Its described as THE global Jazz Jam: Since 2011, the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has officially
designated April 30 as International Jazz Day in order to
highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the
globe. The further caps a month of celebrations marking Jazz Appreciation
Month.
Here in Jamaica, while
the genre may have gone south in terms of mass appreciation from a few
generations ago (when clubs like the Glass Bucket and Silver Slipper and bands
like the Skatalites ruled the roost), there remains a nub of hardcore
jazzophiles, many of whom will be heading to the Zinc Shack on the famed Hip
Strip in second city Montego Bay, for the Jmaaican version of International
Jazz Day.
This will take the form
of a dance party/selector session presented by Gordon Wedderburn through his GW
Jazz outfit. Wedderburn, who has hosted Jazz radio in the UK and also worked in
the hospitality industry locally is committed to keeping Jamaica "in
swing" with the rest of the world's jazz aficionados.
"Its our small way
of recognizing the huge contributions of jazz to popular music and even of
Jamaican musicians to jazz and music as a whole," he said in articulating
the motive behind the event. "There'll be music for dancing and music for
listening and just an overall atmosphere of good vibes."
Wedderburn, with support
from musicophile and writer Michael Edwards previously staged a birthday
tribute to the late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti in October 2013, and plans are
afoot to renew that event this year. Overall, the aim is to grow both events so
as to be able to welcome live musical participation as the support base - and
corporate interest - grows.
Internationally, Jazz Day
2014 celebrations will be centred in Osaka, Japan and will feature a wide array
of live and synchronized acts, including giants Herbie Hancock and Wayne
Shorter.
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