By Greg Schroeder
The 2002 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival was held February 20 through the 23rd in Moscow, Idaho, offering four solid days of student competitions, clinics, workshops, and world-class concerts with some of the biggest names in jazz. An estimated 20,000 people visited the campus of the University of Idaho for the event, including hundreds of school groups-elementary through college-performing and competing each day of the festival. Among this year's highlights were appearances by Ray Brown, Roy Hargrove, John Clayton, Mulgrew Miller, Bucky Pizzarelli, Lewis Nash, Freddy Cole, Robin Eubanks, Bud Shank, Clark Terry, Bill Watrous, Dee Daniels and the venerable Lionel Hampton, who has sponsored the festival since 1985.
Greg Schroeder, band director at Canyon Park Junior High School in Bothell, attended the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival 2002 as a competition judge, and filed this report:
Wednesday, February 20
My first experience with the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival was as a young junior high band director bringing my band from Spokane to the festival from 1985 to 1989. As a music educator and jazz trombonist, I've found Moscow, Idaho to be a very special and exciting place to come to each February, and 2002 was no exception.
I'll never forget the feeling of attending a clinic led by trombonist extraordinaire Slide Hampton. As luck would have it, this year Hampton was trying horns in a crowded instrument exhibit booth, and, as kids were trying to hit high notes or playing passages from Rocky, I picked up a horn and began playing Charlie Parker's "Confirmation." Slide took the bait and the two of us had a short impromptu jam session!
Another personal highlight occurred as I prepared to board my flight from SeaTac. I noticed the great Ray Brown and rest of his trio-drummer Kareem Riggins and Seattleite Larry Fuller-were on the same flight. And, to my delight, I was seated next to renowned vocalist Dee Daniels. Dee has been a headliner at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival for 11 consecutive years, and on our short flight to Moscow, she warmly shared with me her love of teaching as well as performing.
I suggest singers keep an eye out for her soon to be published book Total Approach to Singing, which discusses the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical aspects of Self.
Being a junior high band director, the first event I wanted to catch was the 4:00PM Winner's Concert featuring the best elementary, middle school and junior high vocal and instrumental groups. As a prelude, the Lionel Hampton School of Music jazz choirs led by Dan Bukvich entertained all the ensembles assembled. Once the competition started, one could feel the tension building between performances, and reaching a climax when the winners are announced. It's an exciting time for student musicians as the winning groups quickly celebrate, assemble, get back stage and get ready to play on the big stage.
The 3,000-seat Kibbie Dome is the site of the festival's nightly main events, including the evening's official "International" concert featuring Russian born violinist/vibraphonist David Goloshkin. For my money, Goloshkin is the best jazz violinist I've ever heard. His version of "Body and Soul" brought down the house. Also on the bill that night was Man Sound, a vocal sextet from Kiev. The group is a cross between Take Six and The Back Street Boys with a heavy accent thrown in. Another standout was Eldar Djangirov, a 15-year-old phenom pianist from Kyrgyzstan of the former Soviet Union. Closing my eyes and listening to Djangirov, I swore I was hearing Oscar Peterson.
The instrument that put Lionel Hampton on the jazz map continues to be well represented here. Performing with the Lewis Nash Quintet was Steve Nelson, who wowed us with his amazing but brief vipraphonic magic. It should be noted that, because of the ambitious festival line-up, headliners are generally limited to about 15 minutes total stage time per appearance.
A special tribute to Dizzy Gillespie arranged by and featuring trombonist Slide Hampton closed out the approximately four-hour Wednesday night concert. Hampton's set also featured Jay Ashby on trombone as well as trumpeter Claudio Roditi. It included a great selection of Dizzy tunes included "Ow," "Con Alma," and not surprisingly "A Night in Tunisia."
Thursday, February 21
On the festival's second day, I chose to attend a trombone clinic conducted by Robin Eubanks and a vocal workshop with Roberta Gambarini, who was accompanied by pianist Eric Lewis and saxophonist Bud Shank.
The headline concert in the Kibbie Dome began with the Ray Brown Trio, followed by the Roy Hargrove Quintet with special guest-and Roy's first influence-David "Fathead" Newman. Next up were Dee Daniels and Clark Terry, each of whom brought the audience to there feet with moving performances. Dee did it with her tribute to Lionel Hampton, singing one of Hamp's favorite tunes, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."
After a long and labored trip to the front of the stage, the not so spry 81-year-old Terry announced, tongue 'n' cheek, "In case you didn't knowÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ
the golden years suck."
Terry, with his sound as identifiable as ever, was joined by David "Fathead" Newman and the two veterans brought the audience to there feet once again. The evening concluded with a special tribute to Gerry Mulligan featuring Ronnie Cuber, Howard Johnson and Claire Daly, each on baritone sax.
Friday, February 22
Friday brought a new batch of amazing clinic opportunities. Five hundred jazz fans packed the U. of Idaho Student Union Building to hear the Ray Brown trio's clinic and weren't no one was disappointed. The clinic included a question-and-answer segment and someone asked Ray about all the music in his extensive book. The celebrated bassist responded, "This group has over 100 arrangements memorized. I write each arrangement and then we record it. Everybody receives a tape, memorizes it, then we go gig." Emphasizing the deficiencies of reading music on the bandstand, Brown noted that, "you lose something in the communication with the audience if you have your face buried in the music."
Freddie Cole's vocal clinic was held off-campus in one of the old town theaters. His workshop had much more of a concert vibe to it, due to the large number of tunes performed by the quartet. Freddie likes to think of himself as more of a storyteller than a singer. His style is so warm and relaxed. Nice arrangements, nice smile, nice story.
The main Friday night concert featured a tribute to trumpeter Conti Candoli, who passed away this past December at the age of 73. Conti thrilled those who heard him at Centrum's Bud Shank jazz festival last summer in Port Townsend. (Cinema buffs might be interested to view his cameo in the Mulholland Drive.)
The tribute line-up featured fresh-faced vocalist Jane Monheit, the Freddy Cole Quartet, Igor Butman on sax, Claudio Roditi on trumpet, and Seattle's own Aaron Parks on piano. And of course, the hard working "house" rhythm section of Mulgrew Miller (piano), Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar), John Clayton (bass), and Lewis Nash (drums).
The Bud Shank Sextet closed out the 3-plus-hour affair. Shank's band stretched out on "Groovin' High," appropriately noting that Dizzy was one of Conti Candoli's biggest influences. The sextet featured Bill Watrous and Conti's trumpet playing brother, Pete Condoli. Pete's playing sounded more like Conti than ever. The last piece performed was a Conti tune entitled "Secret Passion." Pete was especially generous in acknowledging the audience and letting them know how much Conti enjoyed performing at the festival in recent years.
Saturday, February 23
Saturday came early, with a mandatory judges informational meeting. In all, 43 judges gathered at 17 competition sites. In a whirlwind of performances, student groups performed every 15 to 20 minutes. Along with the nuts and bolts of our duties as judges, we were all reminded by the festival's Executive Director Dr. Lynn Skinner to judge the music not the kids. "Don't hesitate to let them know you love them," Doc Skinner intoned with a smile.
I was pleased to be judging along side Horace Young of WSU. We enjoyed a fast paced day of music, with a wide range of combos to listen to and critique. Schools represented on Saturday were predominantly from Washington State. Horace wrote comments as I made my critique in real time onto a cassette tape. Both of us gave scores based on improvisation, ensemble work, program choices, etc.
My next task was to get to the afternoon Instrumental Winner concert featuring the winners from eleven vocal and instrumental categories. Following their performances, a consensus vote was taken to award yet more winners. This is also a chance for some of the festivals many sponsors to present instruments to deserving student musicians.
At 7:30, I delighted in the opportunity of playing with the Hampton Trombone Factory, a long-standing festival tradition featuring the Lionel Hampton School of Music's trombonists, alumni and special guests.
Our performance was followed by the Giants of Jazz concert, featuring vocalists Ethel Ennis and Carla Cook, as well as artists featured on previous nights. The highlight of this culminating event was the Lionel Hampton New York Big Band. The band wailed; the joint jumped; and then Doc Skinner raised the roof on the Kibbie Dome by bringing the 93-year-old Lionel Hampton. The crowd went wild out of love and respect. We never know whether will see him again, but we know his legacy is firmly in place.
Last year the University of Idaho announced a Lionel Hampton Center Initiative, including the creation of an endowment for the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, scholarships and professorships for the Lionel Hampton School of Music, housing and support for the International Jazz Collections, and plans for building a performance and education facility. To find out more about The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, visit www.jazz.uidaho.edu.
Greg Schroeder is a trombonist and music educator living in Seattle. He is a faculty member at Centrum's Bud shank jazz workshop. He can be reached via email at: gregschroedermusic@hotmail.com
Selected Competition Results:
Outstanding Rhythm Section Combo: Roosevelt High School
Outstanding AAAA Band I: Garfield High School
Outstanding Junior Division Band: Washington Middle School
Outstanding AAAA Combo: Roosevelt High School
Outstanding Junior Division Combo: Eckstein Middle School
Outstanding Trombone Solo: Drew Pierson, Newport High School
Outstanding Alto Saxophone Solo: Ben Roseth, Garfield High School
Outstanding Baritone Saxophone Solo: Tyler Cleveland, Edmonds Woodway High School
Outstanding Trumpet Solo: Mathew Montgomery, Mountlake Terrace High School
Outstanding Bass Solo: Andrew Peete, Newport High School
Outstanding Guitar Solo: Noah Jefferies, Greenleaf Academy
Outstanding Tenor Saxophone Solo: Johnny Butler, Roosevelt High School
Outstanding Flute Solo: Christina Sjoquist, King's High School
Outstanding Clarinet Solo: Brian Ward, Meadowdale High School
Outstanding Drum Solo: Ben Loshin, Newport High School
Outstanding Vibes Solo: Chase Jordan, High School for Visual and Performing Arts
Outstanding Piano Solo: Drew Pierson, Newport High School
Outstanding Vocal Soprano Solo: Danielle Kuhlmann, Garfield High School
Outstanding Vocal Alto Solo: Katie Schoepflin, Roosevelt High School
