PURPOSE: The aims of the Day is to raise awareness in the international community of the virtues of jazz as a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people, as well as an educational tool. 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.
FORUM: The 13th edition of International Jazz Day will focus a Jazz Journey and will be structured around several activities: round table and concerts highlighting cultural heritage and traditions. Each year on 30 April during International Jazz Day; Communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts all over the world to celebrate and learn about the art of jazz, its roots, its future and its impact. This art is recognized for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity, and respect for human rights and human dignity; eradicating discrimination; promoting freedom of expression; fostering gender equality; and reinforcing the role of youth in enacting social change. The 2024 edition will be celebrated in more than 190 countries; UNESCO Director-General and Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock are pleased to announce that the city of Tangier, Morocco will serve as the Global Host and will anchor the International Jazz Day programs around the world. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #Jazzday, #InternationalJazzDay, #30April, #SymbolizingJazz.
EVENTS: on April 30th at 4 pm (EDT) - 1 pm (PDT) - 10 pm (CET); The 2024 All-Star Global Concert will be hosted in Tangier Morrocco. The celebration entailed a 13-year anniversary All-Star Global Concert co-hosted by Herbie Hancock and others. The All-Star Global Concert will be webcast worldwide on jazzday.com, unesco.org and hancockinstitute.org. The four-day celebration in Tangier (April 27-30) will emphasize the city's jazz heritage and highlight cultural and artistic ties between people in Morocco, Europe and Africa at the beautiful, new Palace of Arts and Culture of Tangier” and broadcast to millions of viewers worldwide. The concert will feature performances in several cities simultaneously: from Beijing, Beirut, Casablanca, Johannesburg, Marondera, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Vienna, Fairbanks, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC. Featuring CLAUDIA ACUÑA, AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE, JOHN BEASLEY (MUSICAL DIRECTOR), LAKECIA BENJAMIN, TK BLUE, RICHARD BONA, DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER, BILLY CHILDS, MOREIRA CHONGUIÇA, SHEMEKIA COPELAND, DAR GNAWA, MANDISI DYANTYIS, ABDELLAH EL GOURD, KURT ELLING, ANTONIO FARAÒ, MELODY GARDOT, JAMES GENUS, TERREON GULLY, HERBIE HANCOCK, JAZZMEIA HORN, JEREMY IRONS (HOST), JOHNAYE KENDRICK, JK KIM, RHANI KRIJA, FEMI KUTI, ROMÁN LAJARA, MAGNUS LINDGREN, ROMERO LUBAMBO, MARCUS MILLER, YASUSHI NAKAMURA, PHILIPPE POWELL, SHARP RADWAY, TROY ROBERTS, ANTONIO SERRANO, JALEEL SHAW, JAHARI STAMPLEY, JOE LOUIS WALKER. Stay tuned on YouTube and Facebook!
PODCASTS: Early 1900s: Music historians trace jazz music to early twentieth century New Orleans, where musicians like Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, and Louis Armstrong borrowed heavily from ragtime, blues, and second-line horn sections from parades. Even New Orleans funeral music inspired early jazz musicians. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
Campaign Materials: Let’s Provide a variety of materials for jazz research including books, digitized collection items and free online databases. Symbolizing jazz's continued important role as a force for dialogue and diplomacy. Get the campaign materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
PARTNERSHIPS
Proclaimed at UNESCO in 2011 at the initiative of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, and recognized by the United Nations General Assembly, the celebration of the UNESCO International Jazz Day brings together countries and communities worldwide every year on April 30th. They join forces to celebrate jazz as a universal tool for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity, and respect for human dignity; eradicating discrimination; fostering gender equality; and promoting individual expression. The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is UNESCO’s partner in the organization and promotion of International Jazz Day. The organizers also thank for their support the Doris Duke Foundation, the Ford Foundation and United Airlines.
In the lead-up to the 2023 All-Star Global Concert, a series of free, online education programmes will be presented. An array of acclaimed artist-educators will present a multilingual selection of offerings that will emphasize the richness—and relevance—of jazz to learners at all levels. Programming will be available in Arabic, English, French, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, with topics including music making for kids, improvisation, and the intersection of jazz harmony and diverse international musical traditions.
Participate to the Master classes and educational programs.
Get the complete listing and schedule of education programmes .
The International Day of Jazz is co-organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is a nonprofit education organization with a mission to offer the world’s most promising young musicians college level training by internationally acclaimed jazz masters and to present public school music education programs for young people around the world. The Institute preserves, perpetuates and expands jazz as a global art form, and utilizes jazz as a means to unite people of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities. All of the Institute’s programs are provided free of charge to students, schools and communities worldwide. These programs use jazz as the medium to encourage imaginative thinking, creativity, a positive self-image, and respect for one’s own and others’ cultural heritage.