About the Composition: April in Jerusalem

The 2026 Jazz Day Relay composition is named April in Jerusalem by composer Samer Rashed in partnership with Ramallah, Palestine (UCCN Music City since 2019) and the UCCN Music Subnetwork. The 2026 Jazz Day Relay composition is entitled “April in Jerusalem (dedicated for Mahmoud and Maha)” a composition by Samer Rashad (viola) in partnership with the UCCN Music City of Ramallah, Palestine.  According to the composer – “this piece is intended to take you on a journey in the alleys of the old city of Jerusalem, and show you the beauty and magic that lie in every detail of this city.”[i] About the spirit of the song – the composer says:

“The heart of this work lies in positivity, hope, and renewal — showing how people can find strength, beauty, and light even when faced with challenges. Since April in Jerusalem evokes a sense of rebirth, peace, and shared humanity, we can encourage lyricists to explore those ideas within a single, shared language, ensuring the message remains unified while still allowing room for personal interpretation and expression.”

April in Jerusalem was featured on Samer’s second album “Tales of the Gypsy Jazz”, released in May 2019. The song is Samer’s original composition and one that he shares with the Cities of the UCCN for the 2026 Jazz Day Relay celebration of International Jazz Day, 30 April 2026.

To learn more about the composer – please check out this feature from Seattle City of Literature.

[i] The song appears on Samer Rashed’s 2019 album Tales of the Gypsy Jazz (Levantine Music). Composition, Arrangements and Viola: Samer Rashed; Bass Guitar: Charlie Rishmawi; Percussion: Hussien Abu Rob; Drums: Pierre Saliba; Accordion: Mohammad Qutati; Piano: Joseph Duqmaq