Electric Avenue International Jazz Festival

Building on the incredible momentum of last year’s inaugural event, which welcomed around 2,000 guests to Windsor’s Little Italy, the Electric Avenue International Jazz Festival is returning this June! Once again, we are transforming the WindsorEats Food Hall and Electric Avenue Art Alley in Windsor, Ontario, into a high-energy, cross-border celebration of jazz, soul, and blues.

Thanks to the generous support of the St. Clair College Alumni Association, this entire festival is completely FREE for everyone to attend!

A massive thank you to our sponsors: St. Clair College Alumni Association, and Jeremy Price, a proud member of AF of M Local 566 Windsor Federation of Musicians.

🎺 What’s Happening

We’re bringing some of the hottest names in jazz from Windsor, Detroit, Toronto, and beyond right back to one of Windsor’s coolest neighbourhoods. It’s two days packed with world-class performances in an unforgettable urban setting.

You’ll hear everything from classic soul and blues to fiery bebop and smooth modern jazz — all under the open sky, surrounded by alley murals, patios, and incredible community vibes.

Highlights

Trumpet Summit

This explosive collaboration, sponsored by Jeremy Price, a proud member of AF of M Local 566 Windsor Federation of Musicians, is an absolute must-see, bringing together three distinctly powerful voices on the trumpet:

• Dwight Adams: A true Detroit jazz legend. Dwight has spent over 25 years touring the world as the trumpet player for Stevie Wonder. Deeply rooted in the Detroit bop tradition, his soulful, fiery playing is an authentic slice of music history and an essential experience for any jazz fan.
• Aidan Lombard: Bringing a vibrant, contemporary flavour to the summit, this Miami-based rising star is a graduate of the highly prestigious Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance. Handpicked and mentored by global jazz icons, Aidan’s innovative, modern sound represents the exciting future of the genre.
• Russ Macklem: The essential Detroit/Windsor connection. Russ recently released the JUNO-nominated live album The South Detroit Connection—the first live jazz album recorded in Windsor in over two decades! As a powerhouse composer, renowned educator, and a driving force behind the festival itself, his dynamic playing bridges the two musical cities perfectly.

Buffoon Trio

This Detroit-based jazz trio features Jordan Anderson on piano and keyboards, Michael Abbo on bass, and Louis Jones III on drums. The group is driven by a deep fascination with the conversation that unfolds within improvised music, the unspoken dialogue that connects musicians and audiences alike.

Each member is an accomplished composer and arranger, bringing their own distinct perspective to the collective sound. Together, they breathe new life into familiar tunes, reimagining them with a fresh, contemporary energy. Through their innovative interpretations, Buffoon bridges generations of jazz listeners, transforming what audiences thought they knew into something unexpectedly new and alive.

🗓️ Festival Schedule

Friday, June 26th

• 5:00 PM: Assumption High School Jazz Ensembles (Under the Direction of Brian Zanier)
• 6:30 PM: Dean Haddad Trio
• 8:00 PM: Buffoon Trio
• 9:30 PM: Russ Macklem Detroit Quintet

Saturday, June 27th

• 5:00 PM: Assumption High School Jazz Ensembles (Under the Direction of Brian Zanier)
• 6:30 PM: Austin DiPietro Quartet
• 8:00 PM: Kevin Grenier Trio
• 9:30 PM: Trumpet Summit Featuring Dwight Adams, Aidan Lombard, and Russ Macklem