2001-2002
Last update. 2010, April 9.
HOMEPAGE
www.lionelhampton.nl
Jazz
Without Joy
by Gary North
The Lionel Hampton Orchestra
The dates for the 2002 Lionel
Hampton Jazz Festival are
February 20 - 23.
The Lionel Hampton Jazz
Gala, February 19.
2001, October
12th
The
Lionel Hampton Orchestra
Jamaica
NY
October 13th
Newark
NJ
June 30th
The
Lionel Hampton Orchestra
TBA
June, 22nd, 23rd,
24th
The
Lionel Hampton Orchestra
Jackie
Robbinson Fondation Jazz Festival
Connecticut
June, 21
President George W. Bush
honors music legend Lionel Hampton during a ceremony recognizing
Black Music Month in the
East Room of the White House on June 30, 2001.
WHITE HOUSE PHOTO BY PAUL
MORSE
Story
-
May 3
Harrisburg Penn.
Whitaker Center
for Science and the Arts
3rd & Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
USA
Whitaker
Center-
Schedule
Hampton Concert -
Phone: 717-214-2787
Tickets $32.50
May 4
Greensburg Pa.
The
Palace Theatre-
The Orchestra
Lionel
Hampton, Vibes-Cleve Guyton, Lead Alto Saxophone-Marshall McDonald,
Alto
Saxophone & Clarinet Lance Bryant, First Tenor Saxophone
Jerry
Weldon, Second Tenor Saxophone-Dave Shumacher, Baritone Saxophone
Tony
Barrero, Lead Trumpet-Anibal Martinez, Trumpet-Jim Rotondi, Trumpet
Charles
Stephens, Lead Trombone-Dana Leong, Second Trombone-Alex Joen, Third Trombone
Christian
Fabian, Bass-Kuni Mukami, Piano-Wally Gator Watson, Drums.
Center
for the Performing Arts
21
West Otterman Street
Greensburg,
PA 15601
(724)
836-8000
Lionel Hampton doesn’t just
play music – he lives it, breathes it, it’s in his blood.
And it should be, he’s been
at it for more than 70 years! The legendary vibes player and
his orchestra play
The Palace Theatre on Friday, May 4th at 8 p.m.
Hampton has been a vital
contributor to musical history as a
composer-conductor-entertainer,
establishing
himself as a jazz superstar
throughout the world.
As he approaches his 93rd
birthday, a perpetual grin still lights up his face during
each performance; his exuberance
is contagious. Enjoy a night with a living legend!
Lionel Hampton tickets are
available for $20 and $15 through The Palace Theatre
Box Office at 724-836-8000.
May 5
Wilkes Barre PA.
Grico's River Street Jazz Cafe
665 North River Street
Wilkes Barre (Plains), PA
18701 USA
Grico's
Jazz Cafe-
Phone: 570-822-2992
Possibly two shows, including
one "dinner show." This cafe seats approximately 200 people.
Tickets $17.00
Musser
Tribute to the Jazz Great Lionel Hampton
Musser
Vibraphone Tribute for Hamp
Subject:
LIONEL HAMPTON
Fri, 13 Apr 2001 21:25:58
-0400
"Early
Autumn Productions, Inc." <deniro@optonline.net>
To:HANS BEBOP <h.bebop@speed.a2000.nl>
Hi
Hans,
Angela, Matthew, and
I went to Hamp's house today. We had a wonderful time
listening to music and talking.
Hamp played a CD of two Russian musicians performing
songs that were written
by Dr. Skinner. I didn't know that Dr. Skinner was such a fine
composer. The Russian musicians
(tenor saxophone and piano) whose names I don't know, were also
excellent. Bassist
Christian Fabian also dropped by while we were there. Christian has
been playing with Hamp's
band since 1999 and according to Hamp, is a great bass
player. Angela and I very
much enjoyed meeting Christian and it was great to see Hamp
and Ruben. Both looked wonderful.
We took some pictures and I will e-mail them to you
as soon as I get them developed.
We will be visiting
Hamp again next week for his birthday. Angela will bake him his
favorite "peaches and cream"
cake. I hope all is well with you and your family and we
wish you a very happy Easter.
Warmest Regards,
Ron Aprea and Angela DiNero
February-27-2001
/ March-4-2001
Jazz
Alley Seattle
Washington
The
Jazz Alley Seattle
The Lionel Hampton Orchestra
Lionel
Hampton: Vibes and Vocals,
Cleave Guyton
and
Marshall McDonald: Alto sax,
Andres
Boiarsky and Jerry Weldon:
Tenor sax, Charles Stephens: Trombone,
Tony
Barrero, Mark McGowan and
Anibal Martinez:
Trumpet,
Kuni
Mikami: Piano, Christian Fabian:
Bass, Wally "Gator" Watson: Drums.
Set times:Tuasday through
Thursday are at 8.00 PM an 10.00 PM, Friday
and Saturday at 08.30 PM
and 10.30 PM, Sunday at 6.30 PM and 8.30 PM
The saxplayers
From left to right: Boris
Boiarsky, Marshall McDonald, Cleve and Jerry Weldon
The trumpets in back, Tony
Barrero and Anibel Martinez.
Kuni Mikami, Christian Fabian,
Lionel Hampton and Andreas Boiarsky
at The Jazz
Alley Seattle
New
Wally
Gator Watson's News Letter -
from The Jazz Alley Seattle
Websites
Andres
Boiarski - Jerry Weldon
- Mark McGowan
- Wally "Gator" Watson - Marshall
McDonald -
Kuni
Mikami
The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival,
Moscow Idaho USA
Click for-The
Artists and the Concerts
Concerts produced by Lionel Hampton and Dr. Lynn J.Skinner
---
Doc Lynn J.Skinner and Lionel Hampton(1997)---------Wally
"Gator" Watson and Freddy Cole
The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
Saturday,
February 24, 2001
4:45 PM AVISTA INSTRUMENTAL
WINNERS CONCERT
Winners from the day's competitions,
plus the Lionel Hampton School of Music's Jazz Band
8:00 PM VERIZON GIANTS OF
JAZZ
Lionel
Hampton and his New York Big Band; Hank Jones, piano; Russell Malone,
guitar;
Christian McBride, bass;
Jeff Hamilton, drums; Pete Candoli, trumpet; Conte Candoli,
trumpet; Carla Cook, vocals;
Brian Bromberg, bass; Dee Daniels, vocals.
Friday,
February 23, 2001
4:45
PM HIGH SCHOOL VOCAL WINNERS CONCERT
Winners
from the day's competitions, plus the Lionel Hampton School of Music's
Jazz Choir
8:00
PM FORD ALL-STAR CONCERT
Lionel
Hampton, vibes; Hank Jones, piano; Russell
Malone, guitar; Christian McBride, bass;
Jeff
Hamilton, drums; Lou Rawls, vocals; Clark Terry, trumpet; Benny Golson,
saxophone;
Bill
Watrous, trombone; Ethel Ennis, vocals;Carl Fontana, trombone; Benny Powell,
trombone;
Christian
Fabian, bass; Wally "Gator" Watson, drums;Jim Martinez, piano.
Thursday,
February 22, 2001
7:30
PM NORTHWEST AIR SPECIAL GUEST CONCERT
Lionel
Hampton, vibes; Hank Jones, piano; Russell
Malone, guitar; Christian McBride,
bass;
Jeff Hamilton, drums; Roy Hargrove Quintet; with Roy Hargrove, trumpet;
Sherman
Irby,
saxophone; Larry Willis, piano; Willie Jones III, drums and Gerald Cannon,
bass. Herb
Ellis,
guitar; Ray Brown Trio with Larry Fuller and George Sludas; Jane Monheit,
vocals;
Joe
Lovano, saxophone; Igor Butman, saxophone; Valery Ponomarev, trumpet; Dee
Daniels
vocals;Five Play Quintet; Roberta Gambarini, vocals
Wednesday,
February 21, 2001
4:00
PM POTLATCH JR. HIGH WINNERS CONCERT
Winners
from the day's competitions, plus the Lionel Hampton School of Music's
Jazz Choirs
7:30
PM PEPSI INTERNATIONAL JAZZ CONCERT
Lionel
Hampton, vibes; Hank Jones, piano; Russell
Malone, guitar; Christian McBride,
bass;
Jeff Hamilton, drums; Nancy Wilson, vocals; Kevin Mahogany, vocals;Paquito
D'Rivera,
alto sax and clarinet; Claudio Roditi, trumpet; Wally "Gator" Watson, drums;
Christian
Fabian, bass; Andres Boiarsky, saxophone; Arkady Shilkloper, horn; Leonid
Vintskevich,
piano; Lembit Saarsalu, saxophone; Jane Jarvis, piano; Brian Bromberg,
bass;
Kuni Mikami, piano; Evelyn White, vocals; John Stowell, guitar; Walt Wagner,
piano;
Jim Martinez, piano;Billy Contreras, violin.
News
I
hope you enjoyed this report.
Did
you visit The Festival and did you take photographs if so.
I'd
like you receive some of then.
Hans
Bebop
On
April 20, 2001, Lionel Hampton celebrated his 93rd birthday.
You
can still celebrate him with his birthday, so please write a note in the
Guestbook.
Visit
my Guestbook
Wally
Gator Watson's News Letter -
From
Idaho
Drummer for The Lionel Hampton
Band
JAZZ FESTIVAL WINNERS
Winners of the junior high,
middle school and elementary music competition at
the University of Idaho
Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.
The
Festival Winners -
Lionel Hampton Festival 2001
The
Vibe Soloist Winner
---
Chase Jordan and Lionel
Hampton
27.02
Dear
Hans Bebop,
I look at your site daily
I believe it is the #1 site on Hamp.It was a
lifetime goal for me to
meet Mr.Hampton. My goal was finally fulfilled at
the festival this past weekend
when Wally"Gator"Watson took me over to
Mr.Hampton to meet him.Not
only did I get to meet Mr.Hampton but I won Most
Outstanding Vibraphone Soloist.I
got my picture with Mr.Hampton I was
wondering if I scanned it
and emailed it to you if you would put it on the
site.I had the pleasure
of talking with Hamp about his old friend Johnny
Lytle.I am only 15 years
old now and I have had the pleasure of meeting and
playing for the Two Kings
of vibes Lionel and Milt.So if you will put my
picture announcing my award
it will be awesome.Please let me know.
Thanks
Chase Jordan
Saturday, February
24, 2001
Lionel
Hampton waves to the crowd Saturday night during
the
Giants of Jazz Concert at the University of Idaho Kibbie
Dome.
Hampton wears a medallion commemorating the
Governor's
Award he received at the Idaho 2000 Millennium
Arts
Award ceremony last year.
The Lionel Hampton New York Big Band
February 24th.
"Vibes
King" draws raves as festival comes to a close
An estimated 8,000 people
gathered in the Kibbie Dome on Saturday night as
Lionel Hampton and his
New York Big Band brought the 34th annual University of Idaho
Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
to a rousing close.
The enthusiasm was apparent
as Hampton and his band belted out big band bebop sounds — a musical form
the
"Vibes King" helped make
popular with such tunes as "Hamp's Boogie-Woogie, (Hey!-Ba-Be-Rebop)" released
in 1943.
For the first three concerts,
the 92-year-old Hampton enjoyed the festival seated in his special chair
backstage,
saving energy for his Saturday
appearance. Earlier in the day, after leading the band through a three-hour
sound check,
he exited the stage with
a thumbs-up, saying, "Just wait until tonight."
"I'm ready to go ... yeah,
I'm really ready," Hampton said as he prepared to hit the stage after intermission.
Hampton rose to his feet
several times during his performance as he responded to the enthusiastic
cheers.
Hampton was visibly moved
when festival Director Lynn Skinner presented him with the Governor's Award,
an honor he received last
year from Gov. Dirk Kempthorne at the 2000 Millennium Arts Award ceremony.
Hampton was unable to attend
and Skinner accepted the award for him at the Boise event.
"I was even more pleased
with the award because it came from my
great friend 'Doc' Skinner,"
Hampton said after the presentation.
Joining Hampton on stage
was Curtis Stigers, another winner at the September event in Boise,
where he received the "Idaho
Artist to the World" from Kempthorne.
Stigers, a singer, songwriter,
saxophonist and guitarist, has made numerous appearances on
The Tonight Show and Late
Night with David Letterman, played with the likes of Whitney Houston,
and toured throughout the
world with such stars as Elton John, Prince, Bonnie Raitt and Rod Stewart.
He did a poignant rendering
of "Midnight Sun," a jazz classic Hampton wrote with Johnny Mercer and
Sonny Burke.
"Curtis (Stigers) competed
in the festival here in 1982 while a student at Capitol High School in
Boise," Skinner recalled.
"That was the year when
Ella Fitzgerald was here and he said when he heard her sing,
that was the moment that
changed his life."
Saturday's concert continued
to be a mix of old and young as veterans like pianist Hank Jones and trumpeters
Pete and Conte Candoli joined
with guitarist Russell Malone, bassist Christian McBride and drummer
E.J. Strickland.
Hampton had a bit of trouble
getting started on his signature piece, "What a Wonderful World,"
until a band member handed
him his glasses.
But there wasn't a dry eye
in the house when he completed the Louis Armstrong classic.
"This might just be the
best festival ever," said UI Hampton School of Music Director Jim Murphy.
"
It's hard to beat this lineup.
The audience got more than their money's worth with this smorgasbord of
performers."
Josh Biggs, a ninth-grader
from Grangeville who was standing within earshot, agreed.
"This is my first festival
and it is so much more than I would have ever expected," Biggs said. "It's
awesome."
The festival drew 2,500
people for Wednesday's concert; 4,500 Thursday; and more than 7,000 Friday.
Wally "Gator" Watson, Christian
Fabian
and My friends Co and Martin
Brilleman,
Lionel Hampton Fans from
The Netherlands.
Hans Bebop
Hank Jones
Lionel Hampton
Co, Martin and Lionel
Hampton
Conte and Pete Candoli perform
for an appreciative crowd Saturday night.
Some of Lapwai school's
Speaking Eagle drummers and
"fancy-dancers" regale Lionel
after his quintet plays at their Jazz in the
Schools day.
Vocalist Carla Cook sings
"If I were a Bell" Saturday night.
Friday, February
23, 2001
A bronze statue of Hampton
with his vibe mallets in his hands sat to the side of the stage.
The backdrop behind the
action showed Lionel Hampton as a young man with the words,
“‘Gates’ keeps on swingin’.”
“They call him ‘Gates’,”
said Lou Rawls, the feature performer of the evening.
“He’s ninetry plus, but
when he gets up here and plays, you think he is 12.”
Guitarist John Stowell
performs on the Kibbie Dome stage Friday night.
The Kibbie Dome is a long
way from the dark, smoke-filled rooms of
New Orleans that
were the legendary birthplace of jazz.
The University of Idaho
athletic stadium was more jazzed up withdecorations than usual this year,
and a capacity crowd milled
before Friday night's Ford Motors All-Star Concert.
"We're in Idaho, what you
wouldn't exactly call a jazz Mecca," Elise Booth, a Genesee High School
senior, said.
"I think the festival is
a cultural experience most people don't get."
She joined 20 other students
from Genesee High School, a goodpercentage of the school's student body,
at the concert.
"I have always been competing
in the jazz festival, but I've never seenthe real thing — the evening concert,"
Booth said.
The "real thing" Friday
night was a cast of living and future jazz
legends, from Lionel
Hampton, Lou Rawls, Hank Jones to Italian newcomer Roberta Gamborini.
There were almost too many
stars to fit into one concert, Don Howell said. A Boise resident who
has not missed a concert
since 1982, Howell sat in the center of the front row.
"This is an unbelievable
opportunity to see living legends of jazz," hesaid.
"The state and Moscow are
very fortunate to see the quality of people that come here."
The quality of performers
was perhaps best demonstrated by the quartet who played accompaniment —
Hank Jones, a jazz piano
icon, Russell Malone on guitar, bassist Christian McBride, who never
stopped grinning, and drummer
Jeff Hamilton, who played his first solo with his palms on the trap set.
No sooner had the group
wowed the audience with an opening act than it was time for vocalist Gamborini,
who scatted a rendition
of a Dizzy Gillespie trumpet solo.
"Just when we get cranked
up and warmed up, they have to wrap itup,"
Howell lamented. "I'd love
for the headliners to play more songs."
Indeed, Gamborini sang only
two songs and it was time for a tribute tofamous trombonist Al Grey, who
died last year.
Lynn Skinner, executive
director of the festival, brought out the trombone Grey played a year ago
Friday in his last performance
at thefestival or anywhere.
Grey played in Moscow for
14 years, and video clips from hisprevious performances were displayed
on large screens
while fellowtrombonists
Carl Fontana, Bill Watrous, Benny Powell and Mike Grey
(Al Grey's son) brought
the audience to their feet for the first time of the night.
"For people who talk about
diversity — it's happening right here,"Simba Tirima said.
Tirima was seeing people
to their seats on the main floor, and
motioned to the players
on stage, some white, some black, all laughing.
"We didn't even have to
call this a diversity event," he said. "It just happens."
Ethel Ennis followed the
tribute, drawing yells and cheers from the
highest rows in the dome
as she bounced through the old tune "Idaho."
Ennis noted she had been
coming to Moscow since 1988, and it didn't
occur to her until this
year to sing the song popularized in 1942 by
Spokane native Bing Crosby.
"There seems to be a tremendous
growth in people," said Tirima. "It's absolutely amazing."
Musician Mike Grey
carries the family name into
the Lionel Hampton Jazz
Festival, plunging into Friday night's concert
and tribute to his father,
famous trombonist Al Grey, who died last year.
Once more for Dad
MOSCOW -- Mike Grey's horoscope
Friday morning told his
something he learned in
childhood was going to pay off.
"I wasn't going to take
that for granted," says Grey, who was preparing to play in a tribute concert
that night in honor of one
of his greatest teachers, his father, jazz trombone legend Al Grey.
The late Grey's trombone
was to lie silent on an empty chair at Friday
night's concert at the University
of Idaho Kibbie Dome.
Grey often was called the
last of the master plungers for using a rubber
toilet plunger to finesse
a bluesy, soulful sound from his instrument.
He died March 24, 2000,
at age 74. He had suffered from several ailments, including diabetes.
Grey attended the Lionel
Hampton Jazz Festival for 14 years and often could be found in
the midst of a group of
students, wearing one of hisjaunty hats and a big grin.
From jazz elite to junior
high school students, Grey treated everyone thesame, says his son,
who has attended the festival
as a member of the Al Grey Quintet for the last eight years.
"He really was like a coach.
He'd say to me, 'Great Mike, beautiful Mike, but ...' that 'but' would
last me a year."
Grey says his father came
to the UI jazz festival because of its focus on students.
"He felt it was great for
the music, great for jazz. It was one of his only outlets to see where
jazz was
progressing with young people."
It was with Hampton that
Grey began to experiment with the plunger.
Hampton liked the effect
and insisted Grey keep it. Grey brought his technique to stints with
Dizzy Gillespie's band and
Count Basie's orchestra.
Al Grey's karmic touch echoes
through the lives of others at the
University of Idaho this
week -- like 19-year-old Igmar (Iggy) Thomas.
Thomas is a freshman studying
music at UI. Last year he came to the jazz festival with an all-county
band
from San Diego, Calif. He
and some of his friends went to a clinic taught by Grey.
Grey asked the students
if there was anyone who had brought an instrument and might like to get
up and jam with him.
Grey was mightily impressed
by Thomas' talent. Backstage at that night's
concert he introduced Thomas
to Hampton, who offered him a full-ride scholarship to the UI.
"He's like that," Mike Grey
says about his father. "He'll throw you right in the water. ... He's always
encouraged kids."
For Grey, Friday night was
a new start. Since his father's funeral he hadn't played much.
"I've focused on coming
here as my beginning."
When the festival is over
he plans to start his own band. He also plans to continue to return to
the jazz festival at UI.
Al Grey has donated his
life's work to the University of Idaho LionelHampton Center,
says Lynn J. Skinner,
the festival's executive director.
"We loved Al Grey and the
kids loved him," says Skinner. "Al was incredibly proud of what was going
on
here to help the kids. ...
He was really into that."
Angela DeNiro and Al
Gray
Lionel Hampton Festival
1998
Drummer Jeff Hamilton, left,
and bassist Christian McBride
talk to students about "The
Art of Communication" during a clinic
at the Lionel Hampton Jazz
Festival on Friday
Thursday, February
22, 2001
Festival director Lynn
Skinner, right, introduces Congress-man John Conyers, D-Michigan
Jazz music got a $60 million
boost today when University of Idaho officials launched plans
for the Lionel Hampton
Center.
The performance and education
facility will be located on Sweet Avenue, just east of the music school.
A completion date of 2006
is planned, contingent on fund-raising efforts.
U.S. Congressman John Conyers,
D-Mich., joined UI President Bob Hoover and Lionel Hampton
Thursday to unveil plans
for the 83,000-square-foot center.
Former President George Bush and
his wife,
Barbara, appeared
on video to promote the project.
--------
Lionel Hampton----------George
Bush Sr.
Promo
Video
for the new Lionel Hampton
Center. (6.35 min. Real Player)
George
Bush Sr. on Video (Real Player)
Conyers is a longtime advocate
of preserving jazz and said the effort to build the center was nonpartisan.
"I am proud to dedicate
the Lionel Hampton Center and to be representing so many jazz supporters
on
both sides of the aisle,"
he said.
Conyers said Hampton has
long been a national music ambassador.
"You have provided the personal
stimulation to hundreds of thousands of young people," Conyers told Hampton.
Former President Bush and
his wife lent their support as honorary co-chairs of the private fund-raising
campaign.
The Bushes have had a 40-year
friendship and admiration for Hampton, who has played for presidents since
Harry Truman and was a U.S.
goodwill ambassador through his many international tours.
Hampton represents the very
heart and soul of jazz music, Bush said.
He added it's fitting the
center be housed at UI since the festival and school of music both bear
Hampton's name.
The Lionel Hampton Center
project has four components. It will secure the future of the
Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
and support scholarships and professorships at UI's Lionel Hampton School
of Music.
About $40 million will be
used to construct a performance and education facility that will include
a
1,200-seat performance hall,
host amenities and nearby classrooms, offices and rehearsal rooms.
Another $20 million will
pay for scholarships, new professors and digitized conversion of UI's international
jazz collection.
UI received $700,000 from
the federal government in a grant to care for the jazz collection.
James Murphy, director of
the Lionel Hampton School of Music,
said the center will give
UI students an elegant place to study music.
He said students will be
able to study archived collections from famous artists such as
Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy
Gillespie over the Web at the new center as well as in the center's museum/library.
Hampton has donated memorabilia
as has jazz critic Leonard Feather,
who had an amazing collection
of scrapbooks, photos, records and contracts.
"It will be a worldwide
collection, not just American," Murphy said.
Music students at UI have
been cramped into a building with half the size of what is needed, he said.
The new center will provide
students with the needed performance space, including practice rooms
large enough for 240 jazz
choir members and 175 marching band members to rehearse.
Funding for the project
will come from a combination of federal, state and private sources shepherded
by a national committee
of dignitaries and entertainers expected to form within a year.
--
Joe Lovano, right, and Christian
McBride smile while pianist Hank Jones and guitarist
Russell Malone play solos
at the 34th annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow
on Thusrday. Left.
Saxophonist Andres Boiarsky
performs during his clinic at the Hartung Theatre on Thursday
afternoon accompanied by University of Idaho student Timothy Muchira.
Jane Monheit sings Thursday.
Wednesday, February
21, 2001
Roberta Gamborini hits a
high note during a jazz clinic
at the Borah Theatre during
the Lionel Hampton Jazz
Festival at the University
of Idaho. She was singing and
fielding questions from
students during the clinic Wednesday.
Gamborini, 33, originally
from Turin, Italy, now based in New York,
said improvisation is like
composing music on the spur of the moment.
It can be done in any style,
to any song, as she demonstrated with the traditional tune,
"Happy Birthday Hamp."
Pullman's Jefferson Jaguar
Jazz choir, directed by Jan Patrick,
performs at the Lionel Hampton
Jazz Festival in Moscow on Wednesday.
---
Ryan Conley-----------------------Nancy
Wilson
Ryan Conley plays
the vibes on the Kibbie Dome stage Wednesday night.
Amidst dozens of the best
jazz musicians in the world, Ryan Conley from Pullman's Lincoln Middle
School
stole the show at the University
of Idaho Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival on Wednesday night.
Conley, a vibraphonist and
a winner in the festival's student solo competition, shared the Kibbie
Dome
stage with an all-star band
which included bassist Christian Fabian of Germany, pianist Kuni
Mikami
of Japan and legendary American
jazz drummer Wally "Gator" Watson.
At the end of his performance,
during which he amused the crowd several times by looking up to
watch himself perform on
the big screen, Conley gave Watson a high-five and strode
off the stage with a smile
and an air of confidence that rivaled that of Lionel Hampton himself.
Wednesday's concert began
with a solo piano performance by Walt Wagner of Seattle.
From that point on, the
Kibbie Dome took on the feel of a jazz club,
as performers joined each
other in various combinations on the stage.
Pianist Jane Jarvis,
wearing a glittery silver jacket, performed solo before she was joined
by Fabian and Watson.
Jarvis was followed by Billy
Contreras, a 17-year-old jazz violinist making his fourth appearance at
the festival.
Contreras, who has lived
near Nashville, Tenn., since he was 5 opened for Hampton
at New York City's Blue
Note club at age 12.
Guitarist Russell Malone,
who has toured and recorded with Diana Krall,
performed with his own quartet,
as well as numerous other combinations throughout the night.
During a break between performances,
Malone said he reached a lifelong goal Wednesday when Hank Jones
joined him on piano.
Vocalists for the night
included Evelyn White, Kevin Mahogany and jazz legend Nancy Wilson.
Mahogany, one of
the premier male jazz singers in the world, mesmerized the crowd with
a scat performance as blistering
as any electric guitar solo.
Valerie Harris, a
student vocal winner from Montpelier, Idaho,
also delivered a power-packed
scat performance that drew cheers from the audience.
Wilson, 63, received
a standing ovation following an extended set that included classics like
"I've Got You Under My Skin,"
and "All Night Long."
Wilson's performance was
followed by a set from the duo of pianist
Leonid Vintskevich
of Russia and saxophonist Lembit Saarsalu of Estonia.
Arkady Shilkloper, also
from Russia, wowed the audience with French horn solos in a combo
that included Jones
on piano, Malone on guitar, Christian McBride on bass and
Jeff
Hamilton on drums.
The night ended with a performance
by Cuban Paquito D'Rivera on saxophone,
Brian Bromberg on bass,
Brazilian
Claudio Roditi on trumpet, Jeff Hamilton on drums and
Hank Jones on piano.
Bromberg, who became
one of the most respected jazz bassists in the business while still a
held the audience spellbound
with his intricate playing.
Hamp's Gala
February 20
Where there's jazz,
there's Lionel Hampton;
Vibesman is back in Moscow
for annual festival bearing his name
At 92 years of age, Lionel
Hampton describes with
considerable enthusiasm
the growth of the jazz festival
at the University of Idaho
that bears his name and
brings in thousands of jazz
students and aficionados.
MOSCOW -- Forty-seven
years ago, Lionel Hampton told "Down Beat" magazine, "
Man, as long as people want
to hear jazz, I'll give it to them."
The jazz legend is now approaching
his 93rd birthday.
Gone are the days of dancing
on his drums and turning somersaults on stage.
Sometimes he has difficulty
following conversations.
In January he donated the
vibraphone he's played for 15 years to the National Museum of American
History
of the Smithsonian Institution
in Washington D.C.
But if people think these
are signs he's retiring, Hampton has a look of puzzlement for them.
"No. Why? We're very successful.
You don't run away from success," he said Tuesday afternoon.
Hampton sits in a chair
in a Moscow hotel, his hand resting on a well-worn wooden cane.
As he talks, an assistant
comes forward to straighten his tie, which is red and covered with tiny
elephants.
Hampton says he feels
OK today.
"I always feel good when
I come to Moscow."
February 20
Hamp's Gala
The Gala starts
at 8:00 PM in the Administration Auditorium on the
University Campus.
It is a dedication
to Lionel from the School of Music with performances from
all the jazz choirs
and bands.
Lionel Hampton is
always the guest of honor.
Lionel Hampton waves to
the crowd after arriving at Hamp's Gala concert
at the University of Idaho
on Tuesday.
Hamp, UI prof honored at
gala
Students and faculty at
the University of Idaho Lionel Hampton School of Music
strutted their stuff Tuesday
night at Hamp's Gala,
an event considered the
unofficial beginning of the four-day UI Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.
Igmar
"Snooky" Thomas, trumpeter from San Diego, greets his mentor at
Hamp's
recent gala on campus. Thomas is the first Lionel Hampton
Scholar
at UI.
Hamp,
UI prof honored at gala
Students
and faculty at the University of Idaho Lionel Hampton School of Music strutted
their stuff
Tuesday
night at Hamp's Gala, an event considered the unofficial beginning of the
four-day
UI
Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.
Hampton,
who was sitting front-row center, flashed his famous grin as the performers
gave their all in his honor.
"The
students have worked very hard and they are excited about playing for Lionel,"
said
UI Jazz Band I Director Bob McCurdy.
Audience
members in the University Auditorium began to squirm as 8 p.m. came and
there was no sign of Hampton.
"We
really do need to wait for the guest of honor," admonished School of Music
Director Jim Murphy,
who
described the site as "one of the best places in the world."
All
was forgiven when Hampton arrived at 8:10 p.m., wheeled in by longtime
valet, Rubin Cox,
and
greeted with a standing ovation.
Music
ranged from pianists Jay and Sandra Mauchley's lively renditions of Dvorak's
Slavonic Dances;
soprano
Pamela Bathurst's witty translation of Kurt Weill's "I'm a Stranger Here
Myself;"
and
the UI Jazz Choir's "Pentonville," a tune McCurdy described as one of Hampton's
"all-time favorites."
Thelonious
Monk's "Ask Me Now" featured Igmar Thomas on trumpet.
The
18-year-old from San Diego, attending the UI on a Hampton scholarship,
came down to shake hands
with
his 92-year-old benefactor at intermission.
"That's
a talented group of great people who do my music school proud," Hampton
said.
Hampton
wasn't the only person receiving kudos Tuesday night. After leading UI
Jazz Choir I members
through
pieces ranging from a traditional Kenyan lullaby to John Philip Sousa's
"Semper Fidelis,"
director
Dan Bukvich was presented the Teacher of the Year Award by the Idaho Music
Educators Association.
The
association recognized Bukvich as a teacher who doesn't always work with
the "best and the brightest,"
but
rather with students who are in it for their love of music.
The
announcement brought the audience to its feet and wild cheering from choir
members.
Bukvich,
who came to the UI in 1976, is an internationally recognized composer and
arranger.
The
UI started offering music classes in 1893, and the music school was dedicated
to Hampton in 1987.
"We
went from 120 music majors in 1987, to 260 today," Murphy said. "That's
more than double.
Do
you think there is any connection?"
Festival
Director Lynn Skinner said the gala gets the festival off to a good start,
as
do plans for the proposed $60 million Lionel Hampton Center.
"The
musicians pouring into town for the festival keep saying,
'finally
there is going to be a home for jazz,' " Skinner said.
Hampton
added, " ... and we've got to start rollin'."
"We're all swinging this one for you,
Hamp" says the UI jazz choir
and band at Hamp's opening night gala.
February 19
Lionel Hampton lends
luster to annual bash
Grand old man of jazz percussion
still plays all shows
By Dana Oland, The Idaho
Statesman
Lionel Hampton, 92, came
to Idaho for the first time in 1984 to play at
the University of Idaho
Jazz Festival. He was overwhelmed by the experience, he said.
"There were as many young
faces in the audience as older ones."
He fell in love. That year
he wrote a personal check for $15,000 to the
festival. Then he began
encouraging his friends Stan Getz, Dizzy
Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan
and others to come to Idaho.
The next year, the university
named the festival for Hampton. It
became the first such festival
in the world named for a jazz musician.
It's an honor Hampton doesn't
take lightly, he said.
"I've worked hard all my
career," Hampton said from his home in New
York City. "With this, I
can see the fruits of my work. This festival really
helps push jazz along,
and I'm proud."
Hampton is without doubt
a living jazz legend. Few musicians have the
reputation, stature and
history that he does. His connection with the
Idaho festival put it on
the map and made it one of the most popular
among major players in the
world.
During his more than seven
decades as a drummer and vibraphone
player, Hampton has performed
with every major jazz artist, including
Benny Goodman and Louis
Armstrong.
He still swings.
Each year at the festival,
Hampton plays at all four evening concerts,
joining in with friends,
performing with his own band and what he likes
best of all, he said, meeting
and hearing new young players.
Festival History
1968
Founded as the University
of Idaho Jazz Festival by music professors Dave Seiler and
Bob Spevacek. The
goal was to give high school students a chance to learn about and perform
jazz music.
1977
Lynn J. Skinner takes over
as festival director.
Many jazz artists agree
his connection to the festival is the key to its success.
1982
Breakthrough year
when Ella Fitzgerald agrees to come as featured artist.
1983
Doc Severinsen brings
his orchestra.
1984
Vibraphonist Lionel
Hampton performs with his band and takes an interest in the festival.
1985
Festival is renamed
Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, first jazz festival in the world named for
a jazz musician.
Because of Hampton's involvement,
the festival draws more of the world's great jazz artists,
including Stan Getz, Dizzy
Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis and Sarah Vaughan.
1987
1987: University renames
its school of music for Hampton.
Future
U of I will explore
establishing a jazz music museum and hall of fame.
It is already home to private
collections donated from jazz legends such as
Hampton, Fitzgerald, Gillespie,
Al Grey and jazz authority and journalist Leonard Feather,
a syndicated columnist who
wrote 11 books about jazz.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Marshall
McDonald (saxplayer for The Lionel Hampton Band)
February 2th
Hans
I saw your site a couple
of years ago, it's wonderful that you have paid
tribute to such a great
living legend. I have played with Lionel Hampton
since 1991, and some of
the best times I have ever had, have been with this
band, and the cats in the
band.
I wish that we had heard
more from Lionel in the recent PBS JAZZ special by
Ken Burns (which has been
big news here in the states), he would have been
one of the cats to talk
to about Jazz history, he was there making a lot of it!!!
Anyway, I posted a link
to your website on my webpage
http://home.earthlink.net/~doctorsax
Good luck to you!
Marshall McDonald
Website
January 31
Avon Mackel and Lionel Hampton,
January 31
Listen: Reports-4.30
min. Realplayer.
Smithsonian
Institute American History, Washington DC.
February
4
Hello
Hans,
Hamp
looked excellent and he was in good spirits. His mind is as sharp
as a razor. I mentioned
the
web sites that you have on him and my dad. He seemed very pleased.
By the way, the
dedication
at the Smithsonian was awesome. Everybody loves Hamp.
Regards,
Avon Mackel
Lionel Hampton January 31
Legendary jazz musician
Lionel Hampton graces the Smithsonian with his musical gifts.
(Dudley M. Brooks - The
Washington Post)
Washington
Post Article 30/31 Jan.
Sat, 27 Jan 2001
Hello Hans,
The Smithsonian Institute
is the name of the museum system of the United
States Government.
I think that there are 16 separate museums in the
system. The National
Museum of American History is one of those museums.
The reason you can't find
anything about Hamp's appearance there is
because he will not be performing.
Hamp is considered a living legend.
He will be honored in
a private ceremony, followed by a luncheon. Hamp
is donating one of his
vibraphones to the museum and the museum will
place the vibraphone
on display.
I am going to the ceremony
and I will take some pictures and send them
to you so you can put them
on Hamp's web site.
Regards,
Avon Mackel
(Avon is the Son of-Billy
Mackel the great Guitarplayer for the Hampton Band 1944-1982).
January
Hello
Hans
Hamp is striking up the
band once again in February. The pilgrimage to the
Hampton jazz festival and
then to the famed jazz club, Jazz Alley in Seattle
Washington.
Wally "Gator" Watson
Drummer for the Lionel Hampton
band
From bbjiive@aol.com-toh.bebop@speed.a2000.nl
THIS
IS BILL BERGAC,
WITH LIONEL HAMPTON WE ARE STILL DOING SOME ONE
NIGHTERS,
I DONT KNOW IF YOU REMBER ME, I SET THE BAND UP ALWAYS
NOW
I
DO THE BOOKINGS ALSO.
BBJIVE
_______________
Here's is a great recent Lionel Hampton Photo from October 25th Click
Eddie Pazant, saxplayer for
Lionel Hampton's Band, 1958-1972 More-
Eddie Pazant
The last Lionel Hampton photos from The Netherlands Click
For the Dutch People
Lionel
Hampton in Nederland
Click-
Lionnel Hampton Srory and In Memoriam
31 december 2000
Hans
I
wish you and all the vieuwers off this website
a
Happy New Year
God
Bless You
Lionel Hampton
What
a Wonderful World.
___________________