International Jazz Day 2023: Observed annually on April 30, this day promotes the roots and intercultural influence of jazz. All. That. Jazz. It is regarded by many as “America’s classical music.” In fact, jazz originated in New Orleans over a century ago. Herbie Hancock, a legendary jazz pianist and composer, collaborated with the United Nations in 2011 to establish International Jazz Day. Read on for a musical examination of a uniquely American art form, and be sure to check out our list of four interesting jazz subgenres.
DAY OF INTERNATIONAL JAZZ ACTIVITIES
Consider the greats
Honouring the musicians who helped define the genre is the best way to celebrate International Jazz Day, regardless of whether you are new to jazz or a fan of the classics. Start by exploring the works of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane.
Attend a performance
World-wide concerts are performed to commemorate International Jazz Day. Why not host your own event if none is available nearby? Even registration on the International Jazz Day website is possible.
Take some training
There are learning opportunities everywhere, including on Yelp and on the streets of your neighbourhood. The difficult decision will be which instrument to play!
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4 COOL SUBGENRES OF JAZZ YOU MUST EXPLORE Latin jazz
Latin Jazz substitutes a drum kit with congas, bongos, or timbales to create a Latin American-style rhythm.
Avant-garde Jazz
This subgenre combines avant-garde art musical composition with jazz instruments, with an emphasis on improvisation and experimentation.
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Swing Rhythmically propelled and highly danceable, swing music is characterised by a robust rhythm section. Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole are well-known pop vocalists associated with the swing movement.
Soul Jazz
Soul jazz fuses blues, soul, gospel, and rhythm and blues into music with repetitive rhythms and bluesy harmonies.
WHY WE LOVE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY
It unites cultures
Herbie Hancock desired to honour the diplomatic function of jazz in uniting people from all over the world, and thus International Jazz Day was established. From Argentina to Zambia, countries host jam sessions, music seminars, and concerts, each with its own cultural flavour.
Participation is open to all participants
More than 190 countries hosted events for fans of all talent levels and subgenres in 2017. International Jazz Day focuses heavily on community engagement and education. Thanks to UNESCO, amateurs and professionals have access to courses on blues music composition, Indian rhythms, the mathematics of music, and more.
Premier jazz musicians perform collectively
One city is chosen annually to host the annual Global Host celebration. Everything reaches its climax in an extraordinary performance. A number of the world’s finest jazz musicians, including Esperanza Spalding, Robert Glasper, and Aretha Franklin, have performed at the All-Star Global Concert.
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY DATES
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2023 | April 30 | Sunday |
2024 | April 30 | Tuesday |
2025 | April 30 | Wednesday |
2026 | April 30 | Thursday |
2027 | April 30 | Friday |