International Jazz Day
Thanks to the initiative of UNESCO and its Director-General Mrs. Irina Bokova, at the end of 2011, UNESCO designated April 30 as the International Jazz Day. This decision was also endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in late 2012, and thus April 30 is becoming one of the most important days in the cultural calendars of both organisations.
Traditionally, International Jazz Day takes place under the patronage of UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and Herbie Hancock, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. The event's main partner is the Thelonious Monk Institute. International Jazz Day relates to topics such as, among others, the fight against discrimination, freedom of speech, and strengthening the role of young people in social processes.
The celebration of the day takes place in different countries around the world with various events, initiatives and activities. All have in common the idea of promoting intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding.
In Sofia this year, International Jazz Day was celebrated through a joint initiative of the National Commission for UNESCO - Bulgaria, the Metropolitan Municipality, the Lyubomir Pipkov National Music School, the A to JazZ Festival and the State Institute for Culture at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The program began with "Children's Jazz" - an interactive concert-game, introducing children to the magic of music and the most popular instruments in jazz. It continued with a "Jazz Singing" workshop, where participants could learn about the anatomy of the voice; what is sound; psychology of singing; types of sound and the colours of sound, and so on. The audience had the opportunity to get to know the history of jazz, from slave songs, spirituals and blues, through New Orleans, swing to the present day, and everything about Ella Fitzgerald's life - in connection with 100 years since her birth.
International Jazz Day in Sofia ended with a concert featuring the brightest Bulgarian jazz musicians and their original music that references our native musical culture. Taking part in the concert were Vassil Petrov, Teodosii Spassov, Rodopolodi, Lilia Ilieva & Minimum Quartet, Zhivko Petrov - piano, Romano Project, the Angel Zaberski Trio and the Big Band of Bulgarian National Radio.