Jazz takes global centre stage today

Jazz lovers around the world will today, April 30, be in high spirits as the fourth annual International Jazz Day is celebrated around the globe.

In Accra, the event will be  marked with a concert by guitarist, Colter Harper, and guests from 8.00pm at the +233 Jazz Bar and Grill at North Ridge.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2012 decided on April 30 as a day to highlight the power of jazz as a force for freedom and creativity and for promoting intercultural dialogue through respect and understanding among people everywhere.

This year, Paris in France has been selected by UNESCO as the 2015 Global Host City for the fourth annual International Jazz Day bash. The city will sparkle with a daylong series of jazz education programmes, performances and community outreach.

An evening All-Star Global Concert at UNESCO Headquarters will feature performances by American artistes: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Al Jarreau, Marcus Miller and Wayne Shorter.

Also billed to perform at the Paris concert are A Bu (China), Igor Butman (Russia), Ibrahim Maalouf (Lebanon), Hugh Masekela (South Africa), Guillaume Perret (France), Claudio Roditi (Brazil), Dhafer Youssef (Tunisia) and many other internationally- acclaimed artists.

  Herbie Hancock, the Goodwill Ambassador for International Jazz Day has been quoted as saying: “Every single country on all seven continents will shine the spotlight on jazz for 24 hours straight, sharing the beauty, passion, and ethics of the music.”

Musicians on the night will include pianist Victor Dey, vocalist, Sandra Huson, bassist, Manu Falla, saxophonist, Bernard Ayisa, and drummer, Frank Kissi.

Other guests are Ofie Kodjoe, Alidu Bizung and Stevo Atimbre.