A musical tradition in one Windsor neighbourhood will return with a lively, expanded format.
The fourth annual Jazz on Drouillard will fill the Ford City area with horns and funky rhythms on Friday from noon to 9 p.m. The difference from past events, though, will be an expansion of the venues being used, and a variety of jazz musicians scheduled to play.
Madeline Mazak, manager of Pressure Drop, a Ford business and a co-venue of Jazz on Drouillard, told WindsorNewsToday.ca the event was born as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It started as a little festival, just to have music outside because that was all the restrictions would allow," said Mazak. "It got really nice feedback from our audience and the community, and ever since then, Mike [Weber] and Marina [Maffessanti], the owners of Pressure Drop, have kept bringing the festival back every year."
This time around, the event will use three different venues on the street at the same time, something that Mazak said has always been the goal.
"The vision from the beginning was to eventually include other businesses on Drouillard Road because before, this was happening on our patio," said Mazak. "We're super excited, so people can walk through the community, going to different businesses."
In addition to Pressure Drop, Chance Coffee and the clothing store Bunch will cohost jazz acts. There will also be buskers performing on the street throughout the day.
Detroit-based musician and producer John Dixon will be the headliner. He has been a part of Detroit's rich jazz and electronic music history.
Also scheduled to perform are singer Shahida Nurullah and pianist Mike Karloff. Nurullah has performed at the Montreux Detroit Jazz Festival and numerous Detroit jazz clubs. The Windsor-based Karloff has performed with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Windsor Light Music Theatre, 4th Wall Music, and Jazz at Mackenzie Hall.
Windsor-based trumpeter Russ Macklem is performing after the release of his album “The South Detroit Connection,” recorded live at Phog Lounge.
Others on the performers' list throughout the day include Austin DiPietro's Borderland Trio, Organization, Kevin Grenier, The Olivia Van Goor Duo, Ryan Fontaine and Andy Tattersall, The Colin Gronert Trio, The Ian Scott Trio, David Faulkner, Patrick Wright, and Jared Atkins.
Tickets to Jazz on Drouillard are $15 a person. Tickets can be purchased in person at Pressure Drop or online.