At the end of Jazz Appreciation Month, there is International Jazz Day. Although there are events throughout the country (and world), the flagship Jazz Day event, a spectacular All-Star Global Concert, which this year will feature an extraordinary selection of jazz performances from Austria to Zimbabwe, highlighting the power of jazz in bridging differences and promoting unity and peace through intercultural dialogue and collaboration.

MC Herbie Hancock will take viewers on a global tour of sights and sounds showcasing jazz in all its diversity. The live-streamed concert will feature performances from Beijing, China; Beirut, Lebanon; Casablanca, Morocco; Johannesburg, South Africa; Marondera, Zimbabwe; Paris, France; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Vienna, Austria; and Fairbanks, Honolulu, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC, USA. It features performances by some of the world’s most accomplished jazz artists, including Cyrille Aimée (France), Ambrose Akinmusire (USA), Thana Alexa (Croatia), John Beasley (USA), Dee Dee Bridgewater (USA), Bill Charlap (USA), Emmet Cohen (USA), Tom Gansch (Austria), Christian McBride (USA), Sérgio Mendes (Brazil), Marcus Miller (USA), Thandi Ntuli (South Africa), Dianne Reeves (USA), Antonio Sánchez (Mexico), Walter Smith III (USA), Somi (Rwanda) and Mike Stern (USA), among others. Renowned Mbira player Musekiwa Chingodza (Zimbabwe) will duet with Oran Etkin (Israel) on baritone clarinet; the Blue Note China Jazz Orchestra joins the Global Concert from Beijing; and JazzWomenAfrica celebrate from Casablanca. More information is available on jazzday.com.

As we wind up Jazz Appreciation Month, I would like to make a suggestion for the last day of the month, April 30th. Check out the International Jazz Day global concert. This year's concert includes jazz artists from 13 global cities hosted by Herbie Hancock and including Dianne Reeves, Marcus Miller, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Christian McBride, Somi, Melody Gardot, Sérgio Mendes, Cyrille Aimée, Antonio Sánchez, John Beasley and many more. It will be webcast worldwide starting at 4 pm EDT on jazzday.com, the International Jazz Day YouTube and Facebook channels, and other outlets.  It's always a great concert.

After the fold you will find the listings for live jazz gigs in and around Rochester for the next seven days, plus listings through May and into June. Please note that the June posts will focus on those gigs outside of the Rochester International Jazz Fest toward the end of the month. Let me know when you hear about things... and let your friends and family know where you go to find live jazz around Rochester.

As we continue Jazz Appreciation Month, I must apologize for not having done anything special this year.  How would you like to celebrate jazz next April?  Leave a comment or contact me via the email link above. After the fold you will find the listings for live jazz gigs in and around Rochester for the next seven days.  You'll also find listings through April and through May.  I will start adding June soon, although this post will focus on those gigs outside of the Rochester International Jazz Fest toward the end of the month. Let me know when you hear about things... and let your friends and family know where you go to find live jazz around Rochester.

April is Jazz Appreciation Month, a program put on by the Smithsonian Institution to encourage listeners to get out to hear some live jazz. I flew back to ROC today after a 2-month hiatus in Kansas to help my stepmother move and get my dad's house ready for sale.

After the fold you will find the listings for live jazz gigs in and around Rochester for the next seven days.  You'll also find listings through April and into May.  Let me know when you hear about things... and let your friends and family know where you go to find live jazz around Rochester.

April is Jazz Appreciation Month, a program put on by the Smithsonian Institution to encourage listeners to get out to hear some live jazz.  Even though I'm out of town for a little while longer, returning next week, it's good to know there's still some live jazz back home.

After the fold you will find the listings for live jazz gigs in and around Rochester for the next seven days.  You'll also find listings through April and into May.  Let me know when you hear about things... and let your friends and family know where you go to find live jazz around Rochester.