ON INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY (APRIL 30)
»Jazz is not just music, it’s a way of life, it’s a way of being, a way of thinking.” Nina Simone
Here at Foundation Imago Sloveniae – Podoba Slovenije, we are pleased and honoured to join in once again on the celebration of the UNESCO International Jazz Day.
After the limitations of the two years of the pandemic, Slovenia will again see a diverse programme for people who love jazz and people who are yet to fall in love with it. There will be street performances and an evening concert in the capital, as well as events in Ravne na Koroškem, Postojna and elsewhere round the country.
To continue last year’s tradition, we warmly invite all jazz musicians to join the festivities and on April 30th, play their music at home with their windows open, helping to spread the core jazz idea of bringing people together.
In 2011, UNESCO officially declared April 30th as International Jazz Day, underscoring the diplomatic role of the genre in connecting people globally. The main patrons are UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and the legendary jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock who works as the UNESCO Ambassador for intercultural dialogue and is Head of the Jazz Institute. As the chief organizational partner, he oversees the planning, promotion and preparations for the yearly celebrations. In December 2012, International Jazz Day was also officially recognized by the UN General Assembly, and since then, more than 190 countries have been celebrating it in diverse ways. International Jazz Day unites different communities, schools, artists, academics, and jazz lovers, encouraging education about jazz and its tremendous legacy, raising awareness about the importance of intercultural dialogue and interpersonal understanding, as well as international cooperation and communication. It is a tool of free speech and a synonym for the respect of human rights and dignity of all people no matter their heritage.
You can read more on this and previous years’ International Jazz Day festivities around the globe on the official webpage here: https://jazzday.com/.
If you are staying home for the holidays and your neighbours do not play the double bass, may we invite you to enjoy the jazz-fuelled past opening nights of the Imago Sloveniae International Festival and Summer in Old Ljubljana Town with the RTV Slovenia Big Band and soloists—from the comfort of your own couch.
