By Beatriz Miranda, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – This Monday, April 30th, over 190 countries celebrate the International Jazz Day – Brazil included. In Rio, renowned houses like the Blue Note Rio in Lagoa and Teatro Rival Petrobras in Centro, will host shows as a tribute to the American music genre.
The date was set by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz in 2011 to highlight the role of jazz music in the promotion of freedom, creativity, and intercultural dialogue.
According to UNESCO’s official page, the goal is to gather communities, students, academics, and artists and reflect upon the roots of jazz music and its legacy to society. Additionally, the organization believes that the day stimulates mutual understanding and international cooperation.
For the last seven years, jazz music has been celebrated on April 30th across most of the United Nations member States. In 2018, the UN’s official celebration will be held in Saint Petersburg, the cultural capital of Russia. The event will bring together 30 musicians, including a Brazilian singer, Luciana Souza.
Jazz lovers will also have the opportunity to appreciate the genre this Monday, April 30th, in Rio de Janeiro, where a couple of events will take place in Centro and Zona Sul.
The Blue Note Rio in Lagoa is the Carioca branch of New York’s Blue Note and considered by many as the most important jazz club in the world. Several musicians will perform here for the “International Jazz Day Brasil”. Starting from 9PM, the show will present the best from the Brazilian jazz scene to audiences.
One of the voices of the tribute will be Alma Thomas, New Yorker jazz singer and a Rio expatriate. Also participating in the show will be Carlos Malta (sax), Claudio Dauelsberg (piano), Gabriel Grossi (harmonica), Luiz Otávio (claviers), Marcelo Martins Sax (sax), Nelson Faria (guitar), Ney Conceição (bass), Renato Massa Calmon (drums), and PianOrquestra.
In Cinelândia (Centro), Teatro Rival Petrobras will also host a high level tribute to jazz music, hosting a “World Premiere of Recordings of Miles Davis, Tom Jobim and Al Jarreau”.
Organized by the music industry veteran, Robert Hebert (Legacy and Alchemy records) and U.S. Consul General Jimmy Story, the show will bring to the stage American singer, Alexandra Jackson, who will present unforgettable jazz and bossa compositions to audiences.
Jackson will be accompanied on the stage by great artists from the Brazilian music, such as Maia Arthur, Teo Lima, Pretinho da Serrinha, André Siqueira, Marco Brito, João Castilho, Marcelo Martins and Jessé Sadoc. Starting at 8:30 PM, the show will also honor remarkable Brazilian artists like Caetano Veloso and Dona Ivone Lara.
In Lapa, the Smonkey Coffeeshop will promote a jazz acoustic session, the “Jazz no Smonkey”, at 9PM. In charge of the live set will be a jazz trio led by the talented drummer, Guga Pellicciotti. Opening the night will be DJ Igor BK.
Jazz music has its roots in the late nineteenth century from the African-American communities of New Orleans (Louisiana, United States). Characterized by improvisation, polyrhythms, and responsive vocals, the genre today is played all over the world and continues to influence artists and rhythms from the most diverse musical cultures.
What: International Jazz Day 2018 in Rio
When: this Monday, April 30th – check events to see time details.
Where: varies according to the event.
Entrance: varies according to the event.