The Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival’s Friday night concert “Soul Explosion” did not receive its name for any old reason.
The show includes a wide variety of music, featuring the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Ike Stubblefield Jazz Trio, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, saxophone player Rickey Woodard and multi-instrumentalist James Morrison.
The performance starts at 8:30 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome.
“The music is gonna be jumpy, fun and give everyone a good feeling,” said Wycliffe Gordon, one of the performers of Soul Explosion. “People may want to stand up and dance.”
One of the featured groups, Blind Boys of Alabama, was formed in 1939 and started at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind. Since then it has received many awards, including its induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Ike Stubblefield said although he has played at many jazz festivals worldwide, this is his first time at the University of Idaho.
“I grew up around music, listening to my musical mentors and playing organ at my church,” Stubblefield said. “It’s amazing how music and the instruments being played are constantly evolving. Blues, jazz, R&B, it’s great.”
Stubblefield said the audience can expect a variety of music styles at Friday’s performance.
“I am excited to perform and see the students,” Stubblefield said. “I am glad I get to share some of my 45 plus years of knowledge about playing music.”
Rickey Woodard, another artist in Soul Explosion is a native Tennessean and got his start playing R&B and Blues in his family’s band. Woodard has been involved in a variety of musical enterprises and still performing.
Gordon said he has performed at Jazz Fest once before and he is ready to come back for another one.
“I am expecting to have a great time,” Gordon said. “These gentlemen are a good, talented group of guys to work with.”
Gordon said he, along with the rest of the Soul Explosion performers, will rehearse Friday afternoon for the night’s performance.
“When you have that kind of talented individuals and put them together, the music comes easy,” he said.
Despite his many jazz performances, Gordon said gospel remains his favorite style of music.
“Gospel is the music I grew up with — it’s part of my being,” Gordon said. “I love to continue to play and improvise with it.”
Gordon said he encourages everyone to come and experience not only the performances, but workshops.
Multi-instrumentalist James Morrison, born in Australia, started his musical career early and hasn’t stopped since. Morrison plays trumpet, trombone, euphonium, flugel horn, tuba, saxophones and piano. His varied career started at the London Symphony Orchestra and has been included in an assortment of music venues.