The University of Idaho has a long history with Jazz, since the 1960’s the Lionel Hampton Music festival has been celebrating and honoring jazz music, with one of the oldest and largest jazz festivals in the world. In addition to this historic festival, the University has also amassed a large collection of jazz materials from varying musicians over the years. The highlights of which are on display right now on the second floor of the UI library for anyone to come and visit in a display titled, ‘Hitting the High Notes’.
There are several display cases, each representing one of the collections that are part of the overall International Jazz Collection. The cases feature photographs and music sheets from jazz artist Lee Morse – photos, arrangements and clothing from jazz trumpeters Pete and Conte Candoli. As well as photos and files from jazz critic and composer Leonard Feather, and obviously a large collection of materials from Lionel Hampton – who UI’s jazz festival and school of music is named after.
Courtney Berge, UI Archivist and Exhibits Assistant who curated the Exhibit, explained that the goal of the exhibit was to highlight the collections and get students excited about the upcoming jazz festival. “We have things on display every February for the festival and we work closely with the festival each year,” Berge said.
The materials in the collection were all acquired by the University through donation, either by the artists themselves or their families after their passing. The relationship that the U of I was able to build with these musicians because of the jazz festival has proven invaluable, and the International Jazz Collection has become such an important resource on campus.
“The relationship the Jazz Festival was able to create with these musicians and the university was able to create with these musicians is why a lot of these materials were donated by the wives or the musicians themselves or their family after they passed in order that their materials could be used for research for students and faculty”, Berge said, “Be that to help promote jazz through to younger generations or to just kind of just keep their legacy alive.”
The collection is used by researchers from around the world, and the materials can be accessed by any students interested in doing research on Jazz. If students want to see a piece individually, they can make an appointment with the Special Collections Reading Room in the library. And anyone interested in general jazz history and the items the University has in it’s collection can stop the second floor of the library to visit the ‘Hitting the High Notes’ Jazz display.
Grace Giger can be contacted at [email protected]