Celebration of International Jazz Day – 30 April 2014

Invitation

Dear friends,

We are pleased to invite you to celebrate the third International Jazz Day in your country.

In November 2011, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day in order to highlight jazz and its role in uniting people in all corners of the globe.

International Jazz Day is chaired and led by Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General, and legendary jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, who serves as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue and Chairman of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.

UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock speaks at International Jazz Day 2013

In December 2012, the United Nations General Assembly formally welcomed the decision by the UNESCO General Conference to proclaim April 30 as International Jazz Day. The United Nations and UNESCO now both recognize International Jazz Day on their official calendars.

International Jazz Day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and music fans all over the world to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots, future and impact. By playing, listening to, and learning about jazz and its history as a global art form, participants reaffirm the value of international cooperation and cross-cultural communication.

Each year on April 30, people of all nations have the opportunity to recognize the power of jazz to promote peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity, and respect for human rights and human dignity.

In 2012, International Jazz Day celebrations reached more than 1 billion people around the world. Individuals and organizations in all 196 countries marked the day by organizing public performances, lectures, poetry and book readings, dance recitals, jam sessions, discussions, master classes, university seminars, flash mobs, photo exhibitions, film screenings, and many other events. Thousands shared their experiences online with posts on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. The annual All-Star Global Concert, which features the likes of Herbie Hancock, George Benson, Joss Stone, Esperanza Spalding, Tony Bennett and other world-renowned artists together on one stage, was streamed live on the Internet and broadcast on many public television stations for all to see and hear. Event organizers all over the world celebrated in their own unique way with many streaming the live All-Star Global Concert in their countries.

(from left) Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding, and Milton Nascimento
perform at the 2013 All-Star Global Concert

Jazz is a universal language of peace, and the aim of this day is to connect people across the globe with this language, observing and celebrating intercultural dialogue and understanding. To this end we are currently reaching out to people all over the world to join us in this year’s celebration, whether by a reading of the history of jazz in a classroom, simply playing a jazz song in a cultural gathering, or organizing a jam session in a jazz club. We welcome everyone to celebrate and pay tribute to jazz in any way possible. The objective is to create a global community of people who connect and build peace through jazz, and there is no event too small or too informal.

We invite you and everyone in your community to celebrate International Jazz Day 2014 in your own special way, large or small.

We will include your event and the name and address of your establishment as a representative of your country for International Jazz Day on the UNESCO Website, as well as on the official Jazz Day website. As a participant, you will have special access to screen the All-Star Concert and be recognized as a member of the global network for International Jazz Day.

For ideas on ways to observe the day, and to register your event, please visit jazzday.com or the dedicated UNESCO site (available in multiple languages).

In addition, please feel free to email info@jazzday.com with any questions.

We look forward to hearing from you and for you to be part of this special day.

Cordially,
Mika Shino

Director
International Jazz Day Program and Outreach
Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz
5225 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Suite 605
Washington, DC 20015
Senior Advisor to Herbie Hancock
Hancock Music, ltd
1250 N. Doheney Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90069