Celebrate International Jazz Day 2022 on April 30

April 30 marks International Jazz Day, established in 2012 by UNESCO to promote peace, encourage free speech and support human rights, all through the power of music.

The global celebration was inspired by iconic pianist-composer Herbie Hancock, a UNESCO Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue and chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. Hundreds of events have been scheduled worldwide, including several in Los Angeles and Chicago. Hancock, a Chicago native who made his debut as a teenage soloist at Orchestra Hall, has gone on to perform many times on that stage, most recently through the Symphony Center Presents series.

The virtual concert 

“A Song for Herbie,” presented by UCLA's Herb Alpert Schoo of Music, will honor the many contributions that Hancock has made to jazz and jazz education. Pianists Stuart Elster, Paul Cornish and Elder Gindroz will play original compositions written for Hancock, and will be joined by vocalists Barbara Morrison and Freda Payne, as well as UCLA students Arya Hora and Lauren Brewster. The free event will begin at 7:30 p.m. PDT.

Locally, the Jazz Education Network will present a Mega Ask Me Anything session with artists and educators Tia Fuller, Sean Jones, Sherrie Maricle, Trineice Robinson-Martin and Francisco Torres. The five will appear in simultaneous AMA chats. The free online event, which begins at 3 p.m. CDT, requires registration at this link.

In addition, the Jazz Institute of Chicago and the Fulton Street Collective will celebrate "Chicago's Wide World of Jazz," billed as a 90-minute virtual guided tour, led by Chicago musicians with ties to Chile, Japan, Italy, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. More information about the event will be released soon.

For more about International Jazz Day and the many events planned worldwide, please visit the IJD site.