The Music Development Unit (MDU) of the Ministry of Culture is hosting a gala Evening of Jazz at the Umana Yana on Monday evening, to join the world’s jazz-loving music community in celebrating International Jazz Day.
According to a press release from the ministry, the MDU, headed by Andrew Tyndall, has already contracted Guyana’s best jazz musicians and vocalists to add lustre and treat patrons to excellence in this musical art form for its concert set for 6pm.
The evening’s programme includes performances by the Georgetown Jazz Project, the Brass band, Parkside Steel Orchestra with vocal and instrumental solos from both stalwarts and newcomers like Trevor John, Francis Bailey, Delma Lynch, Colgrain Whyte and Bonnie Alves. In addition, three presentations on the history, evaluation and impact of jazz will be made by Keith Campbell, JC Kool Jazz and UNESCO Representative Inge Nathoo will also be made.
In November 2011, UNESCO proclaimed April 30 as International Jazz Day in order to raise awareness in the international community about the virtues of jazz as an educational tool and a musical force for peace, unity and dialogue among people, the release said. As a result, the MDU, which is housed in the spanking new National School of Music, wishes to partner with other musical entities, private citizens, educational institutions and government to further engage in the promotion of jazz as an avenue for integrating societies. “Guyana’s musical community is a varied and versatile one ready to assimilate and promote jazz, if motivated by such events as planned for Monday’s Jazz Day,” Tyndall said.
