Renowned first-generation Filipino-American saxophonist and composer Jon Irabagon, winner of the Institute’s 2008 International Saxophone Competition, is set to star in an innovative new performance film released by Columbus, Ohio, nonprofit A Tribe for Jazz.
LEGACY: Jon Irabagon, a Solo Tenor Odyssey showcases Irabagon performing his original compositions entirely unaccompanied in a dramatic black box theater environment. Included in the 40-minute concert is career-spanning repertoire featuring two previously unreleased compositions, “Greebles” and “Alliance.” Directed by Julian Melanson and produced by A Tribe for Jazz Executive Director Stephanie Matthews, the film will also shine a spotlight on Columbus institutions including the Columbus Dance Theatre, Garden Manor House, Le Meridien Columbus, Columbus Athletic Club, Lincoln Social and The Guild House.
At the Institute’s 2008 Saxophone Competition, Irabagon was awarded first-place honors by a distinguished panel of judges including Jane Ira Bloom, Jimmy Heath, Greg Osby, David Sánchez and Institute Trustee Wayne Shorter. Performing alongside GRAMMY and Tony Award-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, who currently serves as an Institute Trustee, the Chicago-born saxophonist wowed the audience with his memorable interpretation of the classic jazz standard “Just Friends.”
“The Competition was a chance to meet many of my colleagues and heroes,” says Irabagon. “The world needs more of that. Mr. Shorter in particular was adamant about me finding my own way and direction in this music, and that is the biggest, most important thing I took from that weekend. I wouldn’t be as confident or undeterred with my own music without having been a part of the Competition.”
2008 International Saxophone Competition winner Jon Irabagon performs alongside Institute Trustees Wayne Shorter and Jimmy Heath at the Institute’s 25th Anniversary Celebration at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, September 12, 2011. Photo by Chip Latshaw.
Since his Competition win, Irabagon has repeatedly topped leading critics’ polls, including the DownBeat Rising Star categories for both alto and tenor saxophone, and was named one of New York City’s 25 Jazz Icons by Time Out New York. His collaborations with an array of artists and groups from across the jazz spectrum, including Dave Douglas, Barry Altschul, Rudy Royston, Mary Halvorson, Matt Mitchell and Mostly Other People Do the Killing — with which he recorded Blue in 2014, a note-for-note recreation of Miles Davis’ vaunted release Kind of Blue — have gained him wide recognition. Irabagon launched his own imprint, Irabbagast Records, in 2012, and has released 12 full-length albums to date.
Today, Irabagon is a leading voice on the saxophone whose musical vision reflects both his improvisational and compositional mastery and a deep commitment to his Filipino heritage. In 2014, he was awarded the Pamana ng Pilipino Presidential Award for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas, recognizing his contribution to the perception of Filipinos worldwide.
About A Tribe for Jazz
Formed by jazz and arts supporter Bruce Halliburton, A Tribe for Jazz is a nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve the legacy and advance the future of jazz through visual storytelling, live and virtual performances, education and community engagement. The nonprofit says LEGACY is “the first of many special, transformative moments to follow from A Tribe for Jazz, as it weaves stories and themes from varied angles, fused with unexpected and dynamic visuals, to present a portrait of jazz as the captivating, multidimensional art form that it is.”
Among the myriad challenges COVID-19 has created for students and teachers, music education has proven a tough nut to crack. This is particularly true for jazz, with its emphasis on interaction, musical conversation and spontaneity – all rendered decidedly less practical by the constraints of virtual learning. Students like Elder Gindroz, a pianist, longtime participant in the Institute’s Los Angeles Jazz in the Classroom program and member of the Class of 2021 spent much of the last academic year finding creative ways to stay engaged when the bandstand was off limits.
“It was very disappointing to not be able to play live with my school ensembles and combos this past year,” says Gindroz, echoing similar sentiments from young jazz musicians across the country. Still, the talented pianist turned his long hours at home into an opportunity for growth, from brushing up on fundamentals (“practicing, transcribing, listening to a lot of music”) to acquiring new competencies that will serve him long after the pandemic has faded. “The newest skill I learned,” he notes, “was how to better navigate the process of making recordings at home.”
This expertise was on full display at the Institute’s Jazz in the Classroom Virtual Spring Concert, presented in June 2021 with the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Beyond the Bell Branch Music and Entertainment Education. Gindroz joined his classmates from the top combo, led by Jazz Director Philip Topping, at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts at Hamilton High School for a virtual rendition of Cedar Walton’s “Ugetsu.”
Elder Gindroz, top left, joined fellow students from the Academy of Music and Performing Arts at Hamilton High School (clockwise from top right) Osmar Barrios on drums, Brennan Sakata on bass, Kobie Dozier on tenor saxophone and Declan Houlihan on vibraphone for the Institute’s 2021 Jazz in the Classroom Virtual Spring Concert.
Students performed under the direction of Institute teaching artist Kevin Kanner, a Hamilton alum. As has become a familiar practice over the past 18 months, individual parts were recorded asynchronously at home, and then stylishly edited together by the students. Though none of the players were in the same room, the performance sounded crisp and lively, with swinging solos by Gindroz on piano and bandmates Kobie Dozier on tenor saxophone and Brennan Sakata on bass.
The masterful recording is especially impressive considering that Gindroz, along with fellow recent Hamilton graduates Osmar Barrios and Declan Houlihan, began his jazz journey just five years ago as a Jazz in the Classroom student at Walter Reed Middle School.
All three students credit their time in Institute programs with helping them develop a deep-seated passion for jazz. Notes Barrios, a drummer, “it was amazing to be able to work with extremely talented musicians like Dontae Winslow and Kevin Kanner. They are incredible musicians and human beings. In the sessions that I would get with the school combos I would learn a lot about jazz; not only how to swing but also where jazz comes from. The Institute is a great opportunity to grow musically and as a person.”
For Houlihan, a vibraphonist, “the Herbie Hancock Institute was a very significant and essential part of my jazz education, starting in middle school up until my senior year of high school. I feel very lucky and privileged to have been shown the foundations of bebop, how to transcribe, how to listen to my bandmates and play with them–the truest essence of the music.”
“I was excited to see three students who were previously in the Jazz in the Classroom program at Reed continue with the program at Hamilton,” says Reed Middle School Orchestra and Jazz Director Stewart Rosen. “It is truly amazing to see how far they were able to take jazz in their four years in high school. I am so proud of them, and I know they all have so much to look forward to after graduating.”
Gindroz, Barrios and Houlihan now join more than 80 other Institute students across the country who are slated to start their collegiate studies in the fall.
Many members of the Class of 2021 will be entering professional music programs at prestigious institutions such as the Berklee College of Music, Juilliard, New England Conservatory of Music, and Manhattan School of Music. Others plan to pursue studies in areas as diverse as marine biology, physics, business and pre-med at schools including New York University, Stanford, the University of Miami, the University of Michigan, Vanderbilt, California State University, Northridge and many more. Three students will matriculate at UCLA, recently ranked one of the top 15 universities in the world by Times Higher Education and the home of the Institute’s master’s degree program, the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.
Adding to the impressive slate of college destinations is the fact that 76% of graduating seniors secured significant scholarships, with most covering at least 25% of tuition. This financial support is crucial in enabling many Jazz in the Classroom graduates to attend college. As part of their participation in the Institute’s program, students have access to experienced mentors and teaching staff who provide vital input on scholarship applications and even advocate directly for students.
Jazz in the Classroom has been a core program of the Institute since 1989, introducing millions of young people to jazz and its rich history through weekly music instruction and instrument training sessions. Like all Institute programs, Jazz in the Classroom is offered entirely free of charge to participating students, families, schools and communities. In addition to regular instruction in major cities like Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., the program reaches tens of thousands of students every year through master classes and assembly programs in urban, rural and remote areas of the country. Leading jazz musicians and educators teach and serve as role models, helping students enhance their creativity and self-esteem.
Beyond enhancing students’ understanding of and appreciation for jazz, programs like Jazz in the Classroom have well-documented related benefits, especially for students from low-income or otherwise disadvantaged backgrounds. Through intensive mentorship and regular technical instruction, students are given the tools to unlock their potential in addition to their musical ability – preparing them for success in academics, in the workplace and in later life. As a recent report by the San Francisco Conservatory of Music notes, “The benefits of music training reach far beyond the domain of music-making. Children perform better on IQ tests and enjoy enhanced abilities in other domains, such as mathematics, the ability to focus, make decisions, and hold multiple ideas in their minds at one time.” In addition, music programs “improve school attendance and graduation rates.”
The Institute is proud that 100% of Jazz in the Classroom students graduate from high school, with more than 95% going on to college.
“Having the teaching artists from the Institute work side-by-side with our schools has encouraged participants to continue studying and performing jazz, but more importantly has taught them how to use the creative energy that jazz intensifies in all parts of their lives. The students and teachers involved in the program continue to sing (and play) the praises.”
For Gindroz, Jazz in the Classroom has played an important role in helping him expand his horizons both on and off the bandstand. The 18-year-old, who will matriculate at California State University, Northridge in the fall, gave his first public jazz performance as an eighth-grader at an Institute concert, and just a few years later was selected to compose and perform an original piece in honor of jazz legend Herbie Hancock.
“Jazz opens up your mind,” says Gindroz, “and provides you with a better understanding and appreciation for many other genres of music. Unlike classical piano, which is more about learning and perfecting pieces exactly how they are written, jazz requires you to delve deeper into yourself to improvise and have your own voice. I believe this process builds confidence and originality that will help in many different aspects of life.”
Asked about the role of jazz in helping him navigate the challenges of the pandemic, Gindroz simply replied, “Having jazz as a creative outlet during that difficult time was how I kept a positive outlook on life.”
Through an inspired collaboration with 14-time GRAMMY and Academy Award-winning pianist and composer Herbie Hancock along with an award-winning team of animators from Atomic Kid Studios, the Young Academic Research Group (YAM) at the Touro Graduate School of Education in New York City has released the first in a series of animated videos showcasing innovative methods for educating kindergarteners.
Titled “Treble Leads the Class,” the newly-released video is part of a supplemental curriculum developed by YAM that uses the power of music to help kindergarteners learn about numeracy, problem-solving and computational thinking. YAM is an early phase education and research program led by professors Susan Courey, Timothy Bellavia and Roslyn Haber and funded through a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.
In “Treble Leads the Class,” characters Treble Clef and Four-Four Signature overcome Treble’s nerves and anxiety while leading the class in a lesson on notes, rhythm and the music making process.
Hancock, whose commitment to educating young musicians through his work as Chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz led to appointments as an adjunct professor at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, narrates the entire video. “I’m thrilled to be able to create new ways for children to learn about music,” said Hancock. “I hope this video and the others to come will help instill a sense of fun and musical inspiration for kids around the world.”
“Treble Leads the Class” tells the tale of characters Treble Clef and his best friend Four-Four Signature. Treble, like many young children, battles nerves and anxiety when talking with others. When he’s chosen to lead his classmates during a day at school, Treble is challenged with facing those fears. Thankfully, his friend Four-Four is there to keep him calm. Much of the video’s dialogue relies on the language of music to enlighten kids about notes, rhythm and the process of making music.
“I’m thrilled to be able to create new ways for children to learn about music. I hope this video and the others to come will help instill a sense of fun and musical inspiration for kids around the world.”
– Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock
The story for “Treble Leads the Class” was co-written by Courey and Bellavia. “This exciting program integrates mathematics, music, and computational thinking in an engaging way for kindergarteners,” says Courey. “Young children will learn rhythm and music notation, while fun and creative activities will provide structured opportunities for students to connect math skills to music and computational thinking at an early age.”
All characters in the video are voiced by CJ Emmons, a singer/songwriter/producer who also serves as the principal singer on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” The video also features original compositions from Nick Vayenas, a graduate of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance master’s program.
When Courey and Bellavia saw the animated version of their story and characters for the first time, Bellavia said, “I feel like I am watching the birth of my children. Amazing!”
Building on the efforts of the talented team of educators, musicians and artists, “Treble Leads the Class” and its characters were brought to life by animators, editors and producers at the award-winning Atomic Kid Studios in Milford, Conn.
“Developing distinct personalities for each note while maintaining the integrity of each symbol was an exciting challenge,” says Stephen Barrante, co-founder of Atomic Kid Studios’ animation and video production studio with Ben Miller. “We made very conscious decisions about how each note looks and acts, and while notes in sheet music are written in black and white, these notes have color and expression. The concept of diversity was important in their representation.”
Barrante has an especially personal connection to jazz and this project: “My father was a college professor and jazz pianist and exposed me at a young age to artists and legends like Herbie Hancock,” says Barrante. “Working with YAM and Mr. Hancock has been an honor and a career highlight for all of us at Atomic Kid.”
In honor of the collaboration with Hancock, “Treble Leads the Class” premiered during this year’s International Jazz Day. Launched in 2011 by UNESCO at Hancock’s urging, International Jazz Day is celebrated worldwide every year on April 30. This year marked the event’s 10th anniversary and featured a virtual All-Star Global Concert. The concert was hosted by Academy Award-winning actor Michael Douglas from the United Nations and featured performances by Hancock and dozens of other artists.
Officially designated by the United Nations and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and recognized on the official calendars of both the UN and UNESCO, International Jazz Day highlights jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is the lead nonprofit organization charged with planning, promoting and producing this annual celebration.
The Institute’s Board of Trustees and staff are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Institute Trustee and longtime friend of the Institute Lynda Thomas. A steadfast lover and supporter of the arts, Thomas was passionate about increasing access to meaningful arts education and mentorship experiences–especially among the less fortunate and those from marginalized communities. During her time on the Institute’s Board, her vision and guidance proved truly inspiring, and were instrumental in helping the organization navigate a period of unprecedented success and expansion. Our thoughts are with Thomas’ family and loved ones during this difficult time.
Lynda Thomas passed away peacefully at the home she shared with her beloved fiancé, Stuart Subotnick. She is survived by her sister Liz, her brothers Louis, Larry, & Leslie, her daughters Aimée & Angélique, and her son Lee.
Born on March 25, 1950 to Louis & Dorothy Levy, Lynda grew up in New Orleans. She was a Senior Manager/CPA/consultant at Deloitte Haskins and Sells in London. She also traveled extensively with the Pacific Council on International Policy, and the National Democratic Institute. Over the past several years, these visits included North Korea, South Sudan, Myanmar, Cuba, Argentina, Poland, Germany, and the Balkans. Lynda served as an international election monitor in Tunisia for parliamentary elections in 2011, and for their first post-revolution direct presidential election in 2014.
Committed to helping children, Lynda volunteered as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate to promote the best interests of abused and neglected youth. Lynda also had a passion for the arts, and was on the boards of the Bowers Museum, Backhausdance, and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz–previously known as the Thelonious Monk Institute–an organization with worldwide educational programs including International Jazz Day.
Lynda had a warm, generous, and kind spirit, and was deeply loved by all those close to her. A memorial service will be held at the Frank Campbell Funeral Chapel on June 12 at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity of your choice that best represents her dedication to arts education and international justice.
With online and distance learning still the norm due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in early 2021 the Institute began offering a virtual workshop series aimed at students in the Global Jazz Studies department at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. The workshops, which will continue through the end of the 2020-21 academic year, feature some of the most innovative voices in jazz discussing key elements of the music. Topics have included composition, improvisation, phrase development and even tips on managing finances as a professional musician.
Each two-hour workshop is fully participatory, with the guest artists inviting students to ask questions, showcase their compositions, and add their own experiences and perspectives to help drive the discussion. Attendance is open to all students in the UCLA Global Jazz Studies degree path, plus faculty and students from other UCLA departments.
Sessions cover a range of theoretical concepts, but the overwhelming focus is on real-world applications that will help prepare students to become professional musicians. Saxophonist Walter Smith III, an Institute of Jazz Performance graduate who currently serves as Chair of the Woodwind Department at the Berklee College of Music, showed students how to develop musically interesting phrases using simple rhythmic exercises. Saxophonist, composer and recent Institute of Jazz Performance graduate Lenard Simpson discussed daily methods for strengthening writing skills in his composition workshop, even taking participants through the process of composing a melody collaboratively, via Zoom.
In his music business and finance seminar titled “Musician Money Matters,” guitarist John Storie of actor/pianist Jeff Goldblum’s renowned Mildred Snitzer Orchestra detailed key strategies for achieving financial health as a working musician, covering topics from choosing the right bank to buying insurance. As part of a master class on hip-hop production, Institute West Coast Director Daniel Seeff, an in-demand session musician and composer in his own right, shared practical lessons that jazz musicians can learn from the hip-hop industry. For “Strategies for Today’s Studio Musician,” trumpeter and Institute of Jazz Performance Class of 2001 graduate Bryan Lipps shared practical rules of etiquette for professional musicians seeking to establish successful studio careers.
Saxophonist Walter Smith III demonstrates an exercise for developing command of rhythm as part of his virtual master class for UCLA Global Jazz Studies.
Titled “How to Hear Deeper,” the most recent session in the series featured renowned vocalist Michael Mayo, widely regarded as one of the most exciting and creative up-and-coming vocalists in music today.
The Global Jazz Studies workshop series continues the Institute’s longstanding commitment to preserving, perpetuating and expanding jazz by training the next generation of jazz musicians. The initiative builds on nearly a decade of partnership with UCLA, where the Institute’s acclaimed, two-year college program is in residence. Known as the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, the college program is currently on hiatus due to the pandemic and expected to return for the 2021-22 academic year.
About the College Program
The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA is a tuition-free, two-year program that accepts one ensemble of musicians for each class. All of the students receive full scholarships, as well as stipends to cover their monthly living expenses. The students study both individually and as a small group, receiving personal mentoring, ensemble coaching, and lectures on the jazz tradition. They are encouraged to experiment in expanding jazz in new directions through their compositions and performances. The program is in residence at the prestigious UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.
About The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is the first – and only – school of music in the University of California system. The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music trains and educates students across Western classical and world music traditions, transcending traditional academic boundaries by balancing performance mastery and composition with cutting-edge scholarship. Rigorous and improvisational, The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music encourages and embraces the exploration of music in all its contemporary and historical diversity. Its 500+ undergraduate and graduate students have a multitude of performance opportunities and access to exceptional faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, world-class archives and instrument collections, and dedicated degree programs and centers of study.
The Institute congratulates vocalist, pianist, composer and actor Tyra “Tyralucia” Dennis on her recent selection as the newest morning host on KJAZZ 88.1, the premier jazz and blues radio station in Los Angeles and the #1 full-time jazz and blues station in the country.
While a student at George Washington Preparatory High School in Los Angeles, Dennis participated in the Institute’s Jazz in the Classroomand BeBop to Hip-Hopmusic education programs, where she studied with renowned artists including DJ Khalil, Dontae Winslow and Yo-Yo. While in BeBop to Hip-Hop, Dennis performed alongside Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock and other acclaimed jazz musicians as part of a BET television documentary on the program.
Drawing on the fundamentals she learned from Institute programs, Dennis brings a wealth of experience as a musician and performer to her work as a member of the on-air staff at KJAZZ. She has performed with Chaka Khan, Wayne Shorter, George Bohannon, Stevie Wonder, Ali Woodson of the Temptations, Jackson Browne, Ray Charles and Slash from Guns N’ Roses, to name a few. She appeared at the Playboy Jazz Festival and in the feature film Dreamgirls, starring Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson and Jamie Foxx.
Dennis can be heard on KJAZZ every Monday through Friday from 6-8 am Pacific, joining a lauded roster of hosts and presenters that includes Mitch Glickman, David Benoit, Gordon Goodwin, John Pizzarelli, and Steve Tyrell. Institute West Coast Director Daniel Seeff hosts the weekly KJAZZ program ExcursionsRadio, billed as the world’s only jazz and hip-hop radio show.
About KJAZZ
Widely regarded as Los Angeles’ top jazz and blues radio station, KJAZZ has been broadcasting jazz since 1981. Programmed and supported by the California State University, Long Beach Research Foundation in partnership with Global Jazz, Inc., the station is committed to the promotion and preservation of the rich cultural heritage of jazz and blues through engaging, inspiring and informative programming that satisfies the most dedicated music aficionados, while attracting newcomers of all ages.
About Jazz in the Classroom
The Institute’s worldwide, highly regarded Jazz in the Classroom programs help elementary, middle, high school and college students develop an understanding of and appreciation for jazz music. The initiative shares the positive aspects of jazz with young people who would not otherwise have opportunities to learn about this great national treasure. Through Jazz in the Classroom, the Institute has reached millions of students, teachers, and families, many of whom are experiencing jazz for the first time.
About BeBop to Hip-Hop
BeBop to Hip-Hop is one of the nation’s most innovative public school music education programs. Begun in 2004 in Los Angeles, it brings together jazz and hip-hop students under the direction of professional jazz musicians and hip-hop artists to create original work that incorporates elements of both genres. Aspiring young artists study the latest recording technologies and software, musical dynamics of both jazz and hip-hop, and the historical influence of jazz on hip-hop. They also learn how to produce a professional-level hip-hop track from the ground up – all while absorbing and building upon the rich traditions of Black American music. Jazz students learn to produce cutting-edge sounds, construct beats, and incorporate the hip-hop groove into jazz, while hip-hop students learn how to create and record in a live environment and gain technical skills in music.
Hosted by Michael Douglas at United Nations Headquarters in New York, Concert Caps Extraordinary 10th Anniversary Celebration Spanning More than 190 Countries
Washington, D.C. – With more than 190 countries participating, the International Jazz Day 10th Anniversary celebration concluded with a thrilling All-Star Global Concert reaching millions worldwide. Hosted by Michael Douglas and led by artistic director Herbie Hancock and musical director John Beasley, the concert brought together renowned artists from over 20 countries, and was made possible by Lead Partner Toyota, with United Airlines serving as Airline Partner.
Legendary jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and acclaimed vocalist Andra Day perform as part of the International Jazz Day 2021 All-Star Global Concert. (Steve Mundinger for Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz)
The 2021 Global Concert featured memorable moments illustrating the unifying power of jazz. From New York, vocalist Veronica Swift and trumpeter Ingrid Jensen opened the program with “Sing,” an uplifting tribute to the positive change that music can bring to the world. Other standout performances included pianist and composer Jacob Collier in London, Beninese songstress Angélique Kidjo in Paris, Japanese pianist Junko Onishi in Tokyo, Ivan Lins in Rio De Janeiro and vocalist/trumpeter Mandisi Dyantyis in Cape Town. Capping the remarkable presentation from Los Angeles was a sensational interpretation of “God Bless The Child” by vocalist Andra Day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3421WDpq7eM
Anchored by Academy Award winner Michael Douglas from UN Headquarters in New York, the 2021 concert showcased jazz as a truly global art form. As United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres noted, “Ten years ago, we launched the very first International Jazz Day in the United Nations General Assembly Hall at the initiative of UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. With every passing year, this has been a joyous celebration – not only of music, but also of freedom, diversity and human dignity. These are the values the United Nations works to protect and promote around the world.”
UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz presented free educational and outreach programming throughout the day. In one of the most anticipated events, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock engaged in a moving dialogue on the history and legacy of International Jazz Day.
Celebrated with thousands of concerts and jazz-related programming around the globe each year on April 30, International Jazz Day brings together countries and communities on all seven continents to honor the international art form of jazz, highlighting its important role in encouraging dialogue, combating discrimination and promoting human dignity.
Streaming live on April 30 beginning at 5 pm EDT/4 pm CDT, the 2021 All-Star Global Concert will feature an historic lineup of performances by some of the world’s greatest jazz masters. For the first time ever, in honor of the 10th Anniversary of International Jazz Day, the 2021 Concert showcases artists joining from an array of locations around the world–demonstrating the global reach and appeal of this special music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3421WDpq7eM
Herbie Hancock will serve as Artistic Director, and John Beasley will serve as Musical Director. In New York, artists including Melissa Aldana (Chile), Massimo Biolcati (Italy), A Bu (China), Cyrus Chestnut, Amina Figarova (Azerbaijan), Roberta Gambarini (Italy), Kenny Garrett, James Genus, Stefon Harris, Ingrid Jensen (Canada), Joe Lovano, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Antonio Sánchez (Mexico) and Veronica Swift will deliver a rousing series of performances.
In Los Angeles, Herbie Hancock will be joined by Alex Acuña (Peru), Justo Almario (Colombia), Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jonathan Butler (South Africa), Mahmoud Chouki (Morocco), Gerald Clayton, Andra Day, Romero Lubambo (Brazil), Marcus Miller, Dianne Reeves, Francisco Torres (Mexico), Justin Tyson and Ben Williams.
Leading performances from their home countries will be Igor Butman in Moscow (Russia), Jacob Collier in London (United Kingdom), Mandisi Dyantyis in Cape Town (South Africa), Ivan Lins in Rio De Janeiro (Brazil), John McLaughlin in Monaco, James Morrison in Mt. Gambier (Australia) and Junko Onishi in Tokyo (Japan), among others. Renowned Beninese vocalist Angélique Kidjo will contribute a special performance from UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
The concert will be presented as a live webcast via YouTube, Facebook, jazzday.com, UN Web TV, UNESCO and U.S. State Department outlets. Tune in right here to watch the stream!
Happy International Jazz Day! Throughout the day today, April 30, tune in for an exciting series of free virtual education programs in honor of Jazz Day 2021 featuring Herbie Hancock, Kris Bowers,Billy Childs,Antonio Sánchez, Terri Lyne Carrington, Linda May Han Oh, Lionel Loueke and other acclaimed artists.
Virtual programs include (all times in US EDT):
7:00 am – Atelier virtuel avec Lionel Loueke (FR)
9:00 am – Jazz for Kids! with Dee Dee Bridgewater (EN)
10:30 am – Taller virtual con Antonio Sánchez (ES)
11:00 am – Billy Childs: Composition Master Class (EN)
11:30 am – Master Class with Linda May Han Oh (EN)
12:00 pm – Jazz on the Screen: A Conversation on Film Scoring with Herbie Hancock and Kris Bowers | Moderated by Nate Chinen of NPR (EN)
1:00 pm – Jazz & Hip-Hop with Terri Lyne Carrington and DJ Khalil (EN)
1:30 pm – What Is Jazz? An Introduction with JB Dyas, PhD
2:00 pm – Jazz Day: A Decade of Inspiration | A conversation with Herbie Hancock and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay
We’re also excited to launch the first in a new series of animations to teach children basic concepts in music and math, featuring none other than Herbie Hancock! Click here to watch “Treble Leads the Class.”
2021 Virtual Education Program
7:00 am Atelier Virtuel avec Lionel Loueke
9:00 am Jazz for Kids! with Dee Dee Bridgewater
10:30 am Taller virtual con Antonio Sánchez
11:00 am Billy Childs: Composition Master Class
11:30 am Master Class with Linda May Han Oh
12:00 pm Jazz on the Screen: A Conversation on Film Scoring with Herbie Hancock & Kris Bowers
1:00 pm Jazz & Hip Hop with Terri Lyne Carrington and DJ Khalil
1:30 pm What Is Jazz? An Introduction with JB Dyas, PhD
2:00 pm Jazz Day: A Decade of Inspiration | A Conversation with Herbie Hancock & UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay
All-Star Global Concert will be hosted by Michael Douglas and feature dozens of world-renowned artists including Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Andra Day, Dee Dee Bridgewater, John McLaughlin, Dianne Reeves and Joe Lovano
Concert followed by two-hour retrospective PBS Special airing nationwide at 9/8c
Toyota to serve as 2021 Lead Partner
Washington, D.C.–The 10th Anniversary of International Jazz Day, the world’s largest annual celebration of jazz, will take place on April 30th, with thousands of worldwide programs culminating in a spectacular All-Star Global Concert from NewYork, LosAngeles, UNESCOHeadquartersinParis, CapeTown, Moscow, Tokyo, RiodeJaneiro and other cities around the globe. Hosted by multi-Academy Award winner MichaelDouglas from United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Global Concert will feature performances from an array of jazz icons representing more than 20 countries. Following this historic program, viewers across the United States can tune in to the International Jazz Day 10th Anniversary Celebration on PBS for an unforgettable look back at the past decade of International Jazz Day celebrations, made possible by Toyota, the 2021 Lead Partner.
Premiering nationally at 9/8c on Friday evening, April 30th (check local PBS listings), the International Jazz Day 10th Anniversary Celebration is a two-hour retrospective that highlights performances by an extraordinary array of music icons over the last 10 years. The special takes a poignant look back at unforgettable moments from Jazz Day concerts at the United Nations, Istanbul, Osaka, Paris, Washington, D.C., Havana, St. Petersburg, New Orleans, and Melbourne. Viewers will enjoy legendary artists such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Chaka Khan, Annie Lennox, Sting, Christian McBride, Wynton Marsalis, and Hugh Masekela, along with hosts Morgan Freeman, Will Smith and Helen Mirren, among many others, paying heartfelt tribute to the treasured values and unifying heritage of jazz.
Earlier in the day, at 5 pm EDT/2 pm PDT, the 2021 All-Star Global Concert will thrill audiences with an historic lineup of performances by some of the world’s greatest jazz masters. Herbie Hancock will serve as Artistic Director, and John Beasley will serve as Musical Director. In New York, artists including Melissa Aldana (Chile), Massimo Biolcati (Italy), A Bu (China), Cyrus Chestnut, Amina Figarova (Azerbaijan), Roberta Gambarini (Italy), Kenny Garrett, James Genus, Stefon Harris, Ingrid Jensen (Canada), Joe Lovano, RudreshMahanthappa, AntonioSánchez (Mexico) and VeronicaSwift will deliver a rousing series of performances. In Los Angeles, HerbieHancock will be joined by AlexAcuña (Peru), JustoAlmario (Colombia), DeeDeeBridgewater, JonathanButler (South Africa), MahmoudChouki (Morocco), GeraldClayton, AndraDay, RomeroLubambo (Brazil), Marcus Miller, DianneReeves, FranciscoTorres (Mexico), JustinTyson and BenWilliams. Leading performances from their home countries will be IgorButman in Moscow (Russia), JacobCollier in London (United Kingdom), MandisiDyantyis in Cape Town (South Africa), IvanLins in Rio De Janeiro (Brazil), JohnMcLaughlin in Monaco, JamesMorrison in Mt. Gambier (Australia) and JunkoOnishi in Tokyo (Japan), among others. Renowned Beninese vocalist AngéliqueKidjo will contribute a special performance from UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The concert will be presented as a live webcast via YouTube, Facebook, jazzday.com, UN Web TV, UNESCO and U.S. State Department outlets.
“Our International Jazz Day community has displayed incredible resilience, creativity, ingenuity and compassion throughout the immense challenges of the past year,” said Herbie Hancock. “While the global pandemic continues to make life difficult for so many around the world, the example of organizers from Nepal to Mexico to Cameroon inspires us to greet this historic 10th Anniversary milestone with joy, courage and hope for the future of jazz.”
The All-Star Global Concert serves as the official culmination of International Jazz Day, capping a program of performances, educational workshops, community service projects, panel discussions, jam sessions, radio and television broadcasts, virtual gatherings and more – all following recommended public health guidelines – taking place in all 50 U.S. states and more than 190 countries on all seven continents. A complete listing of events planned for International Jazz Day 2021 can be found at jazzday.com/events. As part of the lead-up to the concert, the Institute and UNESCO will offer a series of free virtual educational programs, including master classes with renowned jazz musicians such as Antonio Sánchez, Linda Oh and Lionel Loueke; a children’s workshop with vocalist and Institute Trustee Dee Dee Bridgewater; and illuminating panel discussions featuring UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock, drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, pianist and composer Kris Bowers, hip-hop producer DJ Khalil and others. The 2021 virtual education program will be streamed on jazzday.com.
“UNESCO created International Jazz Day to share the values of a deeply meaningful musical genre,” explained UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. “Today we need jazz more than ever. We need its values, based on human dignity and the fight against racism and all forms of oppression. It is so much more than music, jazz is the kind of bridge builder we need in the world today.”
Established by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2011 at the initiative of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, and recognized by the United Nations General Assembly, International Jazz Day brings together countries and communities worldwide every April 30th to celebrate jazz and highlight the music’s important role in encouraging dialogue, combating discrimination and promoting human dignity. International Jazz Day has become a global movement reaching more than two billion people annually on all seven continents, including Antarctica, through education and community outreach, performances, radio, television and streaming, along with electronic, print and social media. The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is UNESCO’s official partner in the organization and promotion of International Jazz Day.
Air transportation and support for artists and educators is provided by United Airlines, the airline partner of International Jazz Day.
