The Atlanta Jazz Festival's International Jazz Day concert has been canceled.
The festival announced Monday that the illness of one of the headliners, South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela of The Jazz Epistles, led to the cancellation.
“We wish Mr. Masekela a speedy recovery and hope The Jazz Epistles will return to Atlanta," said Camille Russell Love, executive director of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Masekela cannot travel to the United States, according to the news release.
The remaining events of the 40-day festival are still taking place.
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The International Jazz Day concert was scheduled for Sunday at the Rialto Center for the Arts, a venue Masekela has played before — as recently as February 2013. His music was also included in an internationally touring musical, "Africa Umoja," that played at the Rialto Center in 2014.
The jazz musician also performed at an Atlanta rally attended by Nelson Mandela in 1990.
This year’s performance was to include performances by The Jazz Epistles with jazz vocalist Sofia Rei, jazz pianist Senri Oe and jazz vocalist Tamuz Nissim. Previously purchased tickets will be refunded from the Rialto.
The festival's Neighborhood Jazz Series event scheduled April 23 at Grant Park was also canceled, due to rain.
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