Jazz Appreciation Month wraps up once again with International Jazz Day on April 30, and the annual All-Star Global Concert. This year's host city for the concert is Havana, Cuba.
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 diplomatic role of uniting people from all corners of the globe.
The International Jazz Day website has listings for jazz events all over the world on April 30, and the Global Concert in Havana will be live-streamed on the site.
Herbie Hancock, UNESCO goodwill ambassador for intercultural dialogue, said: "Afro-Cuban jazz and its rich history have played a pivotal role in the evolution and enrichment of the entire jazz genre. The incomparable trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, along with beloved Cuban musicians Mario Bauzá, Machito and Chano Pozo, infused American jazz with Afro-Cuban rhythms to create a brand new energetic sound that defined modern music. We are so pleased that Havana, Cuba, will serve as the global host city for International Jazz Day 2017."
The all-stars of the Global Concert include Herbie Hancock and Chucho Valdes as the artistic directors, with performances by Regina Carter, Richard Bona, Ivan Lins, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and many more jazz artists from around the world.
Celebrate International Jazz Day and Afro-Cuban jazz this weekend, starting with Jazz Caliente!
Jazz Caliente airs Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. The program is hosted by Robin Lloyd and produced by KNKX Public Radio.
