Herbie Hancock, Branford Marsalis, Igor Butman Set For International Jazz Day In St. Petersburg

Herbie Hancock, Robert Glasper, Ben Williams, Dianne Reeves and Joey DeFranceso are among the jazz luminaries who will take part in 2018's International Jazz Day in Saint Petersburg, Russia, April 30. There will also be events occurring in 190 countries celebrating the genre.

A series of educational and outreach programs will take place in Saint Petersburg, which will culminate in a concert held at the city's historic Mariinsky Theatre. Other participating artists from around the globe include  Cyrille Aimée, Oleg Akkuratov, Till Brönner, Oleg Butman, The Manhattan Transfer, Branford Marsalis, Moscow Jazz Orchestra and Vadim Eilenkrig. John Beasley will serve as the evening's musical director.

A week before the official day, a concert will take place in New Orleans on April 22 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz. The concert will kick off the countdown to International Jazz Day in Saint Petersburg, with a series of educational programs and events throughout the city. The concert in Congo Square will be live-streamed around the globe leading up to the show from Saint Petersburg, Russia. 

The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz is partnering with UNESCO to put on jazz-focused events and programs in schools, libraries, universities, and arts organizations around the world on April 30. 

Sydney will serve as the Global Host City for International Jazz Day 2019 with an all-star concert taking place at the Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage site.