Is there something more innovative than … jazz ?!? April 30 was declared International Jazz Day by UNESCO in 2011 to celebrate ‘the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people‘. The first annual International Jazz Day was kicked off in Paris by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock. Each year, the All-Star Global Concert brings together acclaimed jazz artists from around the world for a performance spanning styles, cultures, and languages. Given its legendary history as Japan’s ‘jazz mecca’ in the early to mid 1920s, Osaka is an ideal choice to serve this year as the International Jazz Day Global Host City.
The 24 hours celebration is on line webcast available on demand within 4 hours of the original start time that are: New York: 6am | London: 11am | Istanbul: 1pm | Tokyo: 7pm | Sydney: 8pm. International Jazz Day is celebrated with hundreds of events around the world. Here is the full list. Also in Italy with more than 40 concerts. The International JazzDay All-Star Global Concert on April 30, 2014 will feature internationally renowned artists including pianists: Toshiko Akiyoshi, Kris Bowers, John Beasley, Herbie Hancock and Makoto Ozone; vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jonathan Butler, Roberta Gambarini, Lalah Hathaway, Gregory Porter and Oumou Sangaré; trumpeters Theo Croker, Roy Hargrove, Claudio Roditi and Terumasa Hino; bassists James Genus, Marcus Miller and Esperanza Spalding; drummers Terri Lyne Carrington and T.S.Monk; percussionists Pete Escovedo and Sheila E.; saxophonists Kenny Garrett, Courtney Pine, Troy Roberts, Wayne Shorter and Lew Tabackin; trombonist Steve Turre; guitarists Chris Thomas King, Follow the event on
Even today’s musicians know jazz has a rapidly-changing, living, breathing history. In a new video, young Kris Bowers (Thelonious Monk Competition winner) takes a YouTube tour (thanks to Monica Alba for highlighting this) from ragtime and stride through the present day, covering over 40 Tunes (this is the 5th in CDZA‘s The Instrumental Series). Pianist Kris Bowers is one of the newest and brightest lights on the jazz landscape. Schooled in jazz and classical music, raised amid the rap and hip-hop of the 1990s, inspired by the cinematic power of the great film composers of recent decades, Bowers’ sound – though rooted in traditional styles – is open to numerous external influences that keep the music fresh and vibrant for a new century. This rich and eclectic sensibility is evident from the very first notes of Heroes + Misfits, his debut recording on Concord Jazz.
United Nations Postal Administration honours International Jazz Day
The history of jazz piano in 11 minutes ! Featuring: Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, Lil Hardin Amstrong, Count Basie, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Billy Strayhorn, Bud Powell, Art Tatum, Lennie Tristano, Bill Evans, Ahmad Jamal, Dave Brubeck, Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Booker T., Cedar Walton, Professor Longhair, Horace Silver, Nina Simone, Cecil Taylor, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Jimmy Smith, George Duke, Keith Jarrett, Dave Grusin, Patrice Rushen, Mulgrew Miller, Guru, D’Angelo, Brad Mehldau, Jason Moran, Robert Glasper and … Kris Bowers. Here it is
Have a joyful Jazz Day 🙂
the poster in my living room
