[1 May 2012 Update: The video for the April 30th, 2012 Concert at the United Nations has been uploaded to this post. Please scroll down to enjoy almost 3 additional hours of music!]
The first ever International Jazz Day will be celebrated around the world on Monday, 30 April 2012. Three star-studded concerts have been planned for the auspicious event!
International Jazz Day Launch Concert at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France on 27 April 2012:
Vocalist China Moses' enthusiastic introduction started off the evening in Paris. The Madame Director General of UNESCO welcomed the audience in French and English. Another speech came from someone that presented greetings from President Barack Obama. During Herbie Hancock's presentation, I found out that Google and Microsoft were among the numerous sponsors for International Jazz Day (don't mind me, that's just a random comment). The concert starts about 21 minutes into the video. Check out the entire two hour and forty-five minute video below:
From the Press Release
Sunrise Concert:
The inaugural International Jazz Day was celebrated by millions worldwide on Monday, April 30, and began with an all-star sunrise concert in New Orleans' Congo Square, the birthplace of jazz and culminated with a sunset concert at the United Nations. Presented by UNESCO in partnership with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, International Jazz Day will encourage and highlight intercultural dialogue and understanding through jazz, America's greatest contribution to the world of music.
Herbie Hancock was joined in New Orleans by jazz luminaries Terence Blanchard, Ellis Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Kermit Ruffins, Treme Brass Band, and Jeff 'Tain' Watts and many more.
The sunrise concert from Congo Square was open to the public and began at 7am (8am EDT). It was streamed live at Jazz Day and Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.
[Update 1 May 2012 - the code to embed this video isn't available yet.]
Sunset Concert:
International Jazz Day culminated at the United Nations with an all-star sunset concert. Herbie Hancock was joined by: Tony Bennett, Terence Blanchard, Richard Bona (Cameroon), Dee Dee Bridgewater, Candido, Robert Cray, Eli Degibri (Israel), Jack DeJohnette, Sheila E., Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath, Zakir Hussain (India), Chaka Khan, Angelique Kidjo (Benin), Lang Lang (China), Romero Lubambo (Brazil), Shankar Mahadevan (India), Wynton Marsalis, Hugh Masekela (South Africa), Christian McBride, Danilo Pérez, Dianne Reeves, Bobby Sanabria, Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Hiromi (Japan), and others.
George Duke served as Musical Director. Confirmed Co-Hosts included Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman and Quincy Jones.
The concert at the United Nations General Assembly Hall began at 7:30pm (Eastern Daylight Savings Time) and video was streamed live at Jazz Day and Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. However, if you missed it, I have all 2 hours and 47 minutes of it below - YAY!
Enjoy!