Jazz
Hampton 58th april 15-18 2025
Festival
Welcome to the 58th Jazz Festival
The Argonaut celebrates Jazz Festival
Georgia Swanson ARGONAUT
Once again, the University of Idaho will host the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, an annual honor since 1967. Next week, campus will be abuzz with the vibrant, lively, soulful energy only jazz music can convey.
Jazz is all about the present. A live performance is never the same, a call-and-response effect of improvising during solos or in smaller groups.
That makes it even more important to take advantage of the opportunities to interact with jazz music at the concerts of the very talented musicians who will be performing.
As the longtime Director of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival until 2006 and friend of Lionel Hampton, Lynn Skinner, used to say, “No where else in the world will you be able to hear a show like this in a lifetime. If you
flew to New York, if you flew to Los Angeles, to London… You’d never be able to see a show like this.”
After finding a Jazz Fest edition of The Argonaut from 1994 in our newsroom signed by Lionel Hampton, we were inspired to bring back this tradition and create a guide to this year’s Jazz Fest. That’s the signature featured on the cover.
We are doing so to uphold our commitment to being For, Of and By Students, providing our audience with everything they need to know about this spectacular event so they don’t miss anything.
The Jazz Festival is an amazing opportunity to learn more about jazz and experience live music full of passion, emotion and often, a good bit of improvisation that allows the musicians and audience members to connect with the music.
As usual, this year’s lineup is full of talented musicians and students. So, look through this guide and get ready to experience one of UI’s greatest events.
Jazz Festival concert schedule JAZZ FEST GUIDE STAFF DIRECTORY
Hampton Big Band and Hamp’s Gals to be featured
The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival is one of the oldest and largest jazz festivals in the world. This year, it features many different performances for students and community members to attend. The University of Idaho’s annual Jazz Festival is April 15-18. Here are some of the biggest events happening at this year’s festival.
Hamp’s Gals
Tuesday, April 15, 7 p.m., Administration Building Auditorium
Join the Lionel Hampton School of Music’s student ensemble for their traditional evening concert to kick off the festival. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. in the Administration Building auditorium.
World Music Celebration
Wednesday, April 16, 7 p.m., ICCU Arena
Head over to the ICCU Arena at 7 p.m. to celebrate culture and music from around the world. Experience various talents and musical compositions with performances from Christine Jensen; Arun Ramamurthy; the UI Jazz Band I, directed by Vern Sielert; the UI Jazz Choir I directed by Dan Bukvich; and the World Beat Ensemble.
Concerts
Thursday, April 17, 7 p.m., ICCU Arena
The ICCU Arena will host even more concerts for the Jazz Festival, beginning at 7 p.m. On this night, attendees can expect to see more wonderful musical performances from Take 6, Jamie Baum, UI Chamber Jazz Choir, UI Jazz Band I, the Palouse Jazz Project and Hamp’s Jazz Ambassadors.
Concerts
Friday, April 18, 7 p.m., ICCU Arena
To conclude the 2025 Jazz Festival,
there will be one final night of musical performances in the ICCU Arena at 7 p.m. The final three performances will be from the Jeff Hamilton Trio, the Lionel Hampton Big Band featuring special guest Jason Marsalis and Hamp’s Jazz Ambassadors.
Purchasing Tickets
Tickets for the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival will be available for purchase at the following locations: Online: Tickets are available at uitickets.com.
Bruce Pitman Center: During the week of the Jazz Festival, the Pitman Center will be open for in-person purchases. Contact (208) 885-4636 for their operation hours. ICCU Arena: During the week of the Jazz Festival, ticket sales will open at 6 p.m., one hour before the concerts for last-minute purchases. For any questions about concert tickets, contact the UI Ticket Office at (208) 885-4636 or uitickets@ uidaho.edu.
Brooklynn Jolley ARGONAUT John Keegan | Argonaut The crowd at one of the concerts
Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival history
How UI’s biggest music event was shaped
The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, one of the biggest jazz festivals in the nation, has been a proud accomplishment of the University of Idaho’s Lionel Hampton School of Music.
An event that involves a number of recognized artists and excited audiences each year, the event only continues to grow.
Beginning in 1967, the first UI Jazz Festival was on a much smaller scale than it is today.
In one day, a dozen student groups performed, while one guest artist appeared.
However, 15 years later, in 1982, the legendary Ella Fitzgerald took the stage. This naturally got the
attention of audiences across the nation, which brought the festival newfound popularity.
It wasn’t until 1984 that the festival’s most important relationship developed.
Lionel Hampton, an influential and legendary jazz performer from Louisville, Kentucky, began a partnership with the music school after being inspired by the enthusiasm of the students.
After pledging his support to the festival and music education, the festival was renamed in his honor in 1985.
Hampton, an American jazz vibraphonist, percussionist, composer, arranger and bandleader, was born in 1908 and quickly became a musical legend.
Working with the likes of Teddy Wilson and Quincy Jones, his career was one that took him around the world.
Also known as the “King of Vibes” after working the vibraphone while playing with Louis Armstrong in 1930, his legacy followed him wherever he went.
His connection with UI originally began in the 1980s, when he began to teach for
the music program to promote his dreams of music education.
In 1987, the university’s music school was renamed the Lionel Hampton School of Music after him, two years after the festival was renamed.
That’s why, while this year is technically the 58th year of the festival, this is the 50th anniversary of the true Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.
Having now grown into a three-day experience and celebration that’s brought together not only students and musicians from across the state, but also spectators and artists from around the world, this event continues to be a hit every year.
However, none of this could have been made possible without the immense contributions of another man: Doc Skinner.
Skinner, one of the jazz festival’s original directors, began his diligent work in the early ‘70s. After becoming festival director in 1976, he was the one who first invited Lionel Hampton to attend in 1984.
Through his dedication to the arts, the friendship and passions he shared with Hampton and the critical role he played in the festival and the university, Skinner served the LHSOM for decades.
Although he retired in 2007, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival received the National Medal of Arts that year in part because of his dedicated contributions and efforts.
While the jazz festival may be immensely popular and celebrated today, it was not always so.
Through the dedication of its numerous directors, staff and faculty of the LHSOM, Hampton himself and, of course, the hundreds of students that have been involved over the years, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival has continued to flourish.
Paige Wilton ARGONAUT
University of Idaho Jazz Office
Lionel Hampton on stage with Al Grey, two other trombone players and Ray Brown the bass player
Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Collection
John Fricke and Lynn “Doc” Skinner point at each other
Hampton Jazz Festival Collection Lionel Hampton plays at 1990 Jazz Festival
For 58 years, Jazz Festival entertains UI and Moscow
Notable performers over the years include Ella Fitzgerald and Hampton himself
Brooklynn Jolley ARGONAUT
The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival is one of the biggest annual traditions at the University of Idaho, dating all the way back to 1967. It’s also the largest jazz festival west of the Mississippi River.
Each year, thousands of students, music lovers and people of all ages travel to Moscow to experience the musical variety and talent of Jazz Fest.
Jazz Fest provides people with a oneof-a-kind opportunity to meet great jazz performers/musicians, attend fun workshops and partake in musical events and concerts.
The very first Jazz Festival was a single-day event consisting of only 15 student groups and one jazz performer,
hosting a one-night concert. Now, the festival runs for four days and consists of many different concerts, performances and artists, both student and professional.
One of the most exciting aspects of Jazz Fest is the jazz legends who come to UI to perform for students and the community.
Some of the greats who have performed at the festival include Ella Fitzgerald, Elvin Jones, Dianne Reeves, Benny Green, Hank Jones, Sarah Vaughan and Lionel Hampton himself with his New York Big Band.
The festival was renamed in Hampton’s honor in 1985. Two years later in 1987, UI’s school of Music was also renamed for him.
Jazz Festival is an integral part of the musical community at UI and Moscow, and it keeps evolving to be better and better each year. With the help of the many UI staff members that set up and run it, the Jazz Festival continues to provide a fun and exciting musical experience for many.
Brian Bromberg plays bass at the 1998 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
Lionel Hampton Jazz
More opportunities to interact with jazz
Wednesday
Disco Jazz
Wednesday, April 16, 9-10 a.m., PEB Studio 110; Thursday, April 17, 2:453:45 p.m., PEB Studio 212
Gracie Kennedy, B.S. movement sciences, and Alina Steichen will help you learn some fun and nostalgic dance moves straight from the ‘70s disco era of jazz.
Jam Session Ready: Learn a Tune by Ear
Wednesday, April 16, 9-10 a.m., Albertson Building Room 102; Thursday, April 17, 9-10 a.m., Albertson Building Room 102
Steve Treseler, a Seattle-based saxophonist, composer and teaching artist, will help you meet other musicians and learn a song through call-andresponse to gain experience from one another.
Jazz Pizazz
Wednesday, April 16, 9-10 a.m., PEB Studio 212; Thursday, April 17, 1:302:30 p.m., PEB Studio 110
Colleen Bialas and Grace Tish, B.S.Ed., will show you how to reinforce your dynamics, rhythm and syncopation with dance.
It’s All You: How Your Solo Moves the Big Band Forward
Wednesday, April 16, 9-10 a.m., Renfrew Hall Room 112
Learn from saxophonist, composer and educator Rob Wilkerson to create solos that pull from the melody, arrangement and ideas of the music you
are performing to assist your ensemble.
So, You Want to Record a Jazz Album?
Wednesday, April 16, 9-10 a.m., Albertson Building Room 101; Friday, April 18, 9-10 a.m., Albertson Building Room 101
Join Jamie Shew to learn the process, cost and expectations of making and releasing your own album.
Creative Movement
Wednesday, April 16, 10:15-11:15 a.m., PEB Studio 110; Thursday, April 17, 1:30-2:30 p.m., PEB Studio 111
Clinical associate professor and Dance co-program coordinator Melanie Meenan will guide you through the exploration of movement with prompts and games. Great for all ages and movement abilities.
Music and the Rule of Law: From the Blues to Hip Hop
Wednesday, April 16, 10:15-11:15
a.m., Albertson Building Room 101
Learn about the history of blues as it relates to the injustice of Black people in history and how hip hop might serve a similar purpose in the 21st century with David Pimentel, a professor of law.
Rhythmic Journeys: When U.S. Jazz Men and Women went to Rio de Janeiro, fell in love with Brazil and came back with Bossa Nova
Wednesday, April 16, 10:15-11:15 a.m., Albertson Building Room 102; Friday, April 18, 10:15-11:25 a.m., Renfrew Hall Room 111
Dale Graden, a professor of history, discusses the history of Bossa Nova and the story about a group of musicians who traveled to Rio de Janeiro and came back to create a new genre.
Twelve Keys to Jazz Fluency
Wednesday, April 16, 1:20-2:30 p.m., Albertson Building Room 101
A hands-on experience for horns to learn some melodies and jazz vocabulary in all 12 keys with Rob Wilkerson.
Broadway Jazz
Wednesday, April 16, 1:30-2:30 p.m., PEB Studio 110; Thursday, April 17, 10:15-11:15 a.m., PEB Studio 212; Friday, April 18, 1:30-2:30 p.m., PEB Studio 110
Join Dance program affiliate faculty Colleen Bialas and Kaylee Clough, B.S. dance, to explore dynamic changes and styles that are associated with Broadway jazz.
Dance Conditioning
Wednesday, April 16, 1:30-2:30 p.m., PEB Studio 212
Join Pilates, yoga and barre-based classes as Hannah Turner teaches you healthy ways to develop flexibility, strength and coordination.
Performance Anxiety: Play Your Best Under Pressure
Wednesday, April 16, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Albertson Building Room 102; Thursday, April 17, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Albertson Building Room 102
Steve Treseler will walk you through performance strategies in order to manage the common feeling of performance anxiety.
Pilates Open Lab
Wednesday, April 16, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Memorial Gym
If you are curious about Pilates, come learn about equipment, private sessions and training programs offered at UI from Melanie Meenan.
Hip Hop
Wednesday, April 16, 2:45-3:45 p.m., PEB Studio 212; Friday, April 18, 9-10 a.m., Memorial Gym; Friday, April 18, 1:30-3:30 p.m., PEB Studio 110
The Vandal Hip Hop Club, Alina Steichen and Kaylee Clough are here to teach some dance moves with jazz and funk music.
Pilates
Wednesday, April 16, 2:45-3:45 p.m., PEB Studio 110; Friday, April 18, 9-10 a.m., PEB Studio 212
Join an all-levels Pilates class with Victoria Robillard, B.S. exercise, sport and health sciences, focusing on core support, strength and mobility to help improve posture and prevent vocal injuries.
Sing Like a Horn, Play Like a Singer
Wednesday, April 16, 2:45-3:45 p.m., Albertson Building Room 102; Friday, April 18, 2:45-3:45 p.m., Albertson Building Room 102
Jazz vocalist Jamie Shew will work with you to explore the parallels between vocals and instruments to work better with one another.
The Music of Poetry
Wednesday, April 16, 2:45-3:45 p.m., Albertson Building Room 101
Learn about the intersection of music and poetry by listening to music influenced by poetry and poetry influenced by music in a workshop with Spencer Young, M.F.A. poetry.
Thursday
Customize a Tune: Harmonization and Chord Substitution
Thursday, April 17, 9-10 a.m., Renfrew Hall Room 111
Come and listen as pianist and composer Clay Giberson
Hilary Valdez ARGONAUT
Jazz Festival workshops
demonstrates a couple different approaches to jazz music, diatonic and chromatic.
Improvisation for Everyone: Compelling jazz solos, whether you know music theory or not!
Thursday, April 17, 9-10 a.m., Renfrew Hall Room 112; Thursday, April 17, 2:45-3:45 p.m., Renfrew Hall Room 111
Saxophonist and educator Kate Olson walks you through how to use listening skills and easy-to-master concepts in order to improvise and create better solos.
Jazz and Anime
Thursday, April 17, 9-10 a.m., Albertson Building Room 101
Learn about the ties between jazz and anime through Japanese pop and lo-fi from professors Jeff Kyong-McClain, Rebecca Scofield and Yasheng She.
Musical Theater
Thursday, April 17, 9-10 a.m., PEB Studio 212
Explore the relationship between musical theater music and dance through a well-known musical with Kaylee Clough.
Riff: Improvisation
Thursday, April 17, 9-10 a.m., PEB
Studio 110
Learn about tools and listening skills to improve improvisation and riffs with dancer and musician Corrie Befort.
Steam Heat: Fosse
Thursday, April 17, 9-10 a.m., Memorial Gym; Friday, April 18, 1:302:30 p.m., Memorial Gym
Jess Hirsh, an assistant professor of musical theater, will teach you the original choreography for the fosse number “Steam Heat” from the Pajama Game.
Contemporary Thursday, April 17, 10:15-11:15 a.m., PEB Studio 110
Belle Baggs, a clinical associate professor and Dance co-program coordinator, will be teaching you about modern contemporary dance through rhythm and fluidity while helping you grow your own personal style.
Hey, That’s Not Jazz?! Secrets of Arranging Pop Tunes for Jazz Groups
Thursday, April 17, 10:15-11:15 a.m., Albertson Building Room 101; Thursday, April 17, 2:45-3:45 p.m., Albertson Building Room 101
A visiting professor of music from Willamette University, James Miley, walks through different ways you can pop songs into jazz without losing the original spirit of the song.
Swing Dance
Thursday, April 17, 10:15-11:15 a.m., Memorial Gym; Thursday, April 17, 2:45-3:45 p.m., PEB Gym 111; Friday, April 18, 10:15-11:15 a.m., Memorial Gym; Friday, April 18, 2:45-3:45 p.m., Memorial Gym
Join the Swing Devils and learn some classic swing dancing with people of all skill levels.
Hot Club Jazz
Thursday, April 17, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Renfrew Hall Room 111
All instrument players are welcome to come and learn about this European jazz tradition by taking apart transcriptions and learning a song with Max Wolpert, a clinical assistant professor of composition.
Raga and Tala 101
Thursday, April 17, 1:30-
2:30 p.m., Albertson Building Room 101
Arun Ramamurthy will teach you about the building blocks of Indian classical music, specifically about melody (Raga) and time cycles (Tala).
Body Percussion
Thursday, April 17, 2:45-3:45 p.m., Physical Education Building Studio 110; Friday, April 18, 10:15-11:15 a.m., PEB Studio 212
Hannah Turner, B.S. exercise, sport and health sciences, will be encouraging you to move and have fun while teaching you how to use your body as an instrument.
Keyboard Voicings: A Functional Approach
Thursday, April 17, 2:45-3:45 p.m., Albertson Building Room 102
Learn with Clay Giberson how to build chord voicing for songs by using example tunes with functional and chromatic harmony.
Friday
Music for Two Hands, Poetry for Two Voices
Friday, April 18, 9-10 a.m., Albertson Building Room 102
Chris Drangle, a visiting assistant professor of English, will lead you through a creative writing exercise to understand the connection between time and signatures in both music and literature.
Swing Kids: Music as Resistance in Nazi Germany
Friday, April 18, 9-10 a.m., Renfrew Hall Room 112
Rachel Halverson will talk about a group of German kids who resisted Nazi regime by embracing jazz and swing music.
ICM Guided Listening Session: Carnatic and Hindustani Music Friday, April 18, 10:15-
11:15 a.m., Albertson Building Room 102
Join violinist Arun Ramamurthy as he breaks down the history and structures of Carnatic and Hindustani music in an open session.
Math in the Music Scale
Friday, April 18, 10:15-11:15 a.m., Renfrew Hall Room 112
Mark Neilsen, a professor of mathematics, discusses the math that goes into music and why certain things are done the way they are in music.
Shapes and Intervals: Unlocking Jazz Voicings on the Piano
Friday, April 18, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Albertson Building Room 102
Break down voicings and comping for jazz with Kate Skinner.
Western Swing Workshop Friday, April 18, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Renfrew Hall Room 111
Max Wolpert will teach you about the American jazz tradition by learning tunes and practicing improvisation.
Accompanying Jazz Vocalists on the Guitar Friday, April 18, 2:45-3:45 p.m., Renfrew Hall Room 111
Come listen to Will St. Peter as he presents on practices and techniques that guitarists use to accompany jazz singers and their many styles. He will be showing these techniques in collaboration with assistant professor of jazz piano Kate Skinner.
Photos by John Keegan | Collage by Connor Anderson | Argonaut
Students take center stage
From middle school college,throughstudent competitions, awards and performances
The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival is known for its performers, particularly the students. Students at the University of Idaho and other visiting schools get the chance to perform with world-renowned artists and a chance to win a scholarship.
All winners receive a trophy and certificate; runners up will receive a certificate. Students receive some of the music the artists will perform months in advance so they can practice.
“We are rehearsing very hard,” Vern Sielert, UI’s Director of Jazz Studies said. “A lot of preparation goes into the music being played on the main stage.”
Due to UI being the host school, UI students only compete in the solo competitions. However, many more students from around the area come to compete in several competitions. Each will have judges to decide who moves on.
Students not only get to compete but are immersed in a world of music for three straight days.
“The amazement and the inspiration that I see on their faces in the moment—it makes all the work worthwhile,” Sielert said. “Their eyes are opened up to a lot more understanding of different styles of jazz. The best way to experience jazz is to see people performing it live.”
Here is an overview of the student performance schedule.
Wednesday, April 16: Elementary, Junior and College
• College Instrumental Large Ensemble: Lionel Hampton School of Music Haddock Performance Hall, 8:10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Junior and Elementary Large Ensembles: Administration Building Auditorium, 8:50 a.m.-4:20 p.m.
• Junior Instrumental Large Ensembles: Lionel Hampton School of Music Room 216, 8:50 a.m.-3:40 p.m.
• College Instrumental Solos and Combos: TLC Room 046, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Junior Instrumental Combos and Solos: TLC Room 050, 8:20 a.m.-3 p.m.
Thursday, April 17: Senior Vocal and Select Senior Instrumental Ensembles
• Senior Instrumental Large Ensembles, Division 1 and 2: LHSOM Room 216, 8:10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Senior Vocal Large Ensembles, Division 1, 2 and 3: LHSOM Haddock Performance Hall, 8:10 a.m.4:30 p.m.
• Senior Instrumental Large Ensembles, Division 1, 3 and Open: ISUB Clearwater Room, 8:50 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Senior Vocal Large Ensembles and Senior Vocal Combos, Division 1, 2, 3 and Open: Administration Building Auditorium, 8:10 a.m.-4:10 p.m.
• Senior Vocal Solos, Division 1, 2 and 3: TLC Room 046, 9:20 a.m.-4:40 p.m.
Thursday, April 17: Senior Vocal & select Senior Instrumental Ensembles
• Senior Instrumental Large Ensembles, Division 1 and 2: LHSOM Room 216, 8:10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Senior Vocal Large Ensembles, Division 1, 2 and 3: LHSOM Haddock Performance Hall, 8:10 a.m.4:30 p.m.
• Senior Instrumental Large Ensembles, Division 1, 3 and Open: ISUB Clearwater Room, 8:50 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Senior Vocal Large Ensembles and Senior Vocal Combos, Division 1, 2, 3 and Open: Administration Building Auditorium, 8:10 a.m.-4:10 p.m.
• Senior Vocal Solos, Division 1, 2 and 3: TLC Room 046, 9:20 a.m.-4:40 p.m.
Friday, April 18: Senior Instrumental
• Senior Instrumental Large Ensembles, Division 2: Administration Building Auditorium, 8:10 a.m.-3:40 p.m.
• Senior Instrumental Large Ensembles, Division 1: LDS Institute Gymnasium, 8:50 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Senior Instrumental Large Ensembles, Division 1, continued: ISUB Clearwater Room, 9:30 a.m.-3:40 p.m.
• Senior Instrumental Large Ensembles, Division 3: LHSOM Haddock Performance Hall, 8:50 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Senior Instrumental Combos, Division 1: TLC Room 040, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Senior Brass Solos, Division 1 and 2: TLC Room 050, 9:40 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Senior Instrumental Large Ensembles, Division 1: LHSOM Room 216, 8:10 a.m.-2:40 p.m.
• Senior Instrumental Combos, Division 1, 2 and 3: TLC Room 030, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Senior Saxophone Solos, Division 1 and 2: TLC Room 044 8:40 a.m.-4:40 p.m.
• Senior Instrumental Combos, Division 1 and 2: TLC Room 032, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Senior Rhythm Solos, Division 1 and 2: TLC Room 046, 9 a.m.-4:40 p.m.
For specific schools, visit the Jazz Festival website: www.uidaho.edu/ class/jazzfest/students/performanceschedule.
Andrea Roberts ARGONAUT
John Keegan | Argonaut
A student musician poses with an upright bass
John Keegan | Argonaut A student ensemble’s clarinets lined up to perform
John Keegan | Argonaut A trumpeter blasts a solo in front of an enthusiastic audience
Festival performer lineup
Old favorites and new sounds join to create unforgettable performances
Andrea Roberts ARGONAUT
The artists performing at the Jazz Festival are some of the highlights of the event, as world-renowned performers play on campus, influencing students and the community. Throughout the last near six decades, artists have visited from all over the nation. What once started with one guest artist at the first Jazz Festival in 1967, has transformed into a myriad of talent with many guest
passion for music,” Vern Sielert, the Director of Jazz Studies, said.
Take 6 is one of the returning groups who made a promotional video about their time at the University of Idaho and how excited they were to return.
Here are the performers that will be playing over the three days.
Arun Ramamurthy
Wednesday, April 16, 7
p.m., ICCU Arena
A part of the World Music Celebration, Ramamurthy blends traditional South Indian Carnatic music with a multitude of genres. He is a Brooklyn-based violinist and draws inspiration from Western classical influences.
Christine Jensen
Wednesday, April 16, 7
performers being featured at the festival.
The artists are chosen by the directors of the festival.
“We are very much interested in people who are great artists, who are out there creating new music, doing new things, but who are also passionate about music education and who are enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge and their
p.m., ICCU Arena
Jensen is a saxophone player and a composer. She has created globally acclaimed albums “Habitat” and “Treelines” and is also the founding Artistic Director of the Canadian National Jazz Orchestra.
Take 6
Thursday, April 17, 7
p.m., ICCU Arena
Take 6 has 10 Grammy Awards and 10 Dove
Awards. The group includes Claude McKnight, Mark and Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea and Khristian Dentley. They blend gospel, jazz, R&B and pop in a Cappella harmonies.
Jamie Baum
Thursday, April 17, 7
p.m., ICCU Arena
Baum is a flutist and composer. She has toured over 35 countries and teaches at the Manhattan School of Music.
Hamp’s Jazz Ambassadors
Thursday, April 17 and Friday, April 18, 7 p.m., ICCU Arena
The Jazz Ambassadors are a collegiate ensemble made up of college students from the U.S. and abroad. They will also perform during the workshop series during the festival.
Jeff Hamilton Trio
Friday, April 18, 7 p.m., ICCU Arena
Hamilton is a renowned drummer who leads the trio. He has made over 200 recordings and co-directs
the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.
Lionel Hampton Big Band
Friday, April 18, 7 p.m., ICCU Arena
This group is co-led by former Hampton band members, continuing his legacy and playing music from some of the most famous jazz musicians.
John Keegan | Argonaut A vocalist for Kenny Garrett’s “Sounds from the Ancestors”
John Keegan | Argonaut
A Hamp’s Jazz Ambassador performs in last year’s festival
John Keegan | Argonaut A vocalist for Lionel Hampton Big Band
John Keegan | Argonaut
The Lionel Hampton Big Band bows to the audience during the 2024 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
Beyond the music and performance
How the Jazz Festival impacts the community
Andrea Roberts ARGONAUT
The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival not only influences the University of Idaho but deeply impacts the Moscow community and beyond. What began as a small event has grown into one of the nation’s most recognized jazz festivals, drawing participants and audiences from around the country.
Each year, the festival welcomes a multitude of school groups. Middle schools, high schools and colleges come to perform, compete and watch some of the most wellknown jazz performers there are.
The influx of visitors has a large economic impact on the town itself, from fully booked hotels to restaurants and shops that many visit while they are in Moscow. For many attendees, it’s their first time visiting UI or Moscow, leaving a lasting impression and encouraging future visits or enrollment.
Presley McFaddan, a junior at UI majoring in music business, volunteered to help with the festival.
“As a music major, the faculty at LHSOM highly encourage us to volunteer so there are people who are knowledgeable about music to help with the festival,” she said. “Jazz Fest brings people together by providing a space for performers and community members alike to experience world-class music. There are also great educational opportunities provided for students that attend Jazz Fest from middle school all the way to college that are extremely beneficial.”
The festival is more than just performances. Clinics, masterclasses and workshops are offered, giving students the opportunity to learn from some of the top artists in the industry. These educational components of the festival are what makes it unique.
“I was inspired to volunteer for Jazz Fest to gain experience as a music business major,” McFaddan said. “After graduation, I hope to work for performing arts groups hosting large
events similar to Jazz Fest, so any experience I can gain is valuable.”
The festival was first held in 1967 and originally featured only a dozen student groups and one performer. It began to rise to fame when, in 1982, Ella Fitzgerald performed. This drew thousands to the festival and the university and helped shape the festival to what it is now.
“Jazz Fest builds a stronger sense of community by bringing people who appreciate music together,” McFaddan said. “As Jazz Fest continues to evolve, it will have the ability to bring in more artists and potentially offer more scholarships for students to travel to visit the festival.”
The festival’s continued growth showcases the value of music education. Its legacy and tradition will continue on through the performers, community members and students.
“The festival brings people together through music,” Trysta McClain, a freshman majoring in chemical engineering, said. McClain plays the saxophone in the marching band. “Music events aren’t really common in Idaho. Music is used for celebration and to express emotion through art. Being educated in it is a necessity at this point.
It’s an everyday thing. Most people can’t walk down the street without an earbud playing music in their ear. With the jazz festival, it’s an older type of music, but it showcases where music has been and how it’s progressed.”
John Keegan | Argonaut Kenny Garrett and “Sounds of the Ancestors” bowing after their show
John Keegan | Argonaut Kenny Garrett singing to the audience
John Keegan | Argonaut A performer plays the saxophone
uiargonaut.com
Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival 2024
Photos by John Keegan, Collage by Georgia Swanson | Argonaut