London plays key role in folk song heard around the world today
Ten internationally UNESCO-designated music cities, including London, are urging people around the world to combat climate change with a nifty jazz video on International Jazz Day.
The “jazz relay” features 10 virtual stops over nine minutes across six continents comprising groups of musicians playing the same song as the viewer travels from one city to the next for another jam session.
“The idea is that we take that melody, that song and take it around the world,” said Cory Crossman, director of the London Music Office. “What's fantastic about International Jazz Day (April 30), is it shows that music is a tool to spark conversation, (a) tool that brings people together and unites people.”
2024’s jazz relay features the Korean folk song Bird, Bird, Blue bird, to raise awareness of the need to take action to combat climate change and its impacts, a key United Nations sustainable development goal.
The song is a metaphor for the connection between humans and other species who share a common vulnerability to climate change, organizers of the Jazz Day relay say.
Founded in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network promotes collaboration among cities that have identified creativity as strategic for sustainable urban development, encompassing multiple creative fields such as music, literature and film.
In November 2021, London was the first Canadian city to be recognized as a UNESCO City of Music, a designation it shares with 74 other centres around the world. London was chosen because if its rich musical history, its status as a music education and production hub and its musical venues, festivals and performances.
London’s part in the international collaboration features nine local musicians.
“It was about bringing a strong representation from the community together, very skilled musicians to participate in this jazz relay and represent London on an international stage,” Crossman said.
London was one of three cities also with participants involved in the video’s production.
The focus on climate change was a central theme of the song that was chosen, and music can play a key role in driving climate action, Crossman said.
“I think these collaborations do a great deal in bringing awareness, importance in partnership and collaboration on the local and international stage."
bwilliams@postmedia.com
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Yy6y1V9NRU
Brian Williams, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, London Free Press
