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Madrid celebrates its first ever International Jazz Day
06April
News

Madrid celebrates its first ever International Jazz Day

Madrid Town Hall is endorsing International Jazz Day, inundating Madrid with concerts, jams, master classes, dance classes, conferences and exhibitions designed for Jazz culture, dance and music lovers.

International Jazz Day, on 30th April, is already celebrated in hundreds of countries that organise events and official celebrations around this theme. On the occasion of this worldwide celebration, for 10 days, Madrid will host a programme of activities aimed at families and all audiences.

La Noche en Vivo and The World Jam will be hosting the first edition of International Jazz Day hand in hand with Madrid Town Hall, sponsored by Cervezas Alhambra. Municipal dance and music schools, the Teatro Fernán Gómez, and the city’s main Jazz venues, such as Clamores, Casa Patas, Barco, El Junco, El Despertar and Bogui Jazz will all be participating in this celebration. Bogui Jazz was recently dubbed “one of the best clubs in the world” by the prestigious Jazz magazine, Downbeat.

Some of the standout concerts will be de Cameron Graves, Jorge Pardo, Elon Turgeman, Ernesto Aurignac,  Pat Martino Marc Ribot, Nels Cline & Julian Lage , Elizabeth Shepperd, Maria Lledó and Niño Josele, as well as the open-air stage in Plaza de Colón on 30th April on International Jazz Day itself. This stage will be free to access and attend with concerts, a car exhibition and family activities in the morning session (11:30 AM – 03:00 PM).

CONTENT:

A multidisciplinary programme that promotes all facets of cultural exchange:

  • Music: the festival’s main form of expression, combining different stages, genres and artistic ideas.
  • Dance: dance classes and workshops including swing, lindy hop, jazz steps and Afro beats aimed at all levels.
  • Master classes: a series of conferences, master classes and workshops enabling people to interact with and experience Jazz.
  • Other: exhibitions and talks.

 SPACES:

 

More than 30 events are planned at 11 Schools (workshops, dance classes, etc.), 3 free concerts on the streets, 50 free and paid concerts in 11 different clubs in the city.

  • Schools: Animal Jazz, Big Mama Ballroom, Big South, Circulo de Baile, Danza Creativa, Escuela Swing Maniacs, Espacio Vecinal Montamarta, One More Tap, Tango por Tango, Traveling Bar, Ya’sta Club.
  • Free spaces on the streets: Plaza Daoíz and Velarde, Meseta de Usera and Plaza Colón.
  • Clubs and Venues for La Noche en Vivo: Barco, Bogui Jazz, Café la Palma, Casa Patas, Clamores, El Despertar, El Intruso, El Junco, Galileo Galilei, Moe and Rock Palace.
  • Teatro Fernán Gómez.

WHY MADRID?

Madrid has close historical and cultural ties with Jazz. In 2018, for the first time the capital will celebrate International Jazz Day in style, with several aims in mind:

  • To make this event official and to become the official headquarters for future editions.
  • To put an educational focus on this cultural movement.
  • To put a special focus on young people, as the next generation of audiences.
  • To consolidate Madrid as a cultural reference point and a tourism destination.

The programme is based on several fundamental values and goals that make the city unique:

  • Close relations with New Orleans.
  • Fusion of Jazz with Flamenco.
  • Highlighting the important role of women.

Why International Jazz Day?

 

  • Jazz breaks down barriers and creates opportunities for mutual understanding and tolerance;
  • Jazz is a form of freedom of expression;
  • Jazz symbolises unity and peace;
  • Jazz reduces tensions between individuals, groups and communities;
  • Jazz boosts gender equality;
  • Jazz strengthens the role that the youth plays in social change;
  • Jazz promotes artistic innovation, improvisation and the integration of traditional musical styles into modern ones, and;
  • Jazz stimulates intercultural dialogue and facilitates the integration of marginalised youth.

This celebration is aimed at making the general public aware of the virtues of Jazz music as an educational tool and an engine for peace, unity, dialogue and for strengthening cooperation between peoples. Governments, educational institutions and civil societies that participate in promoting jazz are taking advantage of this opportunity to spread the idea that Jazz is not just a style of music, but it also contributes to building more inclusive societies.

 

30th April was proclaimed by the UNESCO General Conference as International Jazz Day in 2011.