The eighth International Jazz Day will be observed around the world this Tuesday, April 30 and Jamaica is in on the celebrations

The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts joins the celebrations with its annual International Jazz Day Concert on the East Lawns of Devon House at 7: 00 pm.

The concert will feature the faculty of the college’s School of Music including Ibo Cooper, Orville Hammond, Rafael Salazar, Trevelle Clarke-Whyne, Jon Williams, Derrick Stewart, Ruth Browne and Michael Sean Harris. They will be joined by the jazz ensemble from the college.

The School of the Visual Arts will also partner in the celebrations with the painting of a large mural depicting jazz and the themes of creativity, freedom and unity which will also be done live at the concert at Devon House. Patrons will be able to participate in this live painting session and can purchase the complete painting through a bid.

This is not the college’s first celebration of International Jazz Day. Last year’s concert featured international jazz pianist Randy Weston. His performance in Jamaica marked one of his last as the 92-year-old American died in September of last year.

The International Jazz Day concert is staged to celebrate the rich history of jazz; it brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts all over the world to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots, future and impact; raise awareness of the need for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding; and reinforce international cooperation and communication.

The centrepiece of International Jazz Day’s global programming is the all-star Global Concert which this year will take place in Melbourne, Australia. That concert will treat audiences worldwide to never-before-seen musical collaborations. Tributes will encompass nearly every era of recorded jazz and highlight the diverse influences intending to draw listeners of all backgrounds.

International Jazz Day was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in 2011 to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe.