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Happy International Jazz Day, friends! The holiday started off with a launch concert at UNESCO HQ in Paris on April 27 (view above) and a sunrise concert today from Congo Square in New Orleans. We are beyond enthused to share that the conclusion of these worldwide events will be held in New York City!

The epic sunset concert will be tonight, April 30, at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in NYC with George Duke serving as Musical Director. The co-hosts of the event will include Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman and Quincy Jones. The event will be streamed live.

Confirmed are legends upon legends, many with whom we've worked with closely: Herbie Hancock, Tony Bennett, Terence Blanchard, Richard Bona, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Candido, Ron Carter, Vinnie Colaiuta, Robert Cray, Eli Degibri, Jack DeJohnette, Sheila E., Jimmy Heath, Hiromi, Zakir Hussain, Chaka Khan, Angelique Kidjo, Lang Lang, Joe Lovano, Romero Lubambo, Shankar Mahadevan, Wynton Marsalis, Hugh Masekela, Christian McBride, Danilo Pérez, Tineke Postma, Dianne Reeves, Troy Roberts, Bobby Sanabria, Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and Tarek Yamani.

Event Details
International Jazz Day Sunset Concert

Monday, April 30
7:30PM

United Nations General Assembly Hall
New York, NY

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Deemed "Africa's premier diva" by Time, Angelique Kidjo follows up her Grammy-winning Djin Djin with Oyo. On the album, Kidjo collaborates with Bono - one of the continent's most ardent supporters - joined with John Legend on a version of Curtis Mayfield's "Move on Up." The focus on Oyo is the music that shaped Kidjo's artistic formation, including "Lakutshn Llanga," a lullaby made famous by Kidjo's hero, Miriam Makeba; Yoruban interpretations of Otis Redding's "I've Got Dreams to Remember" and Santana's "Samba Pa Ti;" a collaboration with Diane Reeves on "Monfe Ran E," an homage to the Aretha Franklin hit, "Baby I Love You;" and a take on James Brown's "Cold Sweat."

Recorded and mixed by Russell Elevado (D'Angelo, The Roots, Erykah Badu) and produced by Kidjo and longtime collaborator Jean Hebrail, Oyo features a band of highly accomplished musicians, including guitarist Lionel Loueke, Christian McBride on upright bass, Kendrick Scott on drums and Thiokho Diagne on percussion. Trumpeter Roy Hargove makes a memorable appearance on "Samba Pa Ti."

Enter to win the CD from Giant Step here

Angelique Kidjo - "Kelele" [mp3]
 

Tour dates and streaming tracks

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