St Petersburg to host global jazz day

The city can easily be referred to as the birthplace of jazz in Russia

RUSSIA’S city of St Petersburg has been selected to host the seventh annual International Jazz Day music festival in 2018.

The city had been chosen over 18 other countries that vied for the privilege of hosting the international event, Russian consul-general Roman Ambarov said at the Russian embassy in Cape Town.

He said Unesco director-general Irina Bokova had endorsed the decision of an international jury that chose St Petersburg to celebrate International Jazz Day on April 18 next year.

“By presenting St Petersburg, incidentally a sister-city of Cape Town, with an opportunity to be the heart of jazz life next year, Unesco showed recognition of Russia’s exclusive contribution to the development of this musical genre,” said Ambarov.

“The city can easily be referred to as the birthplace for jazz in Russia, the place where the first jazz bands were winning audiences in the 1920s.

“The aim of the International Jazz Day celebrations is to enhance public awareness of the educational role of jazz in facilitating peace, unity, dialogue and human contacts.

“The 2018 International Jazz Day will certainly write a new page in Russia’s jazz history.”

International Jazz Day was established during the 36th session of Unesco’s general conference in November 2011.

Its inauguration had been opened in Paris by Bokova and Unesco Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, Ambarov said.

The St Petersburg government and the Russian Commission for Unesco would organise next year’s event, which would be headed by world-famous Russian saxophone player Igor Butman, said Ambarov.

Another world-class music festival, Usadba Jazz, is held annually in Russian cities including St Petersburg, Moscow, Ekaterinburg and Sochi.