Oakland to celebrate International Jazz Day

The town of Oakland is gearing up to celebrate International Jazz Day with live jazz music, arts and more.

International Jazz Day will be celebrated from 11 a.m. to on Friday, April 30, and visitors are in for a treat with live jazz music from saxophonist Jordan Bolds, in partnership with the HAPCO Music Foundation. Bolds will be playing on the the front porch of the Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center's front porch as visitors step inside the gallery full of paintings, historical photos, artifacts and more.

Bolds is a student at the University of Central Florida and a member of Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Church, where he serves as the church saxophonist. Having played for eight years now, he has participated in many churches, community and social programs and contests.

Visitors will be able to sit on the front porch, picnic tables and benches, or bring their lawn chairs and listen to the music from the grass next to the West Orange Trail. Only 10 visitors will be allowed inside the center at a time, and protocols such as social distancing and mandatory masks will be in place.

International Jazz Day is a holiday created by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe.