It’s important to celebrate music and more specifically Jazz on International Jazz Day: the yearly event was created by UNESCO ‘From its roots in slavery, this music has raised a passionate voice against all forms of oppression. It speaks a language of freedom that is meaningful to all cultures, from North to South, and East to West‘.

Today is International Jazz Day 2020 and events were planned in Cape Town, South Africa and other locations around the world. But unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 9th annual International Jazz Day worldwide celebration will transition to a virtual format for 2020.

More details from the event website: International Jazz Day 2020 will take place online and be hosted by Herbie Hancock. The day’s centerpiece will be a virtual Global Concert featuring artists from across the globe, streamed live on jazzday.com. Hosted by Herbie Hancock, Forest Whitaker and Morgan Freeman, the concert will begin at 15h00 US eastern time (19h00 UTC) and will feature performances by Marcus Miller, Lang Lang, Charlie Puth, John McLaughlin, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Jane Monheit, Alune Wade, John Beasley, Lee Ritenour, Lizz Wright, John Scofield, Igor Butman, Evgeny Pobozhiy, Youn Sun Nah, A Bu, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves and Joey DeFrancesco, among others.

Leading up to the virtual Global Concert, there will be a free series of educational masterclasses, children’s activities and discussions via web conference featuring renowned educators and jazz artists, streamed live via jazzday.com.

Update: If you missed it live, watch the #JazzDayAtHome 2020 Virtual Concert!