City of Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega, Town of Paradise Valley Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner, Tempe Mayor Corey Woods have all committed to promote the International Jazz Day Arizona concert scheduled for April 30.

The mayors of cities adjoining Scottsdale have agreed to aid in making this a major tourist attraction for the area, according to a press release,  detailing the  Jazz celebration taking place at the Scottsdale Civic Center's northeast lawn of City Hall, at 3939 N Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale.

The program to date includes: Richard Elliot, Rick Braun, Nayo Jones, the Jaleo Afro Cuban Ensemble, along with The Molina’s 32nd Jazz Band, an all-star youth jazz orchestra, and world-renowned trumpeter Jesse McGuire.

America’s “unique form of music, Jazz, will be celebrated all over the US and in many parts of the world,” on April 30. UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock has invited William “Doc” Jones to bring this year’s celebration to Scottsdale.  Herbie Hancock is committed to taking Jazz worldwide through encouraging International Jazz Day events on that day, the release said, describing  how he became known as a Goodwill Ambassador.

For the past three years, Doc Jones has organized the local event as he is well-respected and acquainted with the best Jazz musicians in Arizona, New Orleans and Chicago. He has gathered a strong team of community leaders to contribute to the event's success, attracting sponsors and raising funds, noted the release.

Music historians trace the origin of Jazz to the early 20th century in New Orleans, where musicians first began improvising and combining the music of the blues, ragtime, English folk songs, the horns of parades, and traditional Black rhythms. While New Orleans notes the city as the birthplace of Jazz, once Jazz was born, it rapidly spread across the nation. Chicago and Kansas City became centers for Jazz, the release said of a music primarily based on improvision.

Jelly Roll Morton became the first composer of published Jazz music and moved to Los Angeles. The first Jazz recordings were made in New York City, on Jan. 30, 1917, which established Jazz as a feature of American culture. The cornet, clarinet, trombone, tuba or bass, piano, banjo, and drums were the early instruments used in jazz; the saxophone did not become common in Jazz for about another decade and later the guitar. 

While Jazz music is the integration of many forms of music and the improvision of any type of music, it also serves to unite people of all walks of life, from different geographical areas and all races, the release added. 

For more information: jazzdayaz.com; or experiencescottsdale.com/event/scottsdale-jazz-festival/367161.