Faculty, alumni, and students of the University of Windsor and School of Creative Arts will take center stage at the “Old Towns Jazz Day and Sandwich Market” on Sunday, Aug. 18.

Organized by the nonprofit Windsor Jazz Concerts Series led by producer Hugh Leal (BA 1973, BComm 1978), and with the University of Windsor Alumni Association as its lead sponsor, the event showcases top local jazz musicians for free admission performances in co-operation with the Sandwich Town Business Improvement Association’s market.

“The Old Towns Jazz Day is a new initiative by the nonprofit Windsor Jazz Concert Series to put a spotlight on Windsor’s excellent jazz musicians and our ongoing Mackenzie Hall Jazz series, now in its 13th year,” says Leal. “We hope Windsor music lovers will come out to our community event and support local talent.”

Among the SoCA faculty performing on Sunday are vocalist Shahida Nurullah, pianist Michael Karloff, and trumpeter Bob Fazecash (BMA 1977, BMus 1979, BEd 1980). The members of the SoCA top jazz students combo include Jospeh Maceroni on drums, Calvin Sulja on bass, Jared Aitken on guitar, and recent grad Colin Gronert (BMus 2013) on saxophone.

Both groups representing Windsor’s Young Jazz Leaders feature music grads: The Coffee House Combo includes saxophonist Sebastian Bachmeier (BMus 2019, BEd 2021), keyboardist Andrew Adoranti (BASc 2021), vocalist Natalie Culmone (BA 2021), bassist Alex Leite (BMus 2021), drummer Vanessa Harnish (BMus 2008, BEd 2009), and Fazecash on trumpet. The Austin DiPietro Quintet features DiPietro (BMus 2018) on trumpet along with his Wayne State University grad school classmates Ryan Billson on tenor sax, Trevor Lamb on bass, and Ian Blunden on guitar, joined by SoCA faculty members Nurullah and Karloff.

They will each perform a one-hour set in the headline concert at 3:30 p.m. in the Court Auditorium, Mackenzie Hall, 3277 Sandwich St. Admission is $35 at the door or $30 in advance; phone 519-255-7600 to order advance tickets.

The market promises 20 vendors of crafts and food from noon to 5 p.m. in Mary E. Bibb Park at 3261 Sandwich St., on the north side of Mackenzie Hall.

The rest of the concerts are free to attend:

• Ryan Fontaine Trio with vocalist Sarah Fontaine (BMus 2009), noon to 1:15 p.m. on the patio at the Sandwich Brewery, 3232 Sandwich St.
• Kevin Grenier Quartet with vocalist Christine Chemello, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the gazebo in Mary E. Bibb Park.
• Top jazz students combo, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at St. John’s Anglican Church, 3305 Sandwich St.
• Speakeasy Trio with saxophonist Ray Manzerolle, pianist Michael Karloff, and cellist Mike Karoub, 2 to 3 p.m. in the gazebo.

Capping the day is a move to Walkerville for a Jazz ’n’ Brews afterglow hang at the Walkerville Brewery, 525 Argyle Rd. Ray Bower (BComm 197) and his quartet with guest vocalist Tom Hogarth (LLB 1978, BComm 1983, MBA 1987) are up from 6 to 7 p.m. The Russ Macklem Quartet, whose recording The South Detroit Connection earned a Juno nomination for best jazz album of 2024, will play from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

For more information, visit the Windsor Jazz Concerts Series website.