Happy International Jazz Day

Hello, tomorrow is International Jazz Day, and what a time it is to be alive in an era that not only celebrates this music, but also recognizes the profound contributions African Americans have made to the cultural fabric of this country. This year’s celebration is being held in Chicago, Illinois, hosted by luminaries like Herbie Hancock and the world renowned jazz vocalist Kurt Elling. It promises to be a powerful gathering, one that continues to shine a light on an art form that is purely American and truly our gift to the world.

Chicago has long been a musical crossroads, a place where the blues, jazz, big band, country, and rock and roll all found fertile ground. More than 150 years ago, a pipeline formed as Black families moved north from the South, joining European immigrants working in factories and stockyards, each bringing their stories, their struggles, and their music. Out of that came a sound, a culture. Dance halls and speakeasies opened their doors, and a new generation of artists, children of pioneers looking for a better life, gave voice to something entirely new. That spirit is still alive in Chicago today. You can hear it in the legacy of greats like Earl “Fatha” Hines, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, and groups like Earth, Wind and Fire, artists whose music did not just define a city, but helped shape the sound of America and carried it around the world.

Over the years, I have had the joy of sharing the stage and trading stories with musicians from the Windy City. It reminds me of what Lou Rawls used to say, they called it the Windy City because of “the Hawk”… the mighty wind that blows through. And of course, Frank Sinatra said it best, “Chicago, Chicago, it is a wonderful town.” Tomorrow, that spirit will be ringing loud and clear.

Happy International Jazz Day, let’s all celebrate.