For Marcus Miller, UNESCO Artist for Peace, jazz is so much more than a musical genre. “It’s a beautiful way to form relationships with other cultures. No words get in the way.”
Born in the diverse city of New Orleans in the early 20th century, jazz has its roots in blues, ragtime and traditional African music. With its upbeat rhythms and accent on improvisation, it quickly became a platform where musicians could speak out for freedom and equality, and fight racism and discrimination.
As jazz gained in popularity across the United States and around the globe, it incorporated different influences, from Latin America, North Africa and beyond. It became an open dialogue between instruments, peoples and cultures, to which every person could add what Miller calls “their individual flavour”.
Jazz celebrates individuality. Jazz is an open platform. It teaches people to celebrate their individuality, but it also shows you how to get your individuality to work within a group.
This unique power of jazz – as a universal language of freedom and creativity – led UNESCO to declare 30 April International Jazz Day in 2011, at the initiative of music legend Herbie Hancock. The 14-time Grammy winner and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador has been an unwavering partner, supporting celebrations through the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz.
Jazz has always been about bringing people together, breaking barriers, and inspiring creativity across cultures. International Jazz Day reminds us that music has the power to transcend borders, foster dialogue, and spark joy and hope.
To mark this Day every year, thousands of performances, festivals and educational initiatives take place. The year 2025 is no exception, with planned in more than 190 countries, from intimate performances to large-scale concerts at leading cultural centres.
Many of these will take place in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), a UNESCO Creative City of Music. As this year’s Global Host City, it is organizing a month-long celebration to showcase “Arabic Jazz” – a tapestry of musical traditions, including classical instruments such as oud, qanun and ney.
Educators, institutions and artists will hold masterclasses, jam sessions, panel discussions and educational workshops, reflecting the profound impact of jazz as a unifying force. As Miller underlines, “Music is its own language, and everybody understands it, everybody feels it.”