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Today marks both the conclusion of Jazz Appreciation Month’s 30-day run and International Jazz Day, an annual global affair that UNESCO launched in 2011. It’s celebrated in 190 countries, representing the planet’s seven continents.
The impetus for creating the annual April 30 event reads: “UNESCO believes in the power of Jazz as a force for peace, dialogue and mutual understanding and this is why the UNESCO General Conference proclaimed 30 April as ‘International Jazz Day.’”
To underscore its point, UNESCO created the dedicated jazzday.com website where participating entities, within countries listed alphabetically, can feature their activities. As one might expect, the country with the most events taking place is the United States.
While my innate and initial curiosity quickly drew me to what individual organizations around the country were planning, and which artists/ensembles would be playing where, I couldn’t help but see if there would be activity within war-torn Ukraine.
Like many Eastern European countries, Ukraine — as does Russia, of course — usually has a thriving jazz scene. I know many artists who have performed in both countries; I know artists who have befriended musicians in both countries and not only performed abroad with them, but also here in the United States.
Saxophonist Igor Butman, who has brought large ensembles to the United States and performed here with American jazz musicians as special guests, immediately comes to mind.
I’m happy to report both Ukrainian and Russian jazz artists are taking UNESCO’s “philosophical approach” to heart and will prevail.
While there may be additional goings-on, in Ukraine the following events are listed — some in person, some online — which means all of us can “tune in.” An FYI: Ukraine, in its entirety, and Moscow are eight hours ahead of us and the International Jazz Day event listings use a 24-hour clock.
Ukraine on International Jazz Day
There is one in-person event listed in Odessa; the following take place in Kyiv, online for all to listen.
Jazz in the Bombshelter, online. Location: Kyiv. Time: noon CDT.
Event description: “It seems that jazz has been out of fashion in Ukraine for the last two years in a row. But it is not so. Concert activity in Ukraine is developing … in bomb shelters. Our children practice jazz in shelters, people go to concerts in the subway. So, we want to show the whole world how jazz sounds in Ukraine today. Not only jazz standards, but Ukrainian music, Ukrainian composers in jazz performance.”
Gavryk / Mendelenko Quartet – International Jazz Day, online. Location: Kyiv. Presenter: 32JazzClub. Time: 10 a.m. CDT. Artists: Darina Gavrik, Misha Mendelenko, Sergii Kluenko, Oleg Markov.
Leopolis Jazz Fest charity online broadcast, online. Location: Kyiv. Organizer(s): LLC “Leopolis Jazz.” Time: noon CDT.
Event description: “We invite to join the charity online broadcast of the concert of Lars Danielsson Group Liberetto III & INSO-Lviv. The concert was performed in 2018 in Lviv at Leopolis Jazz Fest, one of the biggest jazz festivals in Ukraine.”
Nonstop Music Show “SMART DANCE MUSIC DJAZZ”, online. Location: Kyiv. Organizer(s): The State Academic Orchestra / Alex Fokin RadioBand. Time: 9 a.m. CDT
Event description: “The project name is formed from two components, DJ + JAZZ, because the unique music style of the project organically combines reinterpretation of the best instrumental and vocal worksof the world jazz heritage and the latest trends in modern electronic music.”
The premiere of the “JAZZ IS A CHANCE” — a new hymn to Great Jazz, online. Location: Kyiv. Organizer(s): The State Academic Orchestra / Alex Fokin RadioBand. Time: 4 a.m. CDT.
Event description: “Jazz Is A Chance is a new anthem of the Jazz. The song is specially written and performed by the Alex Fokin RadioBand Orchestra from Ukraine for the annual International Jazz Day.”
Russia on International Jazz Day
As for Russian IJD events here are a few listings:
Colisium International Music Forum – Jazz panel, in person and online. Location: Saint Petersburg. Organizer(s): Colisium International Music Forum. Time: The event took place Thursday and Friday at the hotel St. Petersburg. At press time, the online link was still live.
Event description: “This is a special jazz immersion held for members of the music industry and lovers of jazz culture. The main goal this year is to provide an opportunity to create business ideas or projects, and implement them in the foreseeable future.”
Release of International Jazz Day 2023: Russia compilation, online. Location: Moscow. Organizer(s): Label Content Chaos. Time: Originally took place on Saturday, 4 p.m. CDT. At press time, the online link was still live.
Jazz Idea Traditional Jazz Day Concert , in person. Location: Stupino. Time: 10 a.m. CDT.
Event description: “Jazz Idea band started doing this in 2015, and it continues year after year a good tradition. The band invites everyone who loves jazz to celebrate international jazz day 2023!”
Other events to pay your attention
Depending on your perspective, the world remains in a terrible place. Death, destruction and just run-of-the-mill chaos seems to be rampant. The most recent example: Sudan. Nonetheless, at least one organization posted an event being broadcast on radio today at 6 p.m. Sudanese time, which makes it 11 a.m. CDT.
IJD SUDAN GROUP , online. Location: Khartoum.
Event description: “The Sudan Jazz Group are UNESCO, WFP FLOCK, Capital 91.6 FM, CDC, KAS, and friends.”
For those of us who believe in the power of jazz — its truly democratic principles, its ability to bring people together regardless of background, regardless of political and social distance and unrest — International Jazz Day, produced in partnership between UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, represents a world-wide celebration of what is good, honest and forthright in the world.
Simultaneous to events taking place on every continent, IJD’s apex is its Global Concert, that brings together a multinational “corporation” of jazz artists who perform in unity under the Global Concert umbrella. This year, PBS again broadcasts the event.
If you miss it, not to worry, fortunately it will be re-broadcast on a number of occasions and available as well on UNESCO’s and other websites.
On that note — here’s wishing everyone a Happy IJD. May the jazz be with the human race.
Jon W. Poses is executive director of the “We Always Swing” Jazz Series. Reach him at jazznbsbl@socket.net.
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