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Jazz stars from around the globe come together to celebrate the unifying power of music.
Jazz stars from around the globe come together to celebrate the unifying power of music. Hosted by Michael Douglas and featuring unforgettable performances by Herbie Hancock, Andra Day, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves, Marcus Miller and many more.
Jazz stars from around the globe come together to celebrate the unifying power of music. Hosted by Michael Douglas and featuring unforgettable performances by Herbie Hancock, Andra Day, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves, Marcus Miller and many more.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Providing Support for PBS.org
Photos from International Jazz Day
About the Show
International Jazz Day 2022 on PBS sees jazz stars from around the globe come together to celebrate the unifying power of music. International Jazz Day is the one day each year on which jazz is celebrated worldwide, bringing together people of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities in more than 190 countries on all seven continents. This inspiring program showcases some of today’s finest artists proclaiming the positive message of America’s greatest cultural gift to the world.



Shot on location in Cape Town, Los Angeles, Moscow, New York and Tokyo with Musical Direction by John Beasley, the transcontinental array of performances spans genres and timbres, from vocal phenom Veronica Swift boldly reinterpreting the Dresden Dolls’ defiant anthem “Sing”–reimagined for the pandemic era–to a sublime rendition of “God Bless the Child” featuring Golden Globe winner Andra Day and jazz legend Herbie Hancock.
Anchored by Academy Award winner Michael Douglas at United Nations Headquarters in New York, the special explores the rich legacy of jazz through stunning takes on beloved compositions from every genre. Highlights include a Caribbean-inspired riff on “La Mer” featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater, fiery presentations of “Chasing the Wind” by Kenny Garrett and “Passion Dance” featuring Melissa Aldana and Rudresh Mahanthappa, and a lustrous performance by Dianne Reeves over Ivan Lins’ cautionary ballad “Evolution.”
The evening comes to a rousing end with an extraordinary performance of “Imagine” by the all-star casts of previous Jazz Day celebrations in Osaka, Paris, Havana, Saint Petersburg, Melbourne and Washington, D.C.
Funders
- Toyota
- United Airlines
- Sandra Evers-Manly
- Lynda Thomas
- William C. Powers
- Dalio Foundation
- Carnival Corporation
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