International Jazz Day
Sunrise Concert
– April 30, 2012 from
Congo Square, New Orleans
See the Inaugural UNESCO
International Jazz Day
Concerts Here!
(April 30, 2012) #jazzday
Posted onApril 29, 2012 at 11:00 PM
The first ever International Jazz Day will be celebrated around the world on Monday, 30 April 2012. Three star-studded concerts have been planned for the auspicious event!
International Jazz Day Launch Concert at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France on 27 April 2012:
Vocalist China Moses' enthusiastic introduction started off the evening in Paris. The Madame Director General of UNESCO welcomed the audience in French and English. Another speech came from someone that presented greetings from President Barack Obama. During Herbie Hancock's presentation, I found out that Google and Microsoft were among the numerous sponsors for International Jazz Day (don't mind me, that's just a random comment). The concert starts about 21 minutes into the video. Check out the entire two hour and forty-five minute video below:
From the Press Release
Herbie Hancock
Sunrise Concert:
The inaugural International Jazz Day will be celebrated by millions worldwide on Monday, April 30, and will begin with an all-star sunrise concert in New Orleans' Congo Square, the birthplace of jazz and culminate with a sunset concert at the United Nations. Presented by UNESCO in partnership with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, International Jazz Day will encourage and highlight intercultural dialogue and understanding through jazz, America's greatest contribution to the world of music.
Herbie Hancock will be joined in New Orleans by jazz luminaries Terence Blanchard, Ellis Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Kermit Ruffins, Treme Brass Band, and Jeff 'Tain' Watts and many more.
The sunrise concert from Congo Square is open to the public and begins at 7am (8am EDT), and will be video streamed live at Jazz Day and Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.
Sunset Concert:
International Jazz Day culminates at the United Nations with an all-star sunset concert. Joining Herbie Hancock are: Tony Bennett, Terence Blanchard, Richard Bona (Cameroon), Dee Dee Bridgewater, Candido, Robert Cray, Eli Degibri (Israel), Jack DeJohnette, Sheila E., Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath, Zakir Hussain (India), Chaka Khan, Angelique Kidjo (Benin), Lang Lang (China), Romero Lubambo (Brazil), Shankar Mahadevan (India), Wynton Marsalis, Hugh Masekela (South Africa), Christian McBride, Danilo Pérez, Dianne Reeves, Bobby Sanabria, Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Hiromi (Japan), and others.
George Duke will serve as Musical Director. Confirmed Co-Hosts include Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman and Quincy Jones.
The concert at the United Nations General Assembly Hall begins at 7:30pm (Eastern Daylight Savings Time) and will be video streamed live at Jazz Day and Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.
Enjoy!
