International Jazz Day Apr. 30: A Great Day in Detroit Jazz Photograph

**Calling All Musicians & Vocalists:
A Great Day in Metro Detroit Jazz Photograph**
Celebrating International Jazz Day – April 30
The Preservation of Jazz proudly calls upon all Metro Detroit musicians and vocalists to gather for a historic cultural moment:
The Preservation of Jazz: A Great Day in Metro Detroit Jazz Photograph, taking place on International Jazz Day, April 30, at Aretha’s Jazz Café, located inside the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts.
Inspired by the iconic A Great Day in Harlem photograph, this event will document Detroit’s living jazz legacy—bringing together elders, innovators, educators, working musicians, and rising artists in one timeless image.
EVENT SCHEDULE
6:00 PM — Artist Arrival & Community Gathering
7:00 PM — Official Jazz Photograph Taken
8:00 PM — Conclusion of Photograph Session
All participating musicians and vocalists are encouraged to arrive on time and be prepared to take part in this once-in-a-generation moment.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY
International Jazz Day, established by UNESCO, is celebrated annually on April 30 around the world. The day recognizes jazz as a powerful force for peace, dialogue, unity, and cultural diplomacy. Jazz—born from the African American experience—has long served as a voice for freedom, creativity, and resilience, crossing borders and connecting communities across cultures and generations.
International Jazz Day honors jazz not only as music, but as a global language of expression and liberation.

ABOUT A GREAT DAY IN HARLEM
The original A Great Day in Harlem photograph was taken in 1958 and featured 57 legendary jazz musicians gathered on the steps of a Harlem brownstone. The image became one of the most important cultural documents in jazz history—capturing the artists who shaped the sound, spirit, and future of the music.
This Detroit tribute honors that legacy by creating a modern reflection of the same intention:
to recognize the artists of our time, to preserve history while it is being lived, and to ensure that Detroit’s jazz story is seen, honored, and remembered.
A CALL TO THE JAZZ COMMUNITY
This photograph is more than a picture.
It is documentation, preservation, and testimony.
All jazz musicians and vocalists—across styles, generations, and disciplines—are invited to stand together and be counted as part of Detroit’s enduring jazz legacy.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: April 30, 2026
Occasion: International Jazz Day
Location: Aretha’s Jazz Café
Event: A Great Day in Metro Detroit Jazz Photograph
To RSVP or for more information:
Nicole Freeman (Sky Covington)
Founder, The Preservation of Jazz
248-383-3385
[email protected]

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