Review: Worldwide Concert for Our Culture Gala 2020

Musicians the world over are doing there bit to keep the music alive and, with luck, earn themselves a few quid. From a humble mobile phone set-up to a camera on a tripod, perhaps a PC/laptop alongside, it's been more about the message than the medium with one livestream event after another. In the early hours of Thursday (00:30 BST) Wynton Marsalis and the mighty Jazz at Lincoln Center organisation chipped in with their contribution...

Wynton Marsalis is, perhaps, the most famous name in jazz, he certainly presents himself as a guardian or standard bearer of the music and, true to form, suited and booted, the man couldn't have been more eloquent. In production terms this JLCO event was Premier League material. Marsalis, Glenn Close and American arts and culture benefactors were the talking heads. The muscians were from around the world performing in their own homes or studios.  

Adopting the Strictly Smokin' Big Band's split screen presentation the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra performed an arrangement of Yardbird Suite featuring vocals by Veronica Swift and Camille Thurman with band members playing their respective parts tucked up in their own homes. From NYC to all four corners of the globe, for the next ninety minutes the performers were many, the performances as good as one would expect. Highlights? Try Cécile McLorin Salvant in Florida singing accompanied by pianist Sullivan Fortner, Nduduzo Makhatini in South Africa and from Japan Makoto Ozone working with an amazing youth ensemble.    

Make a cuppa/open a bottle (depending on the time of day) then settle down for an hour and a half of top class jazz at www.jazz.org/gala2020

Russell