Hugh Masekela is set to join this year’s all-star line-up at the 2016 International Jazz Day in Washington DC. The celebration will be hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House on April 30th. Other artists on the line-up include Herbie Hancock, Aretha Franklin, Buddy Guy, Dianne Reeves and Wayne Shorter. For more information about the event visit Jazzday.
The Values that Jazz Embodies as outlined by UNESCO:
Jazz connects people, cultures and the world.
Jazz tells a story of freedom that all people share.
Born in the United States, jazz is owned by the world. Jazz makes the most of the
world’s diversity, effortlessly crossing borders and bringing people together.
From its roots in slavery, jazz has raised a passionate voice against all forms
of oppression. It speaks a language of freedom, tolerance and human dignity.Through jazz, millions of people have sung and still sing today their desire forof oppression. It speaks a language of freedom that is meaningful to all cultures.From its roots in slavery, jazz has raised a passionate voice against all formsworld’s diversity, effortlessly crossing borders and bringing people together.Born in the United States, jazz is owned by the world. Jazz makes the most of theJazz tells a story of freedom that all people share.Jazz connects people, cultures and the world.
“Jazz contains something fundamental to the human experience; it speaks directly to
our very being without the need for translation, without regard for age, gender, race
or status…this is something we should celebrate!”
James Morrison
“Jazz Day is now the premier global musical endeavor that fosters and strengthens
communication and collaboration among groups who would not ordinarily unite. Jazz
Day celebrates our treasured art form, illuminates just how much we all have in
common, exemplifies cooperation, and enhances the peace-making process.”
Herbie Hancock
“Jazz music is a universal language that transcends cultures, politics, race, religion,
age and gender. In creative music there is a wonderful opportunity for a level of
communication that goes beyond than the language of words. When people
improvise music together they enter that wonderful moment of creating in the here
and now. When an audience is truly listening and participating in that moment, it can
be an exalted experience that together, we wish to feel again and again.”
Eliane Elias
