Origins of International Jazz Day

Happy International Jazz Day! In partnership with Jazz Corner and International Jazz Day, SFJAZZ presents another episode of Jazz Minute—a brief look at important figures, movements, and moments in jazz history and the present day, in both the San Francisco Bay Area and around the world.

In this episode, narrated by Terence Blanchard, we delve into the origins of International Jazz Day. Conceived by jazz legend and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, International Jazz Day has been celebrated annually on April 30 since 2012. Celebrated in more than 190 countries, its mission is to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role in uniting people across the globe. This episode explores how International Jazz Day has grown to become a worldwide event, emphasizing the power of jazz to foster peace, dialogue, and mutual understanding among diverse cultures.