Sugnall Walled Garden between Stone and Eccleshall is hosting a free event to celebrate International Jazz Day on Saturday 30th April.
The day will feature performances from bands including After Dark Fonksters, The Firewalkers and renowned trumpet player Ray Butcher, with lots of other jazz-inspired creative workshops and activities planned throughout.
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) designated April 30th as International Jazz Day in 2011 and Sugnall Walled Garden – which stages its first Jazz & Blues Festival in July – is one of only 22 venues throughout the UK to take part in the celebrations.
[box type=”shadow” align=”aligncenter” ]Andrew Wilson from Sugnall Walled Garden said: “International Jazz Day is in its fifth year of celebrations with events planned in nearly all 196 UN member states, of which we are proud to take part.
“Despite attracting enthusiastic and loyal audiences, it is often overlooked by arts funding institutes in comparison to opera and classical music. The number of people attending a jazz event in a typical year stands at around 2.7 million, way ahead of opera at 1.7 million, yet funding for opera this year will be around £59m against funding for jazz of under £4m.” [/box]
Legendary pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, who serves as a UNESCO Ambassador said: “Jazz is really about the human experience. It’s about the ability of human beings to take the worst of circumstances and struggles and turn it into something creative and constructive. That’s something that’s built into the fibre of every human being. And I think that’s why people can respond to it.”
[box type=”info” ]The event, which runs from 12pm to 8pm, is free to attend but by advance ticket only. For more information call Andrew on 01785 850820 or visit www.sugnallwalledgarden.co.uk
Sugnall Jazz & Blues Festival takes place on July 22-24. Visit www.sugnalljazzfestival.co.uk to find out more[/box]
