International Jazz Day celebrations to be hosted by President Obama
The fifth International Jazz Day returns on April 30th. This year’s annual Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert will take place in the iconic surroundings of The White House.
International Jazz Day returns on April 30th for the fifth year celebrating the music throughout the world. This year’s annual Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert will take place in the iconic surroundings of The White House in Washington D.C and is to be hosted by none other than President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. It will also be broadcast as a one-hour primetime ABC television special and streamed on the United Nations, UNESCO, U.S. State Department and White House websites. This was officially announced by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock.
Over the four previous years the gala concerts have included eye watering line-ups of some of the greatest jazz musicians in the world and this year is no different. Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Sting, Buddy Guy, Al Jarreau, Hugh Masekela, Dee Dee Bridgewater, John McLaughlin, Jamie Cullum, young Indonesian prodigy Joey Alexander, Terence Blanchard, Terri Lyne Carrington, Kurt Elling, Marcus Miller, Aretha Franklin, Robert Glasper, Lionel Loueke, Dave Holland, Zakir Hussain, Diana Krall, Christian McBride, Pat Metheny, James Morrison, Danilo Pérez, Till Brönner, Rebirth Brass Band, Dianne Reeves, Lee Ritenour, David Sanchez, Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding, Trombone Shorty, Chucho Valdés, Bobby Watson, Kris Bowers, Ben Williams and more, all feature under the direction of John Beasley.
Partners for International Jazz Day are the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz who will be presentent a free education project including online content, apps and other engaging initiatives to teach numeracy, science, technology and engineering for creative thought.
See more on International Jazz Day here.