This year, we are celebrating International Jazz Day under the shadow of a horrific genocide that takes place in Gaza. Since October 7th, the Israeli Occupation Forces killed 34.000+ Palestinian civilians and caused the displacement of millions.

Jazz has been an instrument for

Remembering the great Duke Ellington who was born on this day in 1899. One of the originators of big-band jazz, Ellington led his band for more than half a century, composed thousands of scores, and created one of the most distinctive ensemble sounds in all of Western music.

His

Duke Ellington on dreaming.

Chilean jazz trio The Carmeners performing a tribute song to Ella Fitzgerald.

Cuban trombonist Yudith Rojas performing “O Pato” by João Gilberto.

Remembering the great Ella Fitzgerald who was born on this day in 1917. Sometimes referred to as the “First Lady of Song” and “Queen of Jazz”, she was known for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, intonation and a “horn-like” improvisational ability,

Remembering the great Joe Henderson who was born on this day in 1937. One of the more distinctive tenor saxophone voices in jazz music, Henderson’s rich tone and strong sense of rhythm influenced scores of tenor saxophonists who followed him.

In concert, his aggressive playing

Yusef Lateef performing “Trouble in Mind” on an oboe with Joe Zawinul on piano, Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums in Switzerland, 1963.

Remembering the great Charles Mingus who was born on this day in 1922. Considered to be one of the greatest jazz musicians and composers of all time, Mingus was a major proponent of collective improvisation.

In the 1950s, he introduced a new musical device to facilitate his

Bassist and composer Charles Mingus answering the age-old question on what jazz music is.

“Donna Lee” by Charlie Parker performed on a Glissonic Glissotar.

Remembering the great Lionel Hampton who was born on this day in 1908. Known for the rhythmic vitality of his playing and his showmanship as a performer, Hampton was the first musician to make the vibraphone a notable jazz instrument.

As a composer and arranger, Hampton wrote

Elis Regina and Antônio Carlos Jobim performing “Águas de Março” in 1974.

Jaco Pastorius performing “The Chicken” with guitarist John Scofield and drummer Kenwood Dennard live in 1985.

Herbie Hancock explaining his approach to music.

Happy birthday to the great Herbie Hancock who was born on this day in 1940. As part of Miles Davis’s “second great quintet”, Hancock helped redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section, and was one of the primary architects of the “post-bop” sound.

He was also one of the first