UNITED NATIONS, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The 5th Annual Celebration of International Jazz Day will be celebrated with a star-studded event featuring some of the greatest jazz musicians in a concert to be hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House on Friday night, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here.
It will be webcast on International Jazz Day as a one-hour program, "Jazz at the White House," Saturday evening on the UN, the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the U.S. State Department and White House websites, Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.
In addition to UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and jazz legend Herbie Hancock, the concert will feature Sting, Aretha Franklin, Hugh Masekela, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Pat Metheny and many others, he said.
At last count, nearly 150 countries will be hosting Jazz Day events over the next several days, he added.
In November 2011, the UNESCO officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day in order to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe.
Washington, D.C. will serve as the International Jazz Day 2016 Global Host City. As International Jazz Day celebrates its 5th anniversary, the U.S. capital will host a multitude of jazz performances, community service initiatives, and education programs in schools, libraries, hospitals, community centers and arts venues across the city.