Joshua Skinner, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival manager, is known as the main person when it comes to Jazz Fest.
The Argonaut sat down with Skinner for a Q&A about some of the basics of Jazz Festival and Skinner’s background.
Q: If you just want to tell me a little bit about how long you’ve been working here?
A: So, this is my second year as the Jazz Festival manager. Prior to that I’ve ran numerous musical events and festivals — kind of across the country. I have been an external contractor for this Jazz Festival for about 10 years prior to me taking over.
Q: What has brought you here full time?
A: It was kind of a matter of travel. My wife was actually hired by the university — I think four or five years ago — and she was teaching here at the University of Idaho and I was teaching at another university and so I was on a plane every week. And when this position opened up, I applied, and I was lucky enough to get the position.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about Jazz Fest aside from the week of?
A: One of the things that we have, that’s a year-round program is Jazz in the School, so we actually go out to the schools with our University of Idaho faculty and special guests that we bring in and visit schools throughout Idaho, kind of the Northwest. For example, we are in Bonner and Boundary County with an Idaho arts grant taking jazz to those schools that would not otherwise have the opportunities that we brought to them.
Q: What do you enjoy most the week of Jazz Fest?
A: Just like the feeling, the vibe, that you get that week is pretty incredible. Because we have so many young musicians … from kindergarten through college coming into town. And having a performance experience with some of our, music educators that come in and work with them. And it’s just a great thing to see them kind of have their eyes open and that light will turn on like ‘Oh yeah that’s how we do it.’
Q: How are you feeling right now?
A: This is kind of like the calm before the storm. The week of its kind of like, making sure all the little fine details are taken care of. And just making sure all of those guests that we have coming in from artists to adjudicators. Making sure that their portfolios are at the hotel. Making sure the Kibbie Dome is prepped and ready to go. So, it’s kind of like these smaller logistics but all the heavy lifting and planning starts March — like we start in March — literally for 2021.
Q: Do you guys have any big plans for the future?
A: The big thing that I worked with in my first year was just creating sustainability. Making sure that we’re using all of our resources efficiently and effectively. And I’m analyzing that from volunteer usage, to the equipment that we have brought in for this week and to the individuals that we fly in. So, I’m looking at everything kind of holistically. To make sure that one, we’re as sustainable as possible and then two, can we make things more efficient to make everyone’s experience better from the top down or from the bottom up.
Q: What do you want people to know about Jazz Fest for this year?
A: There’s something for everyone, literally. Let’s narrow it down. I think everyone should go to one of the evening concerts if not both — especially if they’re a student. I would love for them to experience that. It has nothing to do with jazz it has to do with that live music experience.
Q: Tell me a little bit about the history of Lionel Hampton?
A: This is our 53rd Festival, & Lionel got connected with the festival in 1984. That kind of created this energy, and it was that the genesis of the point of kind of getting things moving. But the thing that you have to understand with Lionel Hampton. He was internationally known — not just in the jazz communities — but just internationally known as an ambassador of music. And Lionel had a deep deep love of the Palouse & an extremely deep love for the Native Americans in the area. But Lionel’s love of music and the people in that area is really what kept him coming back year after year. One of the things that individuals, often forget, is that Lionel was one of the individuals that really helped break down racial barriers. Not just in music but just with everything he was doing.
Q: As Idaho is a predominantly white state why do you think it is still important to celebrate an event in celebration of an African American man?
A: Jazz is about that collection — when we look at jazz history — it is a melding of all backgrounds, of all types, when we look at just the music and how it was formed. We have European influences, we have African influences, we have West Indies influences. And New Orleans is a great example of that, that was truly like the melting pot of culture. That’s what’s great about jazz is. It is an American art form — we’re part of that — and to celebrate that and continue that legacy in that tradition to give everyone an opportunity to have that experience. That’s the beauty of jazz music.
Q: What emphasis do you put on remembering the legacy of Lionel Hampton?
A: We have the Lionel Hampton Big Band coming in every year so even after Lionel’s passing, they still as a band function. And this is the first time in about 20 years that we’ve had the full Lionel Hampton Big Bad here. We’re very cognizant of making sure that we’re paying tribute to (Lionel Hampton) and continuing his legacy because of what he did for jazz music but also what he’s done for the Jazz Festival here.The other component that I think’s extremely important for — especially like our students —because sometimes things just get lost in history. The former Jazz Festival director, Dr. Lynn Skinner, he presents workshops. Every year, talking about (Lionel Hampton’s) legacy.
Alex Brizee can be reached at [email protected].