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International Jazz Day-Irakli Louis Ambassadors/Tbilisi Big Band

By Mariam Chanishvili
Wednesday, April 24
Georgia celebrates the International Day of Jazz with the concert of the "Irakli Louis Ambassadors" - one of the best jazz bands of France and Tbilisi City Hall's Big Band.

The concert will take place at the National Botanical Garden of Georgia on April 30.

Irakli Louis Ambassadors, a band, composed of 6 members, has a bandleader descendant of Georgian emigrants - Irakli De Davrichewy (Davishev-Davishashvili). The musician's work is closely related to the jazz genius legend, Louis Armstrong. Irakli recreates Armstrong’s music in his trumpet improvisations.

It was at the age of 16, listening to St James Infirmary recorded in 1928 by Louis Armstrong when Irakli was first fascinated by jazz.

The most important date for Irakli Davishev's career was June 4, 1965, when he held a joint concert with Louis Armstrong. The musician has been known for bringing Armstrong's music to the public.

The famous Tbilisi Big-Band was founded by a well-known Georgian theatrical administrator and musical organizer, Gaioz Kandelaki. The band is musically headed by Georgia’s famous composer and conductor Givi Gachechiladze and soloed by Maia Baratashvili.

The project is implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, Tbilisi City Hall, the Embassy of France in Georgia and organized by Zakaria Paliashvili Central Music School.

Attendance at the concert is free of charge.

Celebrated every April 30, International Jazz Day is an International Day declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2011 ‘to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe.’