International Jazz Day
International Jazz Day is an International Day declared by the United Nations in 2011 "to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe." It is celebrated annually on April 30. Today is the 10th anniversary of the first observance.
Fred Hersch
Acclaimed gay jazz pianist Fred Hersch (b. 1955 Cincinnati) was the first person to play week-long engagements as a solo pianist at the Village Vanguard in NYC (your blogger has made many pilgrimages to that storied basement temple of jazz to hear Fred). Have a listen to BALLAD, an original composition from SONGS WITHOUT WORDS. So much jazz music is noisy and frantic, but this selection is calming and introspective, long a favorite of your blogger. Enjoy.
