❝My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.❞ - Maya Angelou
|| WattpadEmpowered is an Ambassador-managed hub with the aim of creating and supporting the c...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
In 2011, after he was designated as UNESCO's Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, Herbie Hancock brought about the idea of creating an international Day to celebrate the diplomatic role of jazz. Later that year, April 30th was the date selected to represent International Jazz Day as "a means to develop and increase intercultural exchanges and understanding between cultures for the purposes of mutual comprehension and tolerance."
The very first International Jazz Day took place in three parts. Herbie Hancock hosted a daylong educational program on April 27th at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Educational events such as lectures and panel discussions took place all around the World Heritage Centre whereas in the evening the guests were treated to a concert with over two dozen musicians. The second part took place in New Orleans on 30th April, hosted by Harry Shearer and consisted of performances by notable musicians. The third part was the sunrise event which took place on the opening weekend of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival with appearances by stars such as Stevie Wonder, Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, and more.
Every year, 200 or more countries participate in International Day with events such as jam sessions, concerts, conferences, workshops, and community gatherings. The official registry of events hosted in honour of this day can be viewed on jazzday.com with notable events from the past six years listed as well.
The last International Jazz Day concert was held in 2019 in Melbourne, Australia with over 30 musicians from various countries. The 2020 celebrations were held virtually due to the pandemic. The tenth anniversary for the International Jazz Day is today, on 30th of April, 2021 and a concert was announced earlier this month with featured artists ranging from Herbie Hancock himself to others such as Andra Day, Dianne Reeves, Joe Lovano, and more.
🌟 Celebrate Jazz Day and listen to some jazz music today, read up on its history and how it brought cultures together.
