Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival tickets available Dec. 2

MOSCOW - Tickets for the 2012 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, Dec. 2.

The University of Idaho's Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival celebrates its 45th anniversary with jazz, funk, gospel and soul during the four-day winter festival in Moscow, which runs Feb. 22-25.

Tickets are available for all nights with prices ranging from $25 - $45 per night, with special discounts available to youth and college students in the quad cities area. Tickets may be purchased at the ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center Ticket Office by calling (208) 885-7212, toll free 1-88-88-UIDAHO, or online at www.UIticketscom.

The event is set to include student performances, workshops and clinics put on by jazz musicians and educators, and evening concerts featuring world-class jazz musicians.

Highlights of February's festival include:

Wednesday, Feb. 22

The evening concert lineup, presented by Avista Corp., features NEA Jazz Master Paquito D'Rivera and up and coming star Anat Cohen performing with the All-Star Quartet, comprised of Josh Nelson on piano, Ben Williams on bass, Graham Dechter on guitar and Kevin Kanner on drums, as well as the University of Idaho Lionel Hampton School of Music Jazz Band I.

The concert will be held in the Student Union Building Ballroom, 709 Deakin Ave. in Moscow, at 8 pm.

Thursday, Feb. 23

The evening concerts, presented by Pepsi, will be held in three distinct campus venues. Access to the venues is by wristband, allowing admission to all three acts.

Matt Wilson's Arts and Crafts, featuring trumpeter Terell Stafford, will perform two sets in the Administration Building Auditorium, 851 Campus Dr., at 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

A Ray Brown Tribute, featuring John Clayton on bass; Larry Fuller on piano; and Karriem Riggins on drums, takes place at 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., in the Student Union Building Ballroom, 709 Deakin Ave. in Moscow.

Vocalists Sara Gazarek and Carmen Bradford also will perform with all-stars Josh Nelson, Ben Williams, Graham Dechter and Kevin Kanner at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. in the Haddock Performance Hall in the Lionel Hampton School of Music, 1010 Blake Ave. in Moscow.

Friday, Feb. 24

The Friday evening performances, presented by Alaska Airlines, will feature five-time Grammy Award-winning gospel vocal group Blind Boys of Alabama and the Ike Stubblefield Trio, with special guests saxophonist Jeff Clayton; trombonist Wycliffe Gordon; saxophonist Rickey Woodard; and multi-instrumentalist James Morrison.

Friday night's concert will take place at 8:30 p.m. in the ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center, 1000 Stadium Way in Moscow.

Saturday, Feb. 25

Saturday evening will feature The Lionel Hampton Youth Jazz Orchestra, NEA Jazz Master Roy Haynes and The Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band, and urban soul legends Tower of Power. The performances will start at 8:30 p.m. in the ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center, 1000 Stadium Way in Moscow.

For more information and complete concert lineups for the 2012 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, visit www.uidaho.edu/jazzfest or call (208) 885-6765.