International Jazz Day was celebrated on 30 April in 196 Member States. The global venue of this sixth edition was Havana, Cuba, a land of rich musical tradition with important contributions to the development of jazz.

Together with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, the Cuban Institute of Music and the Ministry of Culture of Cuba, a week-long programme of activities was organised which closed with the All-Star Global Concert, broadcast to Cuba and the world from the emblematic Alicia Alonso Grand Theatre of Havana.

Jam sessions, concerts in parks and theatres, workshops in arts schools and photographic exhibitions were some of the educational activities on the programme, which also included the broadcasting of a documentary on the history of jazz to more than 11,000 schools across the country and the screening of the documentary Keep on Keepin’ on, hosted by the UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova and the legendary Quincy Jones.

World reknowned artists, such as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Chucho Valdés, Bobby Carcassés and Esperanza Spalding, among others, participated in several activities of the programme, including the Global Concert, and exchanged with both established and up-and-coming national jazz artists.

The UNESCO Director-General and the President of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, Dr Miguel Barnet, brought the celebration to a close within the framework of the Global Concert, which featured stars from 14 countries under the artistic direction of Herbie Hancock and Chucho Valdés, with U.S. actor Will Smith as host and Quincy Jones as special guest.

Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Jazz Day, 30 April 2017

Artists who participated in the General Programme of activities

Programme of Educational Activities

On 30 April, Gran Teatro de la Habana Alicia Alonso, one of the world’s leading performing arts centers in Havana, Cuba, and the oldest theater in Latin America, provided an extraordinary setting for a performance that spans styles, cultures and languages. More...

“Jazz and Cinema are truly the defining art forms of the XXth century. Combined, they open the doors of artistic expression, and this is the way we can transform societies, for more freedom, more dignity, more cohesion [… ] to unite around common values and deepen our understanding of all forms of expression”, said Director-General Irina Bokova at the inauguration of the documentary “Keep on keeping on" together with UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones and Chucho Valdes. The screening was held on 29 April, the eve of International Jazz Day. More...

On 28 April, a concert hosted by Cuban percussionist Ruy-López Nussa, brought together mostly young musicians from the island at the Covarrubias Room of the National Theatre of Cuba. More...

Director-General Irina Bokova, and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, Herbie Hancock, will join an extraordinary array of artists from around the world in Cuba for the sixth annual International Jazz Day. An All-Star Global Concert will be offered at the Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture of Cuba, the Cuban Institute of Music and the Cuban National Commission for UNESCO. The musically vibrant and culturally rich city of Havana, Cuba, has been selected to serve as the 2017 Global Host City, presented each year on April 30th, in close collaboration with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. More...

On 28 April, the Guanabacoa Amphitheatre in Havana came alive with an unforgettable show that formed part of the festivities in honour of International Jazz Day, which have turned the Cuban capital into the world venue of this music genre from 24 to 30 April. More...

Legendary jazz musicians Herbie Hancock and Bobby Carcassés unveiled a plaque in honour of the House of Culture of the municipality of Plaza de la Revolución in Havana, birthplace of one of the most important jazz events in Cuba and the region: the Jazz Plaza Festival. More...

Vivir en Jazz is the title of the documentary produced by CINESOFT, the educational TV company of the Cuban Ministry of Education within the framework of the celebration in Cuba of International Jazz Day. The audiovisual, which will be enjoyed by girls and boys in 11,000 schools across the island, describes the history and the evolution of this genre in the country as seen by some of its most outstanding figures. More...

The Student House of the Enrique José Varona University of Pedagogical Sciences opened its doors to the young students from the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz visiting Havana to actively participate in the global celebration of International Jazz Day. More...

Two unforgettable sessions between music students from Cuba and the world took place on Monday, 24 April, and Tuesday, 25 April, at the University of the Arts (ISA) and the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory, respectively, a magnificent opening of the week dedicated to the global celebration in Havana of International Jazz Day. More...

With those three words, the Director of the UNESCO Office in Havana, Katherine Muller-Marin, invited the Cuban youth to celebrate International Jazz Day. More...

The world celebration in Havana of International Jazz Day (IJD) will open on Monday, 24 April, with its Educational Programme, giving way to a whirlwind of activities at different venues throughout the Cuban capital, which will also become the capital of this unique musical style until 30 April. More...

Cuba welcomes Gerald Clayton with deeply-felt appreciation. Four Grammy nominations, a vast discography, favourable reviews from specialised critics and his well-earned 32-year fame have not changed his unassuming nature. The pianist, from the Bronx (New York), visited Havana a few days before the world celebration of International Jazz Day. More...

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Irina Bokova and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock announced today the sixth annual International Jazz Day, which will be celebrated worldwide on April 30, 2017. The day will culminate with an All-Star Global Concert presented at the Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture of Cuba, the Cuban Institute of Music and the Cuban National Commission for UNESCO. The concert will be live streamed by UNESCO and will feature an extraordinary array of artists from around the world paying tribute to the international art form of jazz. More...

International Jazz Day UNESCO Webpage

Katherine Müller-Marin, Olga Rufins, Elena Nápoles, Miguel J. Llivina, Jordanka Montano, Sandra Varela, Lenia Gamonal, Alejandro Gumá, Mirtha Velazco, Julia Guerra, Gaetano Longo, Homero López, Sonia Dunn, Junior González and Elba Suárez.

Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, Office of the UNESCO Director-General, Ministry of Culture of Cuba, Cuban Institute of Music, Cuban National Commission of UNESCO and Ministry of Foreign Relations of Cuba

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