University of Idaho to present 59th annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival April 22-25

MOSCOW, Idaho — University of Idaho’s will host the 59th annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Wednesday through Saturday, April 22-25, bringing thousands of students and educators to Moscow for four days of performances, workshops and celebrations of jazz.  

While students will participate in three days of adjudicated performances, festivalgoers can explore a variety of free public workshops, including disco and tap-dancing classes, a yoga session, a presentation on anime and its connections to jazz and much more.  

In addition to their evening performances, headliners — including Tito Puente Jr., Jazzmeia Horn and Something Else! — will host Meet the Artist sessions, allowing students to connect with them in a more personal setting.

Evening concert schedule:

Hamp’s Gala: 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, Administration Building Auditorium

• The traditional evening kickoff concert, featuring student ensembles from the Lionel Hampton School of Music.

World Music Celebration: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 23, ICCU Arena

• Tito Puente, Jr., mambo, salsa and Latin jazz percussionist
• Summer Camargo, jazz trumpeter in SNL house band
• U of I Jazz Band I, under the direction of Vern Sielert
• U of I Jazz Choir I, under the direction of Dan Bukvich
• World Beat Ensemble, under the direction of Navin Chettri

Jazzmeia Horn and Warren Wolf: 7 p.m., Friday, April 24, ICCU Arena

• Jazzmeia Horn, Grammy-nominated, multi-award-winning jazz vocalist
• Warren Wolf, master vibraphonist and member of the SFJAZZ Collective
• U of I Chamber Jazz Choir, under the direction of Dan Bukvich
• U of I Jazz Band I, under the direction of Vern Sielert
• Palouse Jazz Project, Lionel Hampton School of Music faculty sextet
• Hamp’s Jazz Ambassadors

Something Else! and Lionel Hampton Big Band: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 25, ICCU Arena

• Something Else!, soul jazz supergroup led by Vincent Herring
• Lionel Hampton Big Band, iconic namesake ensemble featuring Jason Marsalis and Joe Double Day
• Hamp’s Jazz Ambassadors

Tickets to April 22’s Hamp’s Gala are free. All other ticket events range from $50-$70 and are available from the Bruce M. Pitman Center Box Office, online at uitickets.com or at the door while supplies last (card only). U of I students receive a 50% discount on concert tickets on a first-come, first-served basis (limited availability). A clear bag policy is in effect for all events in the ICCU Arena.

Visit uidaho.edu/jazzfest to learn more about the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.

Media contact  

Alisa Volz  
Communications strategist  
Department of Theatre Arts and Lionel Hampton School of Music  
208-885-6231  
avolz@uidaho.edu