International Jazz Day
"Jazz has been a force for positive social transformation throughout its history, and it remains so today. This is why UNESCO created International Jazz Day."
Irina Bokova, message
For the 1st time, today April 30 2012, UNESCO and the world celebrate International Jazz Day.
In November 2011, during the UNESCO General Conference, the international community proclaimed 30 April as International Jazz Day.
The Day is intended to raise awareness in the international community of the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people.
Why International Jazz Day?
- Jazz breaks down barriers and creates opportunities for mutual understanding and tolerance;
- Jazz is a vector of freedom of expression;
- Jazz is a symbol of unity and peace;
- Jazz reduces tensions between individuals, groups, and communities;
- Jazz fosters gender equality;
- Jazz reinforces the role youth play for social change;
- Jazz encourages artistic innovation, improvisation, new forms of expression, and inclusion of traditional music forms into new ones;
- Jazz stimulates intercultural dialogue and empowers young people from marginalized societies.
Herbie Hancock UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
Finally, Vocational Jazz Education has a voice! Musicians, educators, students of schools of Jazz from around the world can celebrate the recognition of the Music they teach and learn.
They will embrace the opportunity to foster greater appreciation not only for the music but also for the contribution it can make to building more inclusive societies.
UNESCO invite students and schools from around the world to join in the celebration of "International Jazz Day" and play "Watermelon Man" (watch the video below) along with Herbie Hancock live from Congo Square, New Orleans at 8:15am EDT on April 30, 2012.
Sheet music and an MP3 is available to download on JazzDay.com. You are invited to upload your students' performances of “Watermelon Man” to youtube.com and title them: “International Jazz Day – Watermelon Man“.
Tags for videos: JazzDay, April30, IntlJazzDay, HerbieHancock. Let us know the YouTube link, the musicians, where you performed and for how many people on this form. We’ll post your videos and your photos on JazzDay.com.
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
If you are thinking to perform on Jazz Day, visit JazzDay.com/resources and let know the link and the names of the musicians and where you perform and for how many people on this form.
Your videos and your photos will be posted right on JazzDay.com
Other resources:
I am huge fan of Jazz! So you will find some interesting posts about Jazz musicians. Here are some of them:
Esperanza Spalding
Herbie Hancock: Imagine
Mario Laginha, a jazz tribute to Chopin
Maria Schneider & Matosinhos Jazz Orchestra
Mario Laginha & Maria João
Norah Jones... Featuring
I am huge fan of Jazz! So you will find some interesting posts about Jazz musicians. Here are some of them:
Esperanza Spalding
Herbie Hancock: Imagine
Mario Laginha, a jazz tribute to Chopin
Maria Schneider & Matosinhos Jazz Orchestra
Mario Laginha & Maria João
Norah Jones... Featuring
Other thamatic posts about Jazz are published on my blog The Digital Teacher G-Souto. Please use the search box.
"It speaks a language of freedom that is meaningful to all cultures. (...) Jazz connects people, cultures and the world. This is our message."
G-Souto
30.04.2012
Copyright © 2012G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®
International Jazz Day & Vocational Education by G-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
credits: Video: Edmonds Community College Jazz Band jams on Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man" for International Jazz Day 2012.