International Jazz Day 

By: Caleb Shaulis 

International Jazz Day is meant to celebrate all that jazz symbolizes. Jazz represents tranquility. Why don’t people listen to jazz as much as they did in the 1900’s? 

  International Jazz Day falls on April 30^th. Herbie Hancock a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and Chair of the Herbie Hancock institute of Jazz, leads the event with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.  Almost every place that hosts an International Jazz Day celebration live streams the event. The day was created in 2011 by Hancock and the UN.  

  Jazz was created in the 1800’s in southern African-American communities, due to blues and ragtime. In 1963 Hancock joined up with Miles Davis’ second great quintet where they refine the role of rhythm section. The first ever event held for International Jazz Day was in 2012. Many people consider Jazz as “America’s classical music.” The birth place of Jazz is Congo Square in New Orleans where in 1819 slaves would play “ragtime” on Sundays when they didn’t have work. 

Sounds of Jazz during 1819 consisted of Caribbean music from the West Indies, beats from Africa, and melodies of southern churches. The music called the “Blues” came from spiritual churches and were played with brass instruments.  In the 1890’s, ragtime and the blues were combined to create jazz. American bandleader Buddy Bolden is considered to be the father of Jazz. During the first world war, soldiers were introduced to jazz music. Many people believe that jazz symbolizes peace and unity.  

  Jazz is a combination of different music. National Jazz Day celebrates those who play jazz and lift others spirits in hard times. Jazz should be as popular as it was back then, due to the history it holds and how it was created.  

Citations: npr.org           un.org      nationaltoday.org