Moseley Park, Birmingham
Today, Team Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul are celebrating International Jazz Day. Read on to find out what we’re listening to in the office, but first, let’s take a look at the history of International Jazz Day and Chicago, this year’s host city.
In 2011, UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) officially designated April 30th International Jazz Day, to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people across the globe. This year, the host city is Chicago, which has a rich jazz history of its own.
The Great Migration played a big part in bringing jazz to Chicago, as Black Americans moved from the South seeking better opportunities. Musicians from New Orleans brought their sound with them, transforming Chicago into a jazz hotspot. Jazz legend Louis Armstrong moved to Chicago in the 1920s to join King Oliver’s band, and Armstrong’s recordings in Chicago went on to influence early jazz improvisation and solo performance.
These days, Chicago is home to legendary jazz venues and events like the Chicago Jazz Festival, fostering the newest generations of jazz talent. The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, which operated as a speakeasy during Prohibition, has been a must-visit on the Chicago jazz circuit for over a century.
Team MJFS love bringing jazz music, culture and history to Moseley Park. We’ve already set up a festival playlist so you can get hyped for the weekend (check it out here), but below is what we’ve been listening to in the run up to International Jazz Day.
Enjoy!
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