University of Idaho’s Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival Leader to Retire
Friday, January 27 2006
Jan. 27, 2006 MOSCOW, Idaho – Lynn J. “Doc” Skinner has announced that the 2006 Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival – his 35th – will be his last as executive director. Skinner plans to retire June 30, 2006. UI will conduct a national search for a new executive director of the jazz festival. According to Joe Zeller, dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, a seamless transition of festival leadership over the next year will require a close partnership and collaboration between Skinner and his successor. The university plans to dedicate the 2007 jazz festival as a celebration of Skinner’s four decades of service to the community, jazz and the arts. Skinner has been the guiding force behind the festival, which has garnered acclaim from the professional jazz world, from aficionados of the genre and from jazz students for 35 years. In 1972, the festival was a one-day event with one guest artist, and about 50 student groups attended. Today, the event spans four days, features more than 50 guest artists and attracts more than 22,000 student musicians and visitors. “Nothing gives me more pride than the growth we’ve seen in the festival these three decades,” said Skinner. “To inspire students and audiences, to expose them to the greats Lionel Hampton, Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Diana Krall, Lou Rawls has, in turn, inspired me tremendously during my tenure. I have made the decision to step down as executive director of the festival – but also to energetically collaborate with my successor in the coming year of transition. This is very fitting; the festival’s goal has always been to encourage the next generation of jazz musicians. Now, it’s time to encourage the next generation of jazz festival leadership.” "Doc Skinner has changed the lives of tens of thousands of young people by introducing them to the world of jazz,” said Zeller. They have learned jazz is a connection to the rich culture of American music and the cultural complexity and diversity that is celebrated by music and musicians. Doc has done this with a level of affection for all participants that has been the glue that has bound the festival together over the past three decades." Skinner says his retirement plans include writing a complete history of the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, writing music and helping to ensure that the festival is endowed properly. “But, there really no time to think about that now,” said Skinner. “We have a festival to put on in a few weeks, and another one next year. I’ll let you know when I’ve got time to reminisce.” Skinner came to UI in 1971 as an assistant professor of music and served as the director of music education in the School of Music. The University of Idaho Jazz Festival began in 1968, and in 1972, Professor Rich Werner took on the duties of directing the festival with Skinner’s assistance. Skinner was named director of the festival in 1977. In addition to his teaching and administrative duties, Skinner has served as a clinician and adjudicator in support of music education at festivals, workshops and student performances throughout the western U.S. and Canada. His jazz compositions have been performed and recorded in the U.S. and Russia. Skinner received a University of Idaho President’s Medallion in 2002 for his contributions to the cultural advancement of Idaho. He was named Downbeat magazine’s Jazz Educator of the Year in 1998, and he was honored with the Lynn J. Skinner Sanukite Festival in Japan in 1993. Other awards include the 2000 Gene Harris Endowment Award and the 2003 Outstanding Merit Award from Mack Avenue Records and Stix Hooper Enterprises. Skinner also served as a jazz panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts from 1987-1991. Under Skinner’s direction, the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival has earned international recognition for its emphasis on music education. Nearly every jazz artist who performs at the festival also conducts a clinic for students and the community. Artists have the freedom to discuss, perform, demonstrate techniques, answer questions and interact casually with the audience. In 1995, the Jazz in the Schools program was initiated. Jazz artists perform at area elementary schools to introduce jazz to youngsters through a live performance. The outreach program reaches more than 8,000 students. JO-1/27/07-JAZ Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival History 1967 - The first University of Idaho Jazz Festival is held under the direction of music Professor David Seiler. Trumpet player, Buddy Brisboe, performs for the one-day event. 1972 - UI music Professor Rich Werner takes on the duties of directing the festival with assistance from Lynn Skinner. 1977 - Skinner takes over the direction of the jazz festival with the goal of increasing young people's exposure to professional jazz musicians, especially those playing in the classic jazz tradition. 1979 - Skinner brings in jazz artists including Japanese pianist Toshiko Akioshi and the Lew Tabackin Big Band. 1980 - The number of junior high school, high school and college vocal and instrumental ensembles jumps to 125. Festival attendance grows to 3,000. 1981 - Through a connection with Chevron, Skinner arranges for Ella Fitzgerald to perform. 1983 - Doc Severinsen, The Four Freshmen, and Bobby McFerrin perform. 1984 - Sarah Vaughn and Lionel Hampton perform. 1985 - Hampton begins his association with the festival, and the festival becomes known as the University of Idaho Lionel Hampton/Chevron Jazz Festival. 1987 - The University of Idaho dedicates and renames its school of music the Lionel Hampton School of Music. Festival concerts are moved from Memorial Gym to the Kibbie-ASUI Activity Center. 1989 - The festival expands from three to four evening performances to include Wednesday night. 1990 - The Wednesday evening concert is named the International World Jazz Concert. Jazz artists from the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China, Japan and Brazil perform. 1991 - Guest musicians include Dizzy Gillespie and Dianne Reeves. 1992 - Clint Eastwood receives the Lionel Hampton Jazz Hall of Fame Award. 450 student groups participate, with more than 10,000 students, and total attendance exceeds 22,000. 1993 - More than 500 student groups participate. Student competitions include more than 12,000 young musicians. 1994 - The festival is renamed the University of Idaho Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. The festival is featured in the New York Post, JazzTimes, Downbeat, JazzIz, The Hollywood Reporter, American Visions, The Jazz Report, Crescendo & Jazz Music (United Kingdom), The Vancouver Sun, Jazz Voice, The Dallas Morning News, The Mississippi Rag, Musica Jazz (Italy), Swing Journal (Japan), Orkester Journalen - Om Jazz (Sweden), the Instrumentalist and Entertainment Weekly. 1995 - Jazz in the Schools program begins. 1997 - The festival celebrates 30 years. 1998 - Waseda University from Tokyo, Japan, competes in the Community College Open Division and takes home first place. 2000 - Al Grey dies March 23, 2000 -- four weeks to the day after his final performance at the festival. 2002 - Lionel Hampton makes his final performance at the Saturday concert. Hampton passes away Aug. 31, 2002 in New York City at the age of 94. 2003 - Special tributes to Hampton's lifetime of jazz. 2006 - A name change; it’s now the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival to reflect the festival’s international stature. Another change: the Thursday night concert is named to honor legendary bass player and strong festival supporter Ray Brown. Brown first appeared at the festival in 1985 and came back every year, except one, until 2002. He passed away in July 2002. CONTACTS: Jeff Olson, University Communications, (208) 885-8934, cell (208) 413-0436, jolson@uidaho.edu -30-
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