Chicago has been selected as the host city for International Jazz Day 2026, marking the event's 15th anniversary and underscoring the city's legendary role in jazz history.
At the center of the celebration-on April 30-will be the All-Star Global Concert, curated and directed by Chicago native Herbie Hancock. While the full lineup remains under wraps, one confirmed star is Israeli-born saxophonist Eli Degibri.
The celebration will encompass citywide performances and community events, educational workshops, and panel discussions designed to engage fans, artists, educators, and curious minds alike. This aligns with the mission of International Jazz Day-founded by UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute-to use jazz to foster peace, dialogue, and human dignity. Hancock, who conceived the global event, also serves as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue.
For over a century, Chicago has been synonymous with jazz. From the pioneering days of Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton-and of course Jewish Chicagoan Benny Goodman-the city cultivated a distinctive jazz style defined by improvisation, expressive solos, driving rhythm, and elevated saxophone presence. Today, that legacy thrives at venues such as the Green Mill in Uptown, the Jazz Showcase downtown, and through the Chicago Jazz Festival in Grant Park. Hosting International Jazz Day cements the city's reputation as both a historic birthplace and a living hub of the music.
Eli Degibri: Global voice, local resonance
If Chicago provides the stage, Eli Degibri will bring the voice. Born in Jaffa, Israel, in the late 1970s, Degibri began on mandolin before discovering the saxophone. By 16, he had earned a scholarship to Berklee College of Music's summer program; soon after, he was handpicked for the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, studying with legends like Ron Carter and Jimmy Heath.
His career took flight when he joined Herbie Hancock's sextet in 1999, touring internationally and recording on
Gershwin's World
. By 2002, he had moved to New York City, where he co-founded a quintet with Kurt Rosenwinkel, Aaron Goldberg, Ben Street, and Jeff Ballard. Together they performed at the Blue Note and Jazz Standard until he became a fixture in Al Foster's Quartet, playing alongside the legendary drummer for nearly a decade.
Degibri's discography showcases both virtuosity and deep emotional range, from his debut
In the Beginning
(2003) to his critically acclaimed
Israeli Song
(2010), featuring Brad Mehldau and Ron Carter.
Through his label PiLi Records, he released
Cliff Hangin'
(2016) -which earned a rare five-star review from
DownBeat
-and
Soul Station
(2018), a tribute to Hank Mobley. His most recent album,
Henri and Rachel
(2021), pays homage to his parents. Recorded before the pandemic, it explores love, loss, and memory.
Degibri's voice carries special resonance at a time of conflict. His journey from Israel to the international stage reflects the unifying spirit at the heart of International Jazz Day-bridging divides and creating common ground.
The head of Jazz Studies at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Deibri also directs Israel's Red Sea Jazz Festival.
A symbolic moment
International Jazz Day 2026 comes at a uniquely meaningful time. Chicago's role as host coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States and the centennial of Miles Davis birth.
Chicago's rich jazz lineage-from Bronzeville's legendary clubs to nationwide radio broadcasts-embodies both the city's soul and its resilience. On April 30, the world will listen as Degibri's saxophone echoes from Chicago, carrying jazz's timeless message of unity through music.
Soraya Fata is a Chicago-based freelance writer and attorney
