UN celebrates Jazz as a force of social transformation
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Herbie Hancock, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
The United Nations has celebrated the first annual International Jazz Day with concerts in Paris, New Orleans and New York.
The Day, which falls on 30 April, seeks to spotlight the historic influence the jazz music genre has had in connecting people.
Born in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, jazz is rooted in African traditions, draws from European musical forms, and has evolved into various styles across the globe.
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock says jazz can be used as a powerful tool for social transformation.
“Once jazz travelled to other countries, people in those countries have adopted jazz as their own because they feel the music deeply in their hearts and to them, it doesn’t sound like foreign music, it sounds like their music, because it really speaks to them. That human element is what connects us all. And I've had many experiences of watching the sense of borders coming down, when people are listening to jazz, and they forget about those things. We all become one human spirit, really. This is the power of music.” (Duration: 54″)
To see the New York concert log onto www.unmultimedia.org
