Performing Artists
The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival brings jazz masters together with elementary, junior high, high school and college students each year to share and celebrate a truly American art form.
Check out the 2025 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival lineup below.
Arun Ramamurthy
Wednesday, April 16
ICCU Arena | 7 p.m.
World Music Celebration
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Brooklyn-based violinist Arun Ramamurthy blends traditional South Indian Carnatic music with genre-defying innovation. Trained under renowned violinists Sri Mysore Nagaraj and Dr. Mysore Manjunath, Arun leads projects like the Arun Ramamurthy Trio and Nakshatra duo, fusing Carnatic, Hindustani, and Western classical influences.
Christine Jensen
Wednesday, April 17
ICCU Arena | 7 p.m.
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Saxophonist and composer Christine Jensen, a Downbeat Critics Poll Rising Star, leads her Juno-winning jazz orchestra. With globally acclaimed albums Habitat and Treelines, she has collaborated with top jazz artists and is the founding artistic director of the Canadian National Jazz Orchestra.
Take 6
Thursday, April 17
ICCU Arena | 7 p.m.
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With 10 Grammy Awards and 10 Dove Awards, Take 6, featuring Claude McKnight, Mark and Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea, and Khristian Dentley, is renowned for its stunning a cappella harmonies. Blending gospel, jazz, R&B, and pop, they’ve collaborated with icons like Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder, solidifying their status as the world's premier a cappella group.
Jamie Baum
Thursday, April 17
ICCU Arena | 7 p.m.
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Flutist and composer Jamie Baum has toured over 35 countries, performing at top festivals like Monterey and North Sea. A Guggenheim Fellow, Baum leads her Septet+ and teaches at Manhattan School of Music.
Jazz Ambassadors
Thursday, April 17
Friday, April 18
ICCU Arena | 7 p.m. (Both Th. & Fri.)
The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival is proud to present the Lionel Hampton Jazz Ambassadors, an all-star collegiate ensemble. This international group is made up of student musicians from various universities in the US and abroad. They perform as part of the Jazz in the Schools program and the workshop series during the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. Prior to the festival week, this student ensemble only met virtually, but now they come together to collaborate, showcase their talent, and share the joys of jazz!
Jeff Hamilton Trio
Friday, April 18
ICCU Arena | 7 p.m.
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Renowned jazz drummer Jeff Hamilton leads the acclaimed Jeff Hamilton Trio, known for its dynamic and sophisticated sound. A veteran performer with legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson, Hamilton has contributed to nearly 200 recordings. He also co-directs the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, solidifying his influence in the jazz world.
Lionel Hampton Big Band
Friday, April 18
ICCU Arena | 7 p.m.
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Co-led by former Hampton band members, the Lionel Hampton Big Band brings Hampton’s hard-swinging jazz to life with energetic performances of his classic hits. Continuing his legacy, the band honors the jazz icon’s collaborations with greats like Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman.
LHBB Members
Joseph Doubleday
View ProfileAlex Jeun
View ProfileAnibal Martinez
View ProfileBruce Williams
View ProfileChristian Fabian
View ProfileClarence Banks
View ProfileDavid F. Gibson
View ProfileDoug Miller
View ProfileFreddie Maxwell
View ProfileJames Stewart
View ProfileJames Zollar
View ProfileJon Mark McGowan
View ProfileKuni Mikami
View ProfileMark Gross
View ProfilePatience Higgins
View ProfileRobert Trowers
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