International Jazz Day has cancelled the events it had planned for April 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but jazz musicians around the world will still be marking the occasion with virtual events to stream online that day.
This year’s edition of International Jazz Day is hosted by Cape Town, South Africa, the first African city to host the celebration. However, its All-Star Global Concert and other events will not take place as originally scheduled.
The decision “reflects the high priority given to the health and safety of all those involved by UNESCO, its partner the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, and local organizing partners.”
But International Jazz Day will still be celebrated around the world, with at-home performances and video drop-ins to be streamed online at jazzday.com.
Jazz musicians and their fans are invited to share videos and audio recordings, with organizers asking participants to “devise creative ways to celebrate jazz and its unifying message” while continuing to minimize their exposure to the coronavirus.
On April 30, organizers will also be posting previous editions of the All-Star Global Concert, sharing webcasts of exclusive content, and hosting an online forum with acclaimed jazz artists.
Every year, International Jazz Day brings together countries and communities worldwide to celebrate jazz and highlight the music’s role in encouraging dialogue, combating discrimination and promoting human dignity. It has become a global movement reaching billions of people annually.
International Jazz Day marks the culmination of Jazz Appreciation Month, which draws public attention to jazz and its extraordinary heritage. The United Nations and UNESCO now both recognize International Jazz Day on their official calendars.
For more information, visit jazzday.com.