April 30 Is International Jazz Day – Remember World’s Greatest Masters

Society » CULTURE | April 30, 2021, Friday // 15:29
Bulgaria: April 30 Is International Jazz Day – Remember World’s Greatest Masters

Each year on April 30, the world celebrates Jazz Day in order to spread awareness for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding. It is celebrated across countries to bring together communities, artists and jazz enthusiasts and to learn more about jazz, its roots, future and impact.

People celebrate jazz to recognize the art form for promoting peace, diversity and dialogue among cultures. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on November 2011 officially designated April 30 as the International Jazz Day.

Jazz Day is chaired and led by UNESCO director general Audrey Azoulay and legendary jazz artist Herbie Hancock. The International Jazz Day is part of Jazz Appreciation Month, which throws focus on jazz heritage and history.

Jazz Day is chaired and led by UNESCO director general Audrey Azoulay and legendary jazz artist Herbie Hancock. The International Jazz Day is part of Jazz Appreciation Month, which throws focus on jazz heritage and history.
The origin
The music genre originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries amongst the African-American communities of New Orleans, with its roots deep in blues and ragtimes. Since then, it has been recognised and celebrated as a musical expression in traditional and classical music by different musicians all across the world.

Jazz music is heavily based on swing, blue notes and complex chords. As the music genre picked up speed and spread across countries, it was adapted in different styles and forms.

Its musical composition and styles have evolved throughout the years as every different performer had his or her own personal interpretation, touch, sound and improvisation to the genre.

The greatest of all
The genre has so far seen many talented artists produce some of the most creative sounds of all time. The genre has also given such some of the greatest jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and more.

Ever since its birth, jazz has been a lot about experimenting and creating songs that are energetic with its own rhythm and style to make you groove over the years ..
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong's ‘Summertime’ is one such song. Originally a creation by George Gershwin, the song could not have found better voices to cover it than the two jazz giants.
Then there's Albert Ayler's 'Music is the Healing Force of the Universe', a song that proudly stands true to the title. The track from the album with the same name came out in 1969 and was written by Ayler's partner, Mary Maria Parks. This was one of the last albums by Ayler before his death in November 1970.

Another greatest hit is 'Body and Soul', written in 1930 by music composition by Johnny Green and lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour and Frank Eyton, the song peacefully leads you to a different era. Several artists have come up with their own rendition of the song, including Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse who performed a duet on March 23, 2011.

The song reached number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of October 1, 2011, making Bennett, 85 at that time, the oldest living artist ever to chart on the Hot 100. This was also the final recording by Winehouse before her death on July 23, 2011. She was 27.

Jazzing it up!
Every year on the occasion of International Jazz Day, activities are held across US were even several musicians come together to perform live for the audience and spread happiness on the musical day. However, keeping in the mind the ongoing situation due to Covid crsis, this year the main concert was held virtually.

The 2021 All-Star Global Concert, which is being held in honour of the 10th Anniversary of International Jazz Day, features an historic lineup of performances by some of the greatest world’s jazz masters.

 

 

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Tags: International Jazz Day, history, greatest jazz masters

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