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THE 13th annual International Jazz Day concluded with the excitement of the historic Global All-Star Concert at the new Tangier Palace of Arts and Culture. Hosted by world-renowned actor Jeremy Irons, the concert featured world-renowned artists.
These include the accomplished Gnawa musician, Abdellah El Gourd (Morocco); jazz icon, Herbie Hancock; with Claudia Acuña (Chile); Ambrose Akinmusire (U.S.); John Beasley (U.S.); Lakecia Benjamin (U.S.); Richard Bona (Cameroon); Richard Bona (Cameroon); Dee Dee Bridgewater (U.S.); Moreira Chonguiça (Mozambique); Shemekia Copeland (U.S.); Kurt Elling (U.S.); Antonio Faraò (Italy); Melody Gardot (U.S.); Jazzmeia Horn (U.S.); JK Kim (Republic of Korea);
The Global All-Star Concert opened with a special performance of “Welcome to Country” by renowned musician Dar Gnawa, followed by Dee Dee Bridgewater’s spectacular rendition of Chick Corea’s “Spain,” which highlights the cultural ties between Morocco and Spain.
Jazzmeia Horn joins Ambrose Akinmusire and Billy Childs in a swinging performance of “Free Your Mind. Richard Bona looked stunning as he sang his song “Esoka Bulu (Night Whisper)”. TK Blue and Gnawa icon Abdellah El Gourd pay homage to Moroccan Gnawa music and American jazz with a rendition of Randy Weston’s “Blue Moses.
Melody Gardot and Philippe Powell perform the beautiful song “This Foolish Heart Could Love You”. Femi Kuti echoes “One People, One World” through his passionate Afro-Beat performance. Kurt Elling performed Wayne Shorter’s “Speak No Evil” as a tribute to him. Shemekia Copeland and Joe Louis Walker deliver the attention-grabbing blues tune “Nobody But You”.
The 2024 International Jazz Day celebration will feature thousands of performances, music classes, jam sessions, educational programs, community service and outreach initiatives in more than 190 countries, culminating in the Global Concert, which is free to watch at jazzday.com.
The Doris Duke Foundation is a major supporter of International Jazz Day 2024, in addition to the generous support of GRoW @Annenberg. United, the Global Airline Partner of International Jazz Day, is providing air transportation and other support for artists and educators.
Held each year on April 30, International Jazz Day brings together countries and peoples around the world to promote peace, intercultural dialogue, diversity and respect for human dignity. International Jazz Day was established by UNESCO Member States at the initiative of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, who led this annual celebration with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
Azoulay said, as the legendary American singer Nina Simone so aptly said, jazz is not just music. Jazz is not just musical notation; jazz is ‘a way of life… a way of being human, a way of thinking.
Hancock added, as we celebrate Jazz Day, let’s reaffirm our commitment to the enduring legacy of jazz and its ability to uplift, inspire and unite us all. [sources/photo special]
