April 30 was International Jazz Day. UNESCO first declared it in 2011 to unite people all over the world through jazz. Jazz keyboard player Herbie Hancock originated the idea when he was serving as Goodwill Ambassador. This year’s Jazz Day was launched in Melbourne, Australia.
Click the caption above to watch the 2019 International Jazz Day All Star Global Concert from Melbourne (1:40:32)
About 200 countries have participated in Jazz Day. The event was previously hosted in such cities as Paris, New Orleans, New York, Istanbul, Osaka, Washington, D.C., Havana, St. Petersburg and Sydney.
Jazz means so much to the world just like the Olympics and the World Cup!
I appreciate the purpose of this event. Herbie Hancock said, “Jazz is a universal language for peace.” Japan has the largest jazz community in the world. Japan knows the power of jazz. Its political, economic and social recovery after WWII was not possible without jazz!
This Day is intended to raise awareness of the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for empathy, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people. Many governments, civil society organizations, educational institutions, and private citizens currently engaged in the promotion of jazz music will embrace the opportunity to foster greater appreciation not only for the music but also for the contribution it can make to building more inclusive societies.
- Jazz breaks down barriers and creates opportunities for mutual understanding and tolerance;
- Jazz is a vector of freedom of expression;
- Jazz reduces tensions between individuals, groups, and communities;
- Jazz encourages artistic innovation, improvisation, new forms of expression, and inclusion of traditional music forms into new ones;
- Jazz stimulates intercultural dialogue and empowers young people from marginalized societies.