July 21, 2008  View Gallery

Chicago took center stage in a day of world-wide celebration honoring the life and ideals of Nelson Mandela, on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

Orbert Davis, artistic director, composer, performer and conductor of Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, premiered a new composition to honor the global message, struggle, perseverance, and triumph of this humanitarian icon. The orchestra delivered the composition, entitled "Hope In Action," which artistically represents Nelson Mandela's ideals of diversity, inclusiveness, and change.

The composition seamlessly wove jazz and classical, African rhythms, interspersed with moments of inspirational narration, and culminated with a grand chorus of a children’s choir. In conjunction with the event, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic hosted and featured prominent South African jazz saxophonist and educator Zim Ngqawana, as its first "Artist-In-Residence."