UNESCO’s International Jazz Day (IJD) is the brainchild of Herbie Hancock, the revered jazz giant and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. It happens every April 30 in a different global city (2025 Abu Dhabi, 2024 Tangier) or sometimes multiple cities (as in 2023). Last week’s 15th Anniversary (2026) edition was especially meaningful, and I’m happy I was there. It was the first time in (my and) Herbie’s hometown Chicago, and the last edition before the US is withdrawn from UNESCO again.

I’ve been a fan of UNESCO since 2020. My DownNow Project  was awarded by Chicago DCASE, The International Center for Journalists, and National Geographic. The Nat Geo award led to my invited participation and small feature in the UNESCO WPFC. I’d of course been aware of UNESCO, but this was how I began to understand the scope of its mandate, relative to my own work and interests.

This experience and related discoveries were a major motivating factor for my 2022 Euro Grand Tour, which included a visit to UNESCO HQ in Paris. I’m currently working on a UNESCO-related media project for The City of Chicago.

It was great to finally meet Herbie, he remains a coveted interview and personal hero for his impact on jazz, electronic music (esp. hip-hop) and Afrofuturism… plus, I’m from the same southside Chicago neighborhoods (Bronzeville, Hyde Park and Kenwood).

It was also great to see Robert Glasper rejoin the IJD line-up (59:50). I’ve been getting back to my “true-school” urban arts roots, and gradually refreshing my writing/rapping and beatmaking skill-set, in context of said media project. Robert’s jazz x hip-hop sensibilities were especially enjoyable and affirming (we’re overdue a follow-up). And salute to native son Jahari Stampley, he snapped with Bela Fleck (1:18:48) and set me up smooth backstagee.