Jazz as a genre has been in the centre of powerful historical moments. Jazz has found itself as the mouthpiece of peoples that have been dispossessed and left destitute, or as a grand depiction of love and all that its about. In honour of this, the day is marked through conversation, educational programmes and some really smooth sounds. The host city for #JazzDay2018 is Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The 2018 edition of International Jazz Day will include major events in Saint Petersburg this year’s Global Host City, and over 190 countries around the world.
According to UNESCO's website, Jazz has been played in Saint Petersburg since 1927, when Russia’s First Concert Jazz Band was founded, at the Saint Petersburg State Capella, followed by the creation of the first jazz collective in 1929. It is also the only city in Russia to have a Jazz Philharmonic Hall, founded in 1989.
A series of educational and outreach programmes will take place in the Global Host City, where the Day will culminate in an extraordinary all-star concert at the historic Mariinsky Theatre, an event which will be streamed live worldwide.
A snippet of the performances expected at the International Jazz Day celebration happening at the Eyethu Lifestyle Center in Mofolo, Soweto.
Partners on all continents will celebrate jazz as a universal language of peace.The International Jazz Day was established by UNESCO in coordination with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in 2011, recognizing the role of jazz in promoting freedom, creativity and intercultural dialogue, uniting people from all corners of the globe.
In SA, events will be taking place in Gugulethu, Soweto, KZN, Cape Town CBD and Braamfontein to name a few. You can find details about the line ups here.
Here's a bit more on what the events have shaped up to be in various cities across the world:
Happy International #JazzDay!
Let's celebrate today #jazz's power to promote dialogue among cultures! https://t.co/451l6LsANm pic.twitter.com/LNJc1CnvCA
— UNESCO (@UNESCO) April 30, 2018
Your International Jazz Day co-Artistic Directors, @herbiehancock and @ButmanIgor performed "Maiden Voyage" at our welcoming reception in Saint Petersburg today! You can watch live on https://t.co/5cH6P13AkK tomorrow starting at 4pm (NY). This event is made possible by @toyota. pic.twitter.com/NVTab7MKK4
— InternationalJazzDay (@IntlJazzDay) April 29, 2018
Pleased to be representing @usembassymanila as an official sponsor of the @IntlJazzDay Festival in Manila! Here is a brief highlight of the program with Israeli artist @AmirGwirtzman pic.twitter.com/HvxP3pZNG6
— Carolyn Glassman (@USEmbManilaPAO) April 29, 2018
Look out for @ThandiNtuli @MRGOLDISME and other young stars performing @HisandHersJams Soweto International Jazz Day on Mon Apr 30 https://t.co/X6lo7MvMEl pic.twitter.com/34NiXOduUW
— Johannesburg In Your Pocket 📚 (@JohannesburgIYP) April 28, 2018