International Jazz Day Global Concert Webcast

Istanbul’s famed Hagia Irene will host this evening's International Jazz Day concert in Istanbul. Webcast live (20h CET) to audiences worldwide, the concert will feature performances by stellar musicians from around the globe, including pianists John Beasley, George Duke, Robert Glasper, Herbie Hancock, Ramsey Lewis, Keiko Matsui and Eddie Palmieri; vocalists Rubén Blades, Al Jarreau, Milton Nascimento, Dianne Reeves and Joss Stone; trumpeters Terence Blanchard, Imer Demirer and Hugh Masekela; bassists James Genus, Marcus Miller, Esperanza Spalding and Ben Williams; drummers Terri Lyne Carrington and Vinnie Colaiuta; guitarists Bilal Karaman, John McLaughlin, Lee Ritenour and Joe Louis Walker; saxophonists Dale Barlow, Igor Butman, Branford Marsalis, Wayne Shorter and Liu Yuan; clarinetists Anat Cohen and Hüsnü Şenlendirici; violinist Jean-Luc Ponty; Pedrito Martinez and Zakir Hussain on percussion and other special guests. John Beasley will be the event's musical director.

Spurred by the success of last year's celebration, UNESCO, in partnership with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz (TMIJ) have organized today's second International Jazz Day. This day is destined to raise awareness in the international community regarding jazz’s virtues as an educational tool, as a vehicle for peace, unity, dialogue, and for enhanced cooperation between peoples.

Hagia Irene, meaning “Divine Peace” in Greek, is located in the grounds of the Topkapi Palace, near the Hagia Sophia and right in the historic centre of the old city, among the famous spires and domes of this beautiful and distinctive UNESO World Heritage site.The Hagia Irene is an ancient Christian Orthodox church, originally built in the 4th century, although renovated several times in its long history. It is now a museum and concert venue, especially prized for the beauty of its architecture, its impressive arches and columns, and most of all, its wonderful acoustics, which will soon be ringing with the sounds of jazz.

Additional links:

• International Jazz Day
• UNESCO - Int Jazz Day
• UNESCO World Heritage sites
• Events around the world
• Live concert from Istanbul (20:00 CET, Brussels, Paris, Rome, ...)