Plot Synopsis

International Jazz Day is the one day each year on which jazz is celebrated worldwide, bringing together people of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities in more than 190 countries. In November 2011, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day in order to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. In 2015, UNESCO hosted the first INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY ALL-STAR GLOBAL CONCERT, which has been held annually each year thereafter.

PBS broadcast a one-hour television special of the first annual INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY ALL-STAR GLOBAL CONCERT on Friday, April 10, 2015 at 10pm (check local listings). The concert features performances by more than 40 world-renowned artists who gathered at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York City. The concert's many historic moments include a first-time collaboration with Stevie Wonder and Esperanza Spalding, plus Michael Douglas introducing legendary South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. Douglas' father, Kirk Douglas, had starred in the film "Young Man with a Horn," which inspired a young Masekela to begin playing the trumpet. Other highlights include a stellar performance by Tony Bennett, a magical duet with Herbie Hancock and China's piano virtuoso Lang Lang, and a captivating performance featuring Wynton Marsalis with Panamanian pianist Danilo Perez. Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Jack DeJohnette perform Miles Davis' classic "Milestones" and Dee Dee Bridgewater joins Shankar Mahadevan, Jimmy Heath, George Duke, Christian McBride and Zakir Hussain in a unique rendition of Duke Ellington's "Cottontail."

The 2016 INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY ALL-STAR GLOBAL CONCERT took place at the White House (United States) and was hosted by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, with artists performing throughout the White House and on the South Lawn. The concert was broadcast across the United States on April 30th -- International Jazz Day -- as an ABC network television special and streamed around the world by the United Nations and UNESCO.

The 2017 INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY ALL-STAR GLOBAL CONCERT from Havana, Cuba debuted on PBS on Friday, April 27, 2018. Hosted by Will Smith and Quincy Jones, the one-hour broadcast featured performances by an all-star group of more than 50 musicians from around the world including: UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Esperanza Spalding, Chucho Valdes Oficial, Richard Bona, Gonzalo Rubalcaba Official Fan Page, Kurt Elling.
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On Friday, April 28, 2023 at 10pm (check local listings), PBS premiered "International Jazz Day From the United Nations," a one-hour special that showcases some of today's finest artists proclaiming the positive message of America's greatest cultural gift to the world. With never-before-seen musical collaborations, this one-hour television special is a veritable world tour of the past, present and future of jazz with living legends like Herbie Hancock, David Sanborn and Marcus Miller to next generation luminaries including Gregory Porter, Joey Alexander, Lizz Wright, Linda May Han Oh and many more.

The program opens with blues vocal phenom Shemekia Copeland performing her social justice tribute "Walk Until I Ride" alongside Musical Director John Beasley. Vocalist Gregory Porter delivers a soulful rendition of his acclaimed original "On My Way To Harlem." Jazz icon David Sanborn soars through "Georgia On My Mind" alongside Terri Lyne Carrington and Linda May Han Oh. Herbie Hancock leads an extraordinary rendition of his very own "Maiden Voyage," with Ravi Coltrane, James Genus, Zakir Hussain, Brian Blade and Randy Brecker. Lizz Wright shares a heartfelt reading of Abbey Lincoln's classic "Throw It Away." Jose James brings his celebrated voice to Bill Withers' "Lovely Day." The evening comes to an uplifting end with a gorgeous performance of John Lennon's "Imagine" featuring the entire all-star cast.

To find events near you, check out: https://jazzday.com/events/