with our jazz roots. There’s a lot more improv.”

Rachael Millikan, spokeswoman for Jazz Alley, said that the artist always gets a warm welcome.

“He’s not only respected for his music, but in Seattle, he’s so highly respected because he’s a hometown boy,” she said. “People go out of their way to support him. He’s also a great guy. He’s so connected with his audience. He’s treasured, and the relationship is reciprocal.”

The band will perform a selection of songs from his latest release, “Brazilian Nights.”

“It’s an album of bossa nova, inspired by the great players like Stan Getz,” Kenny G said.

The concert will mainly feature older songs – and the artist has a lot of options. His recording career spans almost three decades and has produced 23 albums.

Kenny G credits his childhood in Seattle for getting him to where he is today. “I went to Franklin High School, an inner city school,” he said. “I grew up embracing R and B music. Without that experience, I wouldn’t have the same career.”

He picked up saxophone at a young age, only 10 years old. “I saw someone playing sax on TV, and thought it looked cool,” he recalled. “And it was cool.”

Kenny G failed the first time he tried to get into high school jazz band – but he only became more determined for the next audition. He upped the ante for his practice sessions – and it paid off when he not only made the cut, but also got first chair.

The musician still plays his high school saxophone every night – and the trusty instrument will accompany him on his trip to Seattle this weekend.

At 17 years old, he played a gig with Barry White at the Paramount Theater – and his professional gigs continued through college, while he was studying business and accounting at the University of Washington.

“I figured I’d keep playing music until it didn’t work out anymore,” Kenny G said. “But I just kept lucking out – and I kept doing it.”

He played with the most iconic figures in popular music from Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin to Whitney Houston and Frank Sinatra.

And Kenny G is a legend in his own right – the top selling instrumental musician. He has sold more than 75 million records.

“I’m competitive,” he said. “I don’t like coming in second. I like being first – and that’s where I plan to stay.”