[International Jazz Day]
FROM THE JAZZDAY WEBSITE
Held every year on April 30th (since 2012) International Jazz Day brings together communities, schools and groups from across the world to celebrate jazz, learn about its roots and highlight its important role as a form of communication that transcends differences.
Taken forward in partnership with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, International Jazz Day was adopted by UNESCO Member States on the initiative of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, in order to encourage and highlight jazz’s unique power for advancing intercultural dialogue and understanding across the world. International Jazz Day is recognized on the official calendars of UNESCO and the United Nations. Its programs and events will be coordinated with all 195 Member States of UNESCO. “International Jazz Day is a means to highlight, support, and leverage the unifying attributes of music through worldwide celebratory events and activities on 30th April each year.” said Herbie Hancock. “On International Jazz Day, jazz is celebrated, studied, and performed around the world for 24 hours straight. Collaborations abound among jazz icons, scholars, composers, musicians, dancers, writers, and thinkers who embrace the beauty, spirit, and principles of jazz, freely sharing experiences and performances in our big cities and in our small towns, all across our seven continents.”
Visit the official website for more information!
http://jazzday.com/
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY EVENTS ORGANISED BY MIKE SUMMERS
(With help form Moisés Olcina, Plaça d'Dins & Centre Cultural Mario Silvestre)
On April 30, 2013, Mike (as secretary of Club Itinerant Jazz d'Alcoi) organised a special event in Alcoy's emblematic Plaça d'Dins. The main concert featured Alcoy's own Jazz Project 5, which performed a blend of mainstream and hard bop jazz. This was followed by a large jam session including seasoned musicians, jazz students and some brave jazz novices sent from the local music schools.
On April 30, 2015, Mike organised a municipal concert at the culture house in Alcoy, with Essential Jazz Quintet, featuring singer Maite Cobos. Mike played mainly piano in this event, but also some trumpet-cornet. The band was formed by great musicians from assorted towns in Spain's Costa Blanca. See photos below the 2016 poster.
For April 30, 2016 the Mike Summers Quintet appeared at the culture house in Alcoy (Centre Cultural Mario Silvestre, Pais Valencià 1, Alcoi) with a special programme dedicated to two great songwriters. The event was called "Cole Porter meets Richard Rodgers" and the concert featured: Mike Summers (trumpet/flugel/piano), Moisés Olcina (tenor sax), Jesús Martinez (guitar), Amadeu Adell (double bass), Enrico García (drums).
Anticipating April 30, 2017, there were three performances scheduled as follows:-
Thursday 27th: New Jubilee Jazz Band at Bolero Restaurante, Calpe
Friday 28th: French Lovers Duo at For Amur, Dénia
Saturday 29th: Gatsby 4 at Ca Toni, Altea la Vella
Then, on Sunday April 30, 2017 (official International Jazz Day) Mike Summers Trio appeared at Arena Bar & Bistro in Dénia. The Sunday event was listed on the official Jazzday calendar.
On April 30, 2018 there was a concert featuring two trios: Mike Summers Trio and Remoja Jazz Trio led by Moisés Olcina. This concert marked the return of the event to the culture house in Alcoy. Mike's trio featured guitarists Daniel Barbieri and Santi Djangomanouche as well as Mike himself on trumpet. See the red "Two Trios" poster in the gallery below.
Sadly, CIJA was not been successful in organising a Jazz Day event in 2019 and the pandemic has prevented such performances in 2020 and 2021. CIJA has no more events planned for the future.