International Jazz Day rocked Istanbul on April 30. This unique event was sponsored by IKSV (Istanbul Foundation for Art and Culture), Garanti Bank, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), the Thelonius Monk Foundation and the Turkish Ministry of Culture
April 30 was all about jazz, and jazz was celebrated around the world for 24 consecutive hours. The event was dreamed up by pianist/composer Herbie Hancock, the Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue to UNESCO. He proudly announced in a press conference here this week: “Last year, on our first International Jazz Day, we reached 1 billion people. Let me say that again — 1 billion people! This year, 168 nations around the world are coming together in the name of jazz.” And Istanbul was named the hub city for 2013’s global Jazz Day celebration.
Taking part amongst many others were jazz legends, Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller and Wayne Shorter pictured above (L-R)
