Shahida Nurullah, Allesandro RotondiWhen Shahida Nurullah and Good Company hit the stage Monday afternoon at the Detroit Jazz Festival, one of her sidemen will be UWindsor guitar student Allesandro Rotondi.

Student guitarist jazzed to join vocalist on festival stage

UWindsor music student Allesandro Rotondi will be in good company when Shahida Nurullah hits the stage Monday at the Detroit Jazz Festival.

Rotondi will play guitar with the vocalist’s backing band, Good Company. Nurullah is a jazz and pop vocal instructor in the School of Creative Arts.

“I am beyond thrilled to be joining Shahida Nurullah and Good Company at this year's Detroit Jazz Festival,” Rotondi says. “I'm ecstatic, grateful, a bit nervous, and overall so thankful that Shahida considered me for this opportunity.”

Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Detroit Jazz Festival is the largest of its kind in the world, presenting free performances on outdoor stages in downtown Detroit. This year’s line-up highlights the Motor City’s jazz culture with more than 20 shows by hometown artists, including Nurullah.

She plans a set featuring songs from the 1960s and 70s that she says, “You haven’t heard in forever. It’s going to be fun!”

Shahida Nurullah and Good Company will perform at 4:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2, on the Wayne State University Pyramid Stage, located in Hart Plaza.

—Susan McKee