The fifth International Jazz Day will be celebrated around the world on April 30, with this year’s annual Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert set to take place the night before at the White House in Washington, D.C., hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Irina Bokova and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock made the official announcement today. The White House event will be broadcast as a one-hour primetime ABC television special, Jazz at the White House, on Saturday evening, April 30, and streamed on the United Nations, UNESCO, U.S. State Department and White House websites.
The concert will feature performances by Joey Alexander, Terence Blanchard, Kris Bowers, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Till Brönner, Terri Lyne Carrington, Chick Corea, Jamie Cullum, Kurt Elling, Aretha Franklin, Robert Glasper, Buddy Guy, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, Zakir Hussain, Al Jarreau, Diana Krall, Lionel Loueke, Hugh Masekela, Christian McBride, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Marcus Miller, James Morrison, Danilo Pérez, Rebirth Brass Band, Dianne Reeves, Lee Ritenour, David Sanchez, Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding, Sting, Trombone Shorty, Chucho Valdés, Bobby Watson, Ben Williams and others, with further details to be announced shortly. John Beasley will serve as the evening's Musical Director.
As part of the International Jazz Day worldwide celebration, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, one of the partners presenting the annual event, will, according to a press release, “launch Math, Science & Music, a groundbreaking education platform with free, engaging curricula, games, apps and other online elements that use music as a tool to teach math and science to K-12 and college students. The program will address the growing need for students to gain skills and knowledge in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects and learn to think creatively.”
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