International Jazz Day To Be Celebrated with Concerts Around the World

News, Herbie Hancock, Chucho Valdés, Regina Carter, Esperanza Spalding, Ambrose Akinmusire, Kurt Elling, Kenny Garrett

By DownBeat I Apr. 28, 2017

Herbie Hancock (left) and Igor Butman shake hands after their performance during the International Jazz Day 2015 Global Concert at UNESCO on April 30, 2015, in Paris, France.
(Photo: Kristy Sparow/Getty Images for Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz)

In countries throughout the world, libraries, schools, universities, performing arts venues, community centers, artists and arts organizations of all disciplines will be celebrating International Jazz Day through presentations, concerts and other jazz-focused programs.

Special events will be held this weekend in several U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C.; New Orleans; Newark, New Jersey; and San Jose, California.

Washington, D.C.

In Washington, the DC Jazz Lobby, a subset of the Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation, will celebrate International Jazz Day on April 30 by honoring six individuals at the annual DC Jazz Leadership & Service Awards. These awards recognize individuals in the jazz community who have worked to promote, support and uplift members of the D.C. jazz scene. The event is free and open to the public.

This year’s honorees are Nasar Abadey, Judith Korey, Dick Smith, Ellen Williams Carter, Dave Yarobough and Sandra Butler Truesdale, with a ceremonial resolution being presented by Robert White.

“I want to thank the DC Jazz Lobby and its founding members, as I am truly honored and privileged to receive this recognition,” said drummer and educator Nasar Abadey, who is a mentor to many area musicians. “It gives me great pleasure to share this acknowledgement with such a stellar group of jazz musicians, aficionados and activists who celebrate the legacy of this great music.”

The DC Jazz Leadership & Service Awards will be presented from 6 to 8 p.m. at Busboys and Poets (Takoma location, 235 Carrol St. NW in Washington, D.C.).

New Orleans

In New Orleans, singer Stephanie Jordan will perform on April 28 and April 29 as part of the Jazz Live Hyatt series, held at the 8 Block Kitchen & Bar on Level 3 of the Hyatt Regency (601 Loyola Ave.). Show time is 7–10 p.m. There is no cover charge for the performance and reservations are not required.

The April 29 concert at the Hyatt will follow Jordan’s appearance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, where she will perform in the Zatarain’s/WWOZ Jazz Tent at 3 p.m.

“I am excited to take residency at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans to present my music, and I am equally pleased that the Hyatt has agreed to join in the recognition of International Jazz Day,” Jordan said. “With a dearth of venues where America’s most original art form can be displayed, the Hyatt is to be commended for helping to keep this music form alive.”

Newark, New Jersey

In Newark, several events will be held on April 29 to celebrate International Jazz Day.

In a special partnership with the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Rutgers University and radio station WBGO ( 88.3 FM), NJPAC Arts Education’s James Moody Jazz Orchestra—along with the Jazz House Big Band and Lima Interscolar Big Band—will perform a diverse program that will range from big band music from the swing era to contemporary jazz-rock fusion.

The free event will be hosted by WBGO’s Sheila Anderson. The concert will have an international flavor, thanks to the Lima Interscolar Big Band from Peru, directed by Ruben Romero.

The festivities will include more than five hours of free events held on April 29 at Express Newark, a new art incubator in the Hahne’s Building (50 Halsey St. in Newark).

The programming includes a jazz gallery tour from 5 to 6 p.m. A guided tour begins at 5:15 p.m. The student big bands will perform from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be a student jam session at Clem’s Place from 8 to 9 p.m., followed by an open jam from 9 to 10:30 p.m.

San Jose, California

In California, the organization San Jose Jazz, in partnership with the City of San Jose and San José State University, will present International Jazz Day programming on April 30 at the Hammer Theatre and Plaza. Free events include a jazz documentary, two jazz concerts and other activities, all taking place from noon to 8 p.m.

Festivities kick off on the SJZ Boom Box Stage on the Paseo de San Antonio outside the Hammer Theatre Center with a hip-hop dance show and clinic by FutureArtsNow! (12–1:30 p.m.); performances by SJZ Progressions Ensemble (1:45–2:15 p.m.); SJZ High School All Stars U19s (2:30–3:15 p.m.) and Howard Wiley & Extra Nappy (3:30–4:45 p.m.).

Inside the Hammer Theatre, programming begins at 3 p.m. with a special screening of 1959: The Year That Changed Jazz. This documentary explores select musicians’ achievements in a social, political and musical context.

The film will be followed by two evening concerts. Drummer Will Calhoun will perform a tribute to jazz icon Elvin Jones from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Grammy winner Dr. Aaron Lington will direct the San José State University Jazz Orchestra with vocalist Tiffany Austin in a concert that will run from 7 to 8 p.m.

Hammer Theatre Center is located at 101 Paseo De San Antonio in San Jose.

For more information about the International Jazz Day live stream from Havana, and to register for events on the official website, visit jazzday.com or unesco.org/jazzday. DB