On April 30th is International Jazz Day! – International what?
Today is International Jazz Day! – International what?
In November 2011 the UNESCO General Conference proclaimed 30 April as “International
Jazz Day”. This International Day brings together 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 important international art form is celebrated
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 for social change.
International Jazz Day is chaired and led by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and
legendary jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, who serves as a UNESCO Goodwill
Ambassador and Chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz.
Now, this raises naturally the question: What am I to do with this piece of information? –
Answer: It’s quite simple – celebrate this day! There are zillions of ways how to celebrate.
Here comes just a tiny selection:
- Go to a jazz concert or even better,
- Give one yourself,
- Listen to your favourite recording of your favourite jazz artist,
- Play a jazz piece just to yourself,
- Get together with a bunch of people and play a piece together,
- Create an item or a tiny video for your blog on a jazz topic,
- Enjoy it!