Jazz for Peace: Boston Celebrates International Jazz Day

On April 30, Boston will join cities in more than 190 countries around the globe in celebrating jazz as a universal language, symbol of freedom, and force for peace.

“JAZZ FOR PEACE: Boston Celebrates International jazz Day” will be held on Tuesday, April 30 from noon to 1:30pm in Faneuil Hall’s historic Great Hall, where Frederick Douglass and other abolitionist leaders raised their voices for freedom and equal rights. Eric Jackson, WGBH jazz radio host and Northeastern University Professor of African American Studies, will preside over music by the Jazz for Peace Collective, an all-star group formed for the occasion by Laszlo Gardony (piano), Yoron Israel (drums), Ron Mahdi (bass), and Bobby Tynes (saxophones). The midday concert is free and open to all.

“I am pleased to partner with JazzBoston on this International Jazz Day concert,” said Mayor Walsh. “Our hope is that this event convenes people from all across the city for an afternoon spent celebrating Boston’s arts and culture through this wonderful showcase of local talent.”

“Jazz for Peace” is one of the highlights of JazzBoston’s Jazz Week 2019, dedicated to celebrating America’s music and the message it began carrying abroad during the 1950s and ‘60s when jazz legends like Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie were deployed around the globe as musical ambassadors.

“We are delighted to be co-hosting the ‘Jazz for Peace’ concert with Mayor Walsh,” said JazzBoston president Pauline Bilsky. “Putting Boston on the world map as a great jazz city has been part of JazzBoston’s mission since our founding 13 years ago.” She continued, “We believe jazz can help unlock Boston’s potential to be the culturally distinctive and innovative, equitable and welcoming city the Mayor envisions. We would love to partner with City Hall to put the power of jazz to work for a better Boston.”