Jazz band expected from B.C.

The secondary school jazz band, a group of 35 musicians from Revelstroke, B.C., is staying in Colfax while they attend and perform in the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho this week. The group also includes leaders and parents.

Wednesday, a bus was parked across the street from the Top Notch Cafe as they enjoyed their first breakfast in Colfax.

The jazz festival is scheduled for Feb. 20-23 at the University of Idaho.

The first University of Idaho Jazz Festival took place in 1967, with a dozen student groups and one guest artist.

In 1984, the festival’s most important relationship took shape when Lionel Hampton joined the festival in Moscow. Inspired by the enthusiasm of the students, Hampton pledged his support to the festival, and in 1985, the festival took his name.

The festival has hosted thousands of students, spectators and artists, including Doc Severinson, Bobby McFerrin, Sarah Vaughn, Dizzy Gillespie, The Manhattan Transfer and other well-known musicians. The jazz festival not only has evening concerts, but also includes student performances, workshops and clinics.

Renowned bassist, arranger, composer, jazz educator and festival supporter John Clayton joined the festival as artistic director in 2006. In 2007, the festival was awarded the National Medal of Arts, the nation’s most prestigious arts award.

The festival hosts almost 5,000 student participants every year and claims to be the world’s largest educational jazz festival.

More than 100 workshops are offered during the festival that are free and open to the public, including students.

Revelstroke musicians normally make the trip here every other year after conducting fund-raising events to help pay for the cost of the trip.

The band is staying at the Siesta Motel and eating breakfast at the Top Notch.