Herbie Hancock Names April 30th International Jazz Day

While April 30th is Father's Day in Germany, Teacher's Day in Paraguay, and Children's Day in Mexico, now it will also be known as International Jazz Day all over the world thanks to Herbie Hancock. The renowned jazz pianist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador chose the date because it's the last day of Jazz Appreciation Month.
"I'm really excited about International Jazz Day because so many artists from various countries and genres have a connection to jazz and will be able to honor this music that has had a profound effect on them," Herbie said.
"I hope that this day spreads the joy of spontaneous creation that exists in this music," he continued. "My feeling is that jazz will be getting its just due."
The official kick-off will be on April 27th with an all-day program at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris that will include master classes, round table discussions, improvisational workshops and performances by artists from various countries. An evening concert will feature Herbie, Dee Dee Bridgewater, South Africa's Hugh Masekela and Brazil's Tania Maria, among others.
April 30th celebrations will begin with Herbie performing in a sunrise concert at New Orleans' Congo Square, the birthplace of jazz, which will take place right after the first weekend of the city's huge Jazz and Heritage Festival. Plus, he plans to perform his funky standard "Watermelon Man" with high school students from around the world via the internet!
Then Herbie will fly to New York for a sunset all-star jazz concert for the international diplomatic corps at the U.N. General Assembly Hall to be hosted by Morgan Freeman, Robert DeNiro, Michael Douglas and Quincy Jones. The concert will be streamed live via the U.N. and UNESCO websites.
"This is really about the international diplomatic aspect of jazz and how it has throughout a major part of its history been a major force in bringing people of various countries and cultures together," Herbie said.
Here's the man himself gettin' funky with "Watermelon Man."
Source: Billboard.biz, Photo: Wikipedia
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