International Jazz Day 2019 Worldwide Celebration Concludes with Extraordinary All-Star Global Concert in Melbourne, Australia
Thousands of Performances and Programs Take Place in 195 Countries on All Continents
Herbie Hancock, Kurt Elling, Somi, Igor Butman, James Morrison, Lizz Wright and Jane Monheit perform during the International Jazz Day 2019 All-Star Global Concert at Hamer Hall on April 30, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz)
Melbourne, Australia, April 30 — Following thousands of jazz events taking place in 195 countries around the world, International Jazz Day 2019 came to a thrilling close this evening in Melbourne, Australia with an extraordinary All-Star Global Concert at the Melbourne Arts Centre's renowned Hamer Hall. Led by artistic co-directors Herbie Hancock (USA) and James Morrison (Australia), and musical director John Beasley (USA), the concert was streamed live by the United Nations and UNESCO and on www.jazzday.com. It featured riveting performances by over 30 international artists: Cieavash Arian (Iran), William Barton (Australia), Brian Blade (USA), A Bu (China), Igor Butman (Russian Federation), Theo Croker (USA), Joey DeFrancesco (USA), Eli Degibri (Israel), Kurt Elling (USA), James Genus (USA), Paul Grabowsky (Australia), Antonio Hart (USA), Matthew Jodrell (Australia), Aditya Kalyanpur (India), Ledisi (USA), Jane Monheit (USA), James Muller (Australia), Eijiro Nakagawa (Japan), Mark Nightingale (United Kingdom), Jeff Parker (USA), Chico Pinheiro (Brazil), Tineke Postma (Netherlands), Eric Reed (USA), Antonio Sánchez (Mexico), Somi (USA), Ben Williams (USA), Lizz Wright (USA) and Tarek Yamani (Lebanon).
The All-Star Global Concert opening performance showcased two of Australia's most beloved musicians: didgeridoo player William Barton and trumpeter James Morrison. Vocalist Jane Monheit later joined forces with Brazilian guitarist/vocalist Chico Pinheiro on Antonio Carlos Jobim's Brazilian jazz classic "Waters of March." Ledisi brought the house down with her spine-tingling vocals on "Try a Little Tenderness." Backing her was a 10-piece band that included a stellar horn section with Theo Croker, Eli Degibri, Matthew Jodrell, Eijiro Nakagawa and Tineke Postma. A Jazz Day tradition, the All-Star Global Concert concluded with the entire cast contributing to a global jazz-inspired rendition of John Lennon's peace anthem, "Imagine."
2019 International Jazz Day Event Map
Featured Organizer
Organizer Lana Sorrento sees International Jazz Day as much more than an opportunity to celebrate great live music. When the photographer, world traveler, charity administrator, producer, author and music lover curated her first Jazz Day event in 2018, she immediately felt part of something universal. Writes Sorrento, “Jazz is the only music form which is not solely from one race or nationality, but rather, it is from a combination of individuals of different races, heritages, and traditions."Read More
2019 Events
- CONCERT “JAZZ IS LOVE & LOVE IS JAZZ… FOR ME “ , Craiova (Romania)
- Sachal Studios Pakistan celebrating International Jazz Day Sachal Studios, Lahore (Pakistan)
- Jazz no Cardosão Armazém Cardosão, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
- Take Center Stage August Wilson Cultural Center, Pittsburgh (United States)
- HIPHOP JAZZ STREET FESTIVAL 2019 KENYA CULTURAL CENTRE, NAIROBI (Kenya)
- Día Internacional del Jazz Alicante Teatro Principal de Alicante, Alicante (Spain)
- Iva Kostić – Georgiana Project , Podgorica (Montenegro)
- Swing Marathon IV , Shkoder (Albania)
- International Jazz Day Concert New England Conservatory, Boston (United States)
- Mini Concert and Jam Session American Embassy School Stein Library, New Delhi (India)
