Update: See 2 Of 3 UNESCO Int'l Jazz Day Concerts Here! (April 27 & 30, 2012)

[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:

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Worldwide Programs & Events Planned for Inaugural International Jazz Day - April 30, 2012!

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock are pleased to announce International Jazz Day to be held April 30 of every year. In partnership with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, the initiative - Hancock's first major program introduced as a Goodwill Ambassador - will encourage and highlight intercultural dialogue and understanding through America's greatest contribution to the world of music. International Jazz Day will foster and stimulate the teaching of jazz education with a particular emphasis placed on children from disadvantaged communities in classrooms around the world and will be offered to all 195 member states of UNESCO.

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