Jazz Up Your Day

“Jazz has always been about bringing people together, breaking barriers, and inspiring creativity across cultures. International Jazz Day reminds us that music has the power to transcend borders, foster dialogue, and spark joy and hope.”- Herbie Hancock. Although the history of Jazz music is complex and often debated, historians for the most part agree on the geography of Jazz origins. Jazz started as an uniquely American sound, forged in the melting pot of cultures in the South, particularly in New Orleans in Louisiana. The port city was a blend of Creole culture and African traditions, peppered with European influences. Geographical and Cultural Origins According to Suemedha Sood, jazz started around 1819 in Congo Square, an outdoor space in New Orleans where slaves would congregate on Sundays when they did not have to work. According to the Ken Burns documentary Jazz, the slaves would sing, play music and dance, swaying back and forth to the songs of their home countries. Meanwhile, in New Orleans theatres, the stages were overtaken by racist minstrel shows, in which white performers sang and danced in blackface to upbeat tunes. Sood states that when the war ended in 1865, all of these musical styles blended to form a new genre called ragtime, which syncopated the rhythms of previous genres and made songs that everyone wanted to dance to. Around the same time, former slaves from other parts of the American south brought the blues to Louisiana, combining spiritual music from the Baptist church with secular lyrics that told the painful stories of slaves’ lives. Buddy Bolden, an African-American bandleader called “the first man of jazz” by historian Donald M Marquis, was at the forefront of the jazz movement. Bolden played the cornet in dance halls during the day and in the red light district of New Orleans’ Storyville at night. Although no recordings of Buddy Bolden exist today, his music is said to have incorporated the improvisation characteristic of jazz. History of Jazz Day In November 2011, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. The first International Jazz Day was celebrated on April 30, 2012. International Jazz Day is observed in more than 190 countries globally. The 2025 edition of International Jazz Day, organized by UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, is being celebrated on 30 April in more than 190 countries. The Global Host for this year's celebration is the city of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Hancock Institute of Jazz states that International Jazz Day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts all over the world to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots, future and impact; raise awareness of the need for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding; and reinforce international cooperation and communication. Each year on April 30, this international art form is recognized for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures and respect for human rights and human dignity; eradicating discrimination; promoting freedom of expression; fostering gender equality; and reinforcing the role of youth in enacting social change. International Jazz Day is a global celebration of jazz music, its history, and its impact on cultures around the world. This day highlights the importance of jazz as a powerful tool for promoting peace, dialogue, and mutual understanding. Jazz, with its roots in African American communities, has grown into a universal language that brings people together, transcending borders, and fostering creativity and freedom of expression. International Jazz Day raises awareness in the international community of the virtues of jazz as a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people, as well as an educational tool. Many governments, civil society organizations, educational institutions, and private citizens currently engage in the promotion of jazz music and embrace the opportunity to foster greater appreciation, not only for the music, but also for the contribution it can make to build more inclusive societies. Because of jazz’s capacity to highlight and play a diplomatic role of uniting people, International Jazz Day is listed on the United Nations and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) calendars, with jazz luminary Herbie Hancock as its ambassador. Caribbean Influence on Jazz. Caribbean music has roots in African, Europeans and indigenous cultures, reflecting the region’s complex history of slavery, colonization and migration. The Caribbean islands served as a vital conduit for African rhythms and musical forms, which became fundamental to the development of jazz, especially in New Orleans, known as America's Caribbean city. While the Caribbean has served as a medium for jazz, many in the Caribbean have never attended a jazz festival. A number of reasons can be provided regarding the decline of jazz in the local entertainment space. One which stands true is the lack of entertainment space especially in rural Jamaica. Several outstanding Caribbean jazz musicians have made significant contributions to the genre. Prominent figures include Chucho Valdés from Cuba, Monty Alexander from Jamaica, and Dizzy Reece from Jamaica. Other notable names include Joe Harriott, Sonny Bradshaw, Myrna Hague and Ernest Ranglin, also from Jamaica. In addition, Trinidad and Tobago's Russ Henderson and Shake Keane from St. Vincent and the Grenadines have also been recognized for their contributions. The Caribbean is one of the most popular regions to host jazz festivals. Among these are: the St. Lucia Jazz Festival. The first and longest running jazz festival, St Lucia attracts top music makers from around the world. Aruba offers the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival which is held for the duration of two days around September or October every year. The tiny island of Tobago plays host to the ‘Tobago Jazz Festival.’ It takes place at various venues across the island and culminates at the open-air beach venue known as the Pigeon Point Heritage Park. While the genre blends the styles of many musical traditions, two key styles of music influenced early jazz: blues and ragtime. Among the legendary figures in the development of this genre of music are: Nina Simone, a pivotal figure in jazz, known for her powerful vocals, piano skills, and activism. She was a significant voice in the Civil Rights Movement, using her music to address racial injustice. Mary Lou Williams, one of the greatest jazz pianists, composers, and arrangers of all time. Louis Armstrong, a world-renowned jazz trumpeter and vocalist who popularized swing. Duke Ellington, a jazz pianist and master composer who brought innovation, flavor, and emotional depth to jazz. Count Basie, a jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer who popularized big band and orchestral jazz. Herbie Hancock is an American jazz musician, bandleader, piano player and composer. In addition to the Global Concert, UNESCO encourages schools, universities, and non-governmental organizations around the world to celebrate International Jazz Day. Performing arts venues, community centers, town squares, parks, libraries, museums, restaurants, clubs, and festivals organize thousands of activities, while public radio and television feature jazz on and around International Jazz Day. On this special day we are all encouraged to spend some time listening to some jazz. In the words of Nina Simone, Jazz is not just music, it is a way of life, it is a way of being, a way of thinking. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #InternationalJazzDay