Herbie Hancock performing on the Pyramid stage at the 2022 Glastonbury Festival in the UK. Reuters
Herbie Hancock performing on the Pyramid stage at the 2022 Glastonbury Festival in the UK. Reuters
Herbie Hancock performing on the Pyramid stage at the 2022 Glastonbury Festival in the UK. Reuters
Herbie Hancock performing on the Pyramid stage at the 2022 Glastonbury Festival in the UK. Reuters

Jazz pioneer Herbie Hancock and Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons to lead International Jazz Day concert in Abu Dhabi


Saeed Saeed
  • English
  • Arabic

Grammy Award – winning jazz pioneer Herbie Hancock and Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons will lead a concert in Abu Dhabi celebrating International Jazz Day.

The All-Star Global Concert at Etihad Arena on April 30, organised by Unesco and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, will be hosted by Irons, with Hancock leading a stellar line-up of jazz luminaries including bassist Marcus Miller and US vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater and Terri Lyne Carrington.

Regional talent will also take centre stage, including renowned Iraqi oud player Naseer Shamma, Moroccan percussionist Rhani Krija, and rising Emirati vocalist Arqam Al Abri. The line-up is rounded out by Cuban-American jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and French-Canadian pianist Helene Mercier. The concert will also be streamed on jazzday.com and Unesco’s social media channels.

“Jazz has always been about bringing people together, breaking barriers, and inspiring creativity across cultures. International Jazz Day reminds us that music has the power to transcend borders, foster dialogue, and spark joy and hope,” Hancock said.

The All-Star Global Concert will be hosted by British actor Jeremy Irons. EPA
The All-Star Global Concert will be hosted by British actor Jeremy Irons. EPA

The All-Star Global Concert is part of a series of jazz-themed events taking place across Abu Dhabi throughout the week. On April 29, Berklee Abu Dhabi will host Jazz Night, featuring a line-up of international talent. Performing at the Saadiyat Island institution are Grammy Award – winning American bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding, Lebanese singer Mayssa Karaa and acclaimed Turkish clarinettist Husnu Senlendirici.

Also on April 29, the Abu Dhabi Festival will present a jazz concert at The Arts Centre, NYU Abu Dhabi, with US trumpeter Riley Mulherkar taking the stage. Meanwhile, the Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi will welcome Grammy Award – winning Egyptian musician Fathy Salama on May 2. He will perform with a Khaleeji drumming ensemble in a concert fusing modern jazz with regional rhythms. Tickets for the concerts are sold separately and are available online.

These events mark the culmination of Abu Dhabi’s official designation by Unesco as the Global Host City for International Jazz Day 2025. Announced last year, the honour places the UAE capital on a prestigious list of host cities that have included Paris, Washington DC, Istanbul and Melbourne.

Unesco Director General Audrey Azoulay said: “This edition will highlight the city’s rich tapestry of creativity and cultural heritage while showcasing jazz’s ability to connect communities and promote dialogue and peace across continents.”

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, said the events also reflect the emirate’s designation as a Unesco City of Music.

“Hosting International Jazz Day underlines Abu Dhabi’s commitment to cultivating cultural unity, fostering peace and understanding, and celebrating established and emerging musicians and their remarkable talents,” he said. “Jazz is a powerful tool for global connection and social harmony, and we are proud that our residents and visitors from around the world can experience the unique blend of cultural understanding, creativity and inclusivity that defines the spirit of International Jazz Day.”

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List of alleged parties
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It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?

Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.

The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.

The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.

Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver. 

The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.

But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.

Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.

It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.

So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.

Rory Reynolds

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Men:

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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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Ant-Man and the Wasp

Director: Peyton Reed

Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas

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Updated: March 26, 2025, 1:55 PM`