The Valley has an all-day opportunity to celebrate International Jazz Day in April.

The commemoration day, originally spawned by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and legendary jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, emanates from the United Nations educational, scientific, and cultural organization. It has since become an annual celebration with events worldwide.

Downtown Phoenix will get in on the party.

On Saturday, April 13, the Phoenix Center for the Arts will present a free jazz extravaganza featuring many of the top musicians in Arizona. Admission is free.

This inaugural Phoenix International Jazz Day Festival will kick off at 11 a.m. with live music inside the Center’s Third Street Theater and will present a different outstanding group at the top of every hour:

• 11 a.m.: The Nash Jazz Divaz all-girl octet
• Noon: Young Sounds Big Band
• 1 p.m.: Ioannis Goudelis Trio
• 2 p.m.: Sandra Bassett Group
• 3 p.m.: Clark Gibson Quartet
• 4 p.m.: Mary Petrich & OpenHand
• 5 p.m.: Running From Bears
• 6 p.m.: Gabriel Bey & Friends
• 7 p.m.: Asim Nichols Quartet

The Phoenix Center for the Arts is located at 1202 N. 3rd St., in Phoenix.

Artist booths, food and drink vendors, and more will be surrounding the theater. Look for the tents outside Third Street Theater and listen for music.

Visit PhoenixCenterForTheArts.org.

The Sandra Bassett Group will perform at 2 p.m. at the inaugural Phoenix International Jazz Day Festival on April 13.

(Photo provided by Southwest Arts & Music)