Family Tradition Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Brings Brothers Together For Rare Concert Appearance

Brothers Hank and Elvin Jones will perform together in an all-too-rare joint appearance at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival next week.

However, don’t think of this as a mere family reunion. Think of it as symbolic of the entire Moscow, Idaho, festival:

These two legends are representative of dozens of jazz legends who will share the same stage over four nights of concerts. The entire festival is like one big family reunion. The family is the worldwide community of jazz.

The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival has grown into a giant in its 29 years. Last year, it was featured on “CBS Sunday Morning” as well as on the covers of Jazziz and downbeat magazines. Still, even in a festival with so many high points, the Jones brothers reunion is exciting, not least of all to the Jones brothers.

“We don’t get to play together very often,” said drummer Elvin Jones, 68, contacted at his home in New York. “We move in different orbits. I’m looking forward to it tremendously.”

Pianist Hank Jones, 77, was off at one of his many gigs and unavailable for comment. But Lynn Skinner, the executive director of the festival, said the reunion came about because Hank once let it drop that “one of his dreams would be to play a concert with his brother.”

They have made some recordings with each other, but have rarely appeared on stage together. Even while growing up in Pontiac, Mich., Elvin was too young to dream of playing with his accomplished older brothers (the late Thad Jones was an acclaimed trumpeter).

“I never thought I was good enough,” said Elvin. “I saw my brother playing, but I never thought I was good enough to have a career. But I kept at it, kept playing, and I started having good things happen.”

Enough good things, in fact, to make him one of the most respected drummers in jazz history. Elvin Jones was the drummer for Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and John Coltrane, among many other luminaries. He was credited with creating his own unique polyrhythmic technique, a “circle of sound” as it has been described. His work with Coltrane in the ‘60s was especially influential.

“Probably the perfect drummer for the most influential combo of that decade,” said the Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music.

Meanwhile, brother Hank had long established himself as one of the top jazz pianists in the world, working with Billy Eckstine, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman and most notably with his own Hank Jones Quartet.

The Jones brothers are only two of dozens of jazz heroes making this annual trek to Moscow, Idaho.

“So many good musicians all in one place,” said Elvin Jones, who also appeared in the festival two years ago. “It happens sometimes in other places, but not as often as it used to.”

Elvin Jones could compare it only to the Newport Jazz Festivals of the past.

There are so many big names, the only danger is in trying to single some of them out.

However, saxophonist Joe Lovano deserves special mention; a recent review in the New Yorker praised his “daring and exhilarating sense of dynamics and tonal color.” Lovano performs Feb. 22.

As for relatively unknown names, Skinner is especially excited about singer-pianist Diana Krall from British Columbia, who has “the kind of talent that’s a rarity.” Her voice is reminiscent of a young Peggy Lee.

One significant change has been announced in the lineup for the closing “Giants of Jazz” concert on Feb. 24. Al Jarreau has canceled, and the equally well-known jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves will take his place.

Performing all four nights will be the Jazz Festival Quartet, which will feature the two Jones brothers as well as bassist Brian Bromberg and guitarist Herb Ellis.

As ever, students will be an important part of the festival. Junior high, high school and college bands will converge on Moscow, some from as far away as Alaska, Oregon and Utah. Skinner estimated that 13,000 students will participate. Competitions will be held during the day, and winners will perform at special afternoon concerts.

In addition, students can attend workshops all four days with the jazz stars. The stars enjoy it as much as the students.

“Herb Ellis told me, ‘Doc, it’s the only place I know where I can do a concert and then go to a clinic and have all of those kids sitting there, listening intently,”’ said Skinner. “He said, ‘Doc, don’t let that stop.’ All the artists feel that way.”

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MEMO: These sidebars appeared with the story: JAZZ FESTIVAL The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival will be held Wednesday through Feb. 24 at University of Idaho’s Kibbie Dome, Moscow. Concert schedule inside.

JAZZ FESTIVAL LINEUP The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival will be held Wednesday through Feb. 24 at University of Idaho’s Kibbie Dome, Moscow. Tickets are available through SUB Ticket Express at (208) 885-7212 or 1-800-345-7402, or through G&B Select-aSeat at 325-SEAT or 1-800-325-SEAT., Here is the concert lineup:

Wednesday, 7 p.m, Pepsi International World Jazz Concert: Lionel Hampton, vibes Elvin Jones, drums Hank Jones, piano Herb Ellis, guitar Brian Bromberg, bass Ray Brown Trio: Ray Brown, bass; Benny Green, piano; Greg Hutchinson, drums< Toots Thielemans, harmonica Kuni Mikami, piano, with Kao Temma, dancer David Friesen, bass Greg Abate, alto sax Diana Krall, vocals/piano Igor Butman, sax Shirley Stewart Farmer, vocals Oliver Jones, piano

Thursday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m., Northwest Airlines Special Guest Concert: Lionel Hampton, vibes Elvin Jones, drums Hank Jones, piano Herb Ellis, guitar Brian Bromberg, bass Toots Thielemans, guitar and harmonica Bucky Pizzarelli, guitar Dee Daniels, vocals and piano Ethel Ennis, vocals Gene Harris Quartet: Gene Harris, piano; Ron Eschete, guitar; Paul Humphrey, drums; Luther Hughes, bass Roy Hargrove, trumpet Joe Lovano, sax David Sanchez, sax

Friday, Feb. 23, 4:45 p.m., Vocal Winner Concert: Kitty Margolis, vocals University of Idaho Lionel Hampton School of Music Jazz Choirs Winning student groups from the day’s competition

Friday, Feb. 23, 8 p.m., All-Star Concert: Lionel Hampton, vibes Elvin Jones, drums Hank Jones, piano Herb Ellis, guitar Brian Bromberg, bass Tito Puente, percussion Wallace Roney, trumpet Bill Watrous, trombone Jane Jarvis, piano Al Grey, trombone Shirley Horn, vocals Paquito D’Rivera, sax and clarinet Claudio Roditi, trumpet Charles Abeles, bass Steve Williams, drums Toots Thielemans, harmonica Slide Hampton, trombone

Saturday, Feb. 24, 4:45 p.m., Washington Water Power Instrumental Winners Concert: Claudio Roditi, trumpet University of Idaho Lionel Hampton School of Music Jazz Band I Winning students from the day’s competition

Saturday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m., GTE Giants of Jazz Concert: Lionel Hampton and his New York Big Band Dianne Reeves, vocals Elvin Jones, drums Hank Jones, piano Herb Ellis, guitar Brian Bromberg, bass