We’re proud to call the University of Idaho home of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. For 55 years, the festival has drawn students, musicians and fans from all over the world to Moscow for education and a celebration of jazz.

It may seem an unlikely pairing – a land-grant university in North Idaho and a musical genre that originated in African American communities of Louisiana – but it’s proven to be an enriching event for the region.

“It’s incredibly unique, and it’s changed our landscape for music education in the northwest,” said Josh Skinner, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival manager. “The longevity of the festival in itself is huge, but it’s also one of the largest educational jazz festivals in the country.”

This year’s festival is hybrid with both virtual and in-person elements. Student performances were recorded and submitted in advance. Adjudication, workshops and concerts are in person and available online to student participants unable to make it to Moscow. Skinner said he still expects more than 3,000 visitors in Moscow throughout the three-day event.

The jazz festival is a valuable attraction for students and faculty, as professor Kate Skinner can attest. A 2020 study showed that at least 25 students were recruited to the U of I each year because of the festival, not only to the Lionel Hampton School of Music, but to programs across the university.

The 2021 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival saw engagement nationally and internationally in the virtual format, reconnecting former participants, alumni and jazz enthusiasts. Josh Skinner and his colleagues are using this momentum to innovate the festival experience for participants this year, featuring a highly anticipated lineup:

• 7 p.m. Thursday, February 24
• U of I Jazz Ensemble, featuring Jay Thomas
• GRAMMY Museum Affiliate Collective
• World Music Artists: Jay Gandhi and Yacouba Sissoko
• 7 p.m. Friday, February, 25
  • U of I Jazz Choir I
  • GRAMMY Museum Affiliate Collective
  • Dee Dee Bridgewater
• 7 p.m. Saturday, February, 26
• Lionel Hampton Big Band, featuring Joseph Doubleday
• GRAMMY Museum Affiliate Collective
• Chris Potter Trio

If you’ve never attended, come see why the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival is renowned worldwide. If you’re already a fan, I’ll see you next week. Tickets are still available for Thursday, Friday and Saturday concerts, which will be held at the Bruce M. Pitman Center.

Pitkin Nursery seeds a growing industry: The Pitkin Nursery has a rich history and a bright future. The U of I facility has helped launch hundreds of nursery careers, and it’s increasing its production of seedlings to meet the growing need for forest restoration.

U of I Black History Exhibit holds grand opening: The Black History Research Lab and the University of Idaho Library officially unveiled the first in a series of collaborative exhibits on Tuesday. The student-led exhibit celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Black Student Union and Cultural Center at the U of I. The exhibit will be ongoing in the library and includes a corresponding online exhibit.

UI Extension educator launches artisan grains podcast: Colette DePhelps, UI Extension Educator in Moscow, launched the Inland Northwest Artisan Grains podcast to highlight the value of locally grown products. She and co-host Ali Schultheis explore each link of the artisan grain supply chain and the show has drawn interest from farmers, seed growers and consumers.