The artistic director of the University of Idaho Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival said he was told his services are no longer needed. Grammy Award-winning bassist and composer John Clayton has been the face of the annual jazz fest since 2006. "In speaking with (College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences) Dean Andrew Kersten, I was told that the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival was going to be placed back in the hands of the School of Music and that they would no longer need my services as artistic director," Clayton, on tour in Europe, wrote in an email Tuesday to the Lewiston Tribune. "Currently, the festival has not expressed what my position will be with the festival going forward. I don't imagine they have thoughts in that direction." Clayton, 65, began performing at the annual February festival in the mid-1990s. In 2006, he was hired to replace Lynn (Doc) Skinner, who retired after 35 years as the festival's artistic and executive director/Jennifer K Bauer, Lewiston Tribune. More here. (Tribune photo: John Clayton in 2014)