Milwaukee Jazz Institute to Celebrate International Jazz Day with a Free Event

MILWAUKEE, WI (APRIL 10, 2023) — Milwaukee Jazz Institute (MJI) is excited to announce the details of its first annual event to celebrate International Jazz Day on Sunday, April 30, at Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel. The event is free and open to the public.

Since 2011, International Jazz Day has been recognized worldwide for the incredible cultural impact of jazz music and its ability to promote peace, unity, and understanding. All over the world, jazz lovers, musicians, educators, and policymakers have united on this date for concerts, lectures, and jam sessions highlighting jazz’s diverse and beautiful sounds.

“We are thrilled to bring together the Milwaukee community in celebration of International Jazz Day,” said Mark Davis, co-founder and artistic director at Milwaukee Jazz Institute. “Jazz music has the power to inspire and connect people, and we look forward to showcasing its beauty and diversity through our event.”

MJI will lead the community in reflecting on the power of jazz to foster creativity and innovation. The event will feature performances by MJI youth ensembles, a presentation on the history of jazz in Milwaukee by Ben Barbera of the Milwaukee County Historical Society, a display of iconic Milwaukee jazz photos, and an MJI faculty performance.

As a nod to the famous “A Great Day in Harlem” photo by Art Kane in 1958 for Esquire magazine, there will also be “A Great Day in MKE” photo taken at the event. Musicians of all ages and levels are encouraged to meet in the River Center atrium for the photo which will be taken on the stairwell.

“I believe there are two reasons Art Kane’s photo is iconic,” said Erin Davis, co-founder and managing director at Milwaukee Jazz Institute. “It was also a fly-on-the-wall opportunity to capture the essence of that city’s jazz music scene. Similarly, MJI wants to capture, celebrate and preserve the history of jazz in Milwaukee.”

The event will conclude with a community jam session open to musicians and listeners of all ages, and the lighting of the Hoan Bridge with nine colors to replicate the International Jazz Day logo. This is the first time the Hoan has been lit up with more than three colors at a time.

Event schedule:

• Date: Sunday, April 30
• Time: 2-7 p.m.
  • 2 p.m. — MJI student ensemble performances
  • 4 p.m. — “Improvisation, Syncopation, and Swing Notes,” a presentation of Milwaukee jazz history by Ben Barbera of the Milwaukee County Historical Society
  • 5 p.m. — “A Great Day in MKE” photo
  • 5:30 p.m. — MJI faculty artists’ performances
  • 6:15-7 p.m. — Jam session
  • 30 minutes before sunset until 2 a.m. — Lighting of the Hoan Bridge, sponsored by MJI
• Location: Saint Kate — The Arts Hotel, 139 E. Kilbourn Ave., Milwaukee
• Admission: Free

For more information visit the event page at https://www.milwaukeejazzinstitute.org/event-details/jazz-day.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.