The Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho, Moscow, is best known for its namesake musical tastemaker, Lionel Hampton, arguably the greatest vibraphonist who ever lived. Just as Hampton rewrote the rules of jazz when he was alive, so too has his eponymous concert series evolved to meet the tastes of a changing generation of jazz lovers.
The week began with a community kick-off event at the Pritchard Art Gallery, Wednesday, February 25, in downtown Moscow, featuring the straight-ahead jazz of the Open World Russian Jazz All-Stars, the cosmological kinetic sculptures of Lanny Bergner, and a buffet to die for. Over 300 people showed up. The president of the University of Idaho Steven Daley-Larsen gave a quick speech from the gallery's balcony as the assemblage feasted, thanking the major sponsors of the festival, including Pepsi, Horizon Air, and several others.
Music aficionados at the concert agreed; jazz is undergoing another ecumenical change, embracing a variety of additional styles and claiming them for its own. Artistic Director and Grammy winning jazz bassist John Clayton brought reggae and Latin into this year's festival and it won over the crowd through ticket sales even higher than last year's star-studded event, and emotionally moving performances.
In a thread that wove through the week of concerts that surprised many was the inclusion of beatboxing in the solos of many performers, young and old. There was even a rap by legendary saxophonist James Moody.
The height of the reggae portion of the event was the Monty Alexander Jazz and Roots Project on Thursday night. A native of Jamaica and widower of jazz guitarist Emily Remler, world-renowned pianist Alexander and his band brought out the flicker of lighters during a heartfelt rendition of Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" that moved some audience members to tears. Alexander had Herlin Riley on jazz drums, Hassan Shakur on jazz bass, Karl Wright on reggae drums, Hoova Simpson on reggae bass, Wendel Ferraro (aka Junior Jazz) on reggae guitar and vocals, and Courtney Panton on congas.
As at last year's concert, there were small rectangular stages at either side of the floor seating for dancing under mood lighting, which were instantly filled each time they were opened for use.
During the Latin portion of Thursday night's show, guitarist Anthony Wilson was joined by Brazilians Chico Pinheiro on guitar, Edu Rubeiro on drums, and Paulinho Paulelli on bass. Paulelli showed off his kinetic solo style with syncopated ring drumming on his bass and beatboxing to his improvisation. Wilson and Pinheiro sat up front together and jammed on six selections in a collaboration that brought smiles and laughter to both men's faces as they played.
Wednesday night saw an outstanding line-up on trumpets front and center in the form of Byron Stripling, Claudio Roditi, Ambrose Akinmusire and Jon Faddis, master of the high-ass note. During a solo on Night in Tunisia during the group's tribute to Dizzie Gillespie, Faddis brought shouts of "olé" after he included the melody from "Hernando's Hideaway".
The brilliant smile and enthusiastic musicianship of James Moody, 84, was an extraordinary treat. He kills on tenor sax, and his singing and rapping, including a little hip hop dance, were really fun too. He wrote and published the rap part of his act in 1970. Including it now is "my way of keeping up with the young people," he said.
The night also featured Jose Rizo's Jazz from the Latin Side All Stars, a group which included Rene Camacho on bass, Jaime Branly on timbales, Joey De Leon on congas, Alfredo Ortiz on bongos and vocals, Justo Almario on tenor sax, Kamasi Washington on alto sax, musical director Danilo Lozano on flute, Eric Jorgensen on trombone, Jose Rotondi on piano, Luis Eric Gonzalez on trumpet, Sal Cracchiolo on trumpet, Scott Martin on bari sax, Francisco Torres on trombone, the stellar chops of Adonis Puentes on lead vocals and a special treat for celebrity seekers, drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith from The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno.
Rizo's group was also joined by salsa dancers Juliet McMains and Saško Despotovski in skin-tight gold lamé suits. The band played six selections, including "Yes or No", "Baila Mi Gente", and "Mama Vieja".
The festival concluded with a widely varied palate of jazz styles, beginning with piano prodigy Eldar Djangirov who played solo instrumental arrangements of standards, including a creative arrangement of Eden Ahbez's widely interpreted "Nature Boy".
Djangirov was followed by the haunting voice of Gretchen Parlato, which channeled the vibe of Astrud Gilberto. Parlato's breathy voice on Djavan's hit "Flor De Lis" bordered on the erotic. She was joined by Benny Green on piano, Mike Moreno on guitar, and John Clayton on bass.
Throughout the week, many stars were backed by the All-Star Rhythm Section of Benny Green on piano, Graham Dechter on guitar, Clayton Cameron on drums, and Paul Keller on bass.
Another innovation of the festival created last year and repeated to the delight of listeners this year is Hamp's Club. In a separated curtained space to the side of the main stage area, this jazz club styled venue gives young musicians a chance to get the feel for playing out in public in a relaxed atmosphere. All the soloist winners from the adjudicated portions of the festival come through at some point to strut their stuff under the limelight. The players are not limited to traditional jazz quartet instruments either; the performances included violinists and a euphonium.
The final act for 2009 was the Lionel Hampton New York Big Band with Joe Locke on vibes, a special tap dance presentation by Andrew J. Nemr with Kuni Mikami on piano, and the traditional show finale, Wonderful World, sung by Parlato. The members of the big band included Wally "Gator" Watson on drums and Christian Fabian on bass. In a special homage, Locke played a transcribed solo of Hampton's, which brought awe and delight to the audience. One could sit back and imagine the old master behind the mallets.
Taken as a whole, the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival is by far one of the best kept secrets of the West Coast, and one which no lover of jazz should ever miss.
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