International Jazz Day 2019 Worldwide Celebration Concludes with Extraordinary All-Star Global Concert in Melbourne, Australia

Thousands of Performances and Programs Take Place in 195 Countries on All Continents

Herbie Hancock, Kurt Elling, Somi, Igor Butman, James Morrison, Lizz Wright and Jane Monheit perform during the International Jazz Day 2019 All-Star Global Concert at Hamer Hall on April 30, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz)

Melbourne, Australia, April 30 — Following thousands of jazz events taking place in 195 countries around the world, International Jazz Day 2019 came to a thrilling close this evening in Melbourne, Australia with an extraordinary All-Star Global Concert at the Melbourne Arts Centre's renowned Hamer Hall. Led by artistic co-directors Herbie Hancock (USA) and James Morrison (Australia), and musical director John Beasley (USA), the concert was streamed live by the United Nations and UNESCO and on www.jazzday.com. It featured riveting performances by over 30 international artists: Cieavash Arian (Iran), William Barton (Australia), Brian Blade (USA), A Bu (China), Igor Butman (Russian Federation), Theo Croker (USA), Joey DeFrancesco (USA), Eli Degibri (Israel), Kurt Elling (USA), James Genus (USA), Paul Grabowsky (Australia), Antonio Hart (USA), Matthew Jodrell (Australia), Aditya Kalyanpur (India), Ledisi (USA), Jane Monheit (USA), James Muller (Australia), Eijiro Nakagawa (Japan), Mark Nightingale (United Kingdom), Jeff Parker (USA), Chico Pinheiro (Brazil), Tineke Postma (Netherlands), Eric Reed (USA), Antonio Sánchez (Mexico), Somi (USA), Ben Williams (USA), Lizz Wright (USA) and Tarek Yamani (Lebanon).

The All-Star Global Concert opening performance showcased two of Australia's most beloved musicians: didgeridoo player William Barton and trumpeter James Morrison. Vocalist Jane Monheit later joined forces with Brazilian guitarist/vocalist Chico Pinheiro on Antonio Carlos Jobim's Brazilian jazz classic "Waters of March." Ledisi brought the house down with her spine-tingling vocals on "Try a Little Tenderness." Backing her was a 10-piece band that included a stellar horn section with Theo Croker, Eli Degibri, Matthew Jodrell, Eijiro Nakagawa and Tineke Postma. A Jazz Day tradition, the All-Star Global Concert concluded with the entire cast contributing to a global jazz-inspired rendition of John Lennon's peace anthem, "Imagine."

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The International Jazz Day AZ Foundation aims to use their annual celebration of International Jazz Day to raise the profile of jazz and arts education in the state of Arizona. Led by musician, entrepreneur, magazine publisher and jazz advocate William "Doc" Jones, the Foundation was responsible for uniting state officials around the recognition of International Jazz Day on April 30. Since 2012, Jones and the Foundation have organized a range of Jazz Day celebrations each year, bringing renowned musicians such as Azar Lawrence, Tony Monaco, Jesse McGuire to audiences in Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale and beyond, and raising funds for organizations including the NextStudent Academy, the Academy of Excellence and the Boy Scouts of America.Read More Count: 22 Offset: 4 Orig Offset: 598

International Jazz Day 2019 Around The World