Hampton Jazz Festival
Encyclopedia
The Hampton Jazz Festival is a major musical event started in 1968, and features many of the world's major jazz artists. It is held during the last full weekend in June each year, with the primary venue being Hampton, Virginia
's Hampton Coliseum
. Festival organizers describe it as "the best available available jazz, R&B and blues artists that are on tour during the time of the festival... packaged at a reasonable price."
The Hampton Jazz Festival began in 1968 as a way to highlight great jazz. Held in the Hampton Colliseum the last full weekend in June, the annual event has hosted virtually every major jazz artist alive.
In the inaugural year, featured artists included Count Basie, Gary Burton, Dizzy Gillespie, Ramsey Lewis, Herbie Mann Quintet, Thelonius Monk Quartet, Wes Montgomery, Dionne Warwick, and Muddy Waters. 1969, the second year, brought such notables as Booker T & the MGs, George Benson Quartet, Dave Brubeck Trio with Gerry Mulligan, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Gary Davis, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Sly and the Family Stone, and Herbie Hancock.
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
's Hampton Coliseum
Hampton Coliseum
The Hampton Coliseum is a multi-use cultural, entertainment and sports arena in Hampton, Virginia. Construction on the arena began on May 24, 1968 and the venue opened in 1970 as the first large multi-purpose arena in the Hampton Roads region and the state of Virginia, opening a year prior to...
. Festival organizers describe it as "the best available available jazz, R&B and blues artists that are on tour during the time of the festival... packaged at a reasonable price."
The Hampton Jazz Festival began in 1968 as a way to highlight great jazz. Held in the Hampton Colliseum the last full weekend in June, the annual event has hosted virtually every major jazz artist alive.
In the inaugural year, featured artists included Count Basie, Gary Burton, Dizzy Gillespie, Ramsey Lewis, Herbie Mann Quintet, Thelonius Monk Quartet, Wes Montgomery, Dionne Warwick, and Muddy Waters. 1969, the second year, brought such notables as Booker T & the MGs, George Benson Quartet, Dave Brubeck Trio with Gerry Mulligan, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Gary Davis, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Sly and the Family Stone, and Herbie Hancock.
History
- 1968 - The Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, Cannonball Adderley, Count Basie, Gary Burton, Dizzy Gillespie, Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, Earl & Fatha & Hines, Skip James, Ramsey LewisRamsey LewisRamsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr. is an American jazz composer, pianist and radio personality. Ramsey Lewis has recorded over 80 albums and has received seven gold records and three Grammy Awards so far in his career.-Biography:...
, Herbie Mann Quintet, Thelonious MonkThelonious MonkThelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
Quartet, Wes Montgomery, Archie Shepp Quintet, Nina Simone Trio, Willie Smith, Jimmie Smith, Dionne WarwickDionne WarwickDionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
, Muddy WatersMuddy WatersMcKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
and his Blues Band - 1969 - United House of Prayer Choir, Young-Holt Unlimited, Booker T & the MGs, George Benson Quartet, Dave BrubeckDave BrubeckDavid Warren "Dave" Brubeck is an American jazz pianist. He has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". Brubeck's style ranges from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills...
Trio with Gerry Mulligan, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Gary Davis, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Herbie Hancock, Roland Kirk Sextet, Nina Simone and Quartet, Sly and the Family Stone, Marian Williams, Sun Ra and Solar Arkestra, Cannonball Adderley - 1970 - Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt, Kenny Burrell, Miles DavisMiles DavisMiles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
, Roberta FlackRoberta FlackRoberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
, Eddie Harris, Herbie Mann, Les McCann, Mongo Santamaria, Jimmy Smith, Sarah Vaughan - 1971 - Cannonball Adderley, Dave Brubeck, Billy Eckstine, Roberta Flack, Errol Garner, B. B. King, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Hubert Laws, Herbie Mann, Jerry Mulligan, Buddy Rich, Leon Thomas, Dizzy Gillespie
- 1972 - Art Blakey, Dave Brubeck Trio, Kenny Burrell, Ray Charles, Paul Desmond, Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Haynes, Illinois Jacquet, B. B. KingB. B. KingRiley B. King , known by the stage name B.B. King, is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter.Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No.3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. According to Edward M...
, Herbie Mann, Al McKibbon, Thelonious Monk, Gerry Mulligan, Joe Newman, Nina Simone, Zoot Sims, Jimmy Smith, Sonny Stitt, Clark Terry, The Giants of Jazz, Kai Winding, Cannonball Adderley - 1973 - Duke EllingtonDuke EllingtonEdward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
& His Orchestra, Donny Hathaway, Freddie Hubbard, B. B. King, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Charles MingusCharles MingusCharles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and civil rights activist.Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music...
, The Staple Singers, War, Jimmy Witherspoon, Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist... - 1974 - Donald Byrd, Aretha Franklin, Stan Getz, Elvin Jones, B.B. King, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Crusaders, The Spinners, Sarah Vaughan
- 1975 - Bobby Bland, Donald Byrd & the Blackbirds, Bobby Humphrey, B.B. King, Ramsey Lewis, Herbie Mann, Jack McDuff, New Birth, Staples Singers, The Isley Brothers, The Stylistics, Stanley TurrentineStanley TurrentineStanley William Turrentine, also known as "Mr. T" or "The Sugar Man", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.-Biography:Turrentine was born in Pittsburgh's Hill District into a musical family...
, McCoy Tyner - 1976 - Count Basie & Orchestra, Archie Bell & the Drells, Brecker Brothers, Sons of Champlin, George Duke, Marvin GayeMarvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, Bill Cobham/George Duke Band, Dizzy Gillespie, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Theodore Pendergrass, The Crusaders, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson - 1977 - Roy Ayers, Gato Barberie, Natalie Cole, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Chuck Mangione, Lou Rawls, Tavares, Stanley Turrentine, Jimmie Walker
- 1978 - Ashford & Simpson, Brick, George Duke & the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Al Jarreau, B.B. King, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Yusef Lateef, LTD, Noel Pointer, Flora Purim with Airto, Grover Washington, Jr. & Locksmith
- 1979 - 24th Street Band, Ashford & Simpson, George Benson, Peabo Bryson, Chic, A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Ella FitzgeraldElla FitzgeraldElla Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, Dexter Gordon, Spyro Gyra, Etta James, Joe Jones, Ronnie Laws, Ramsey Lewis, The Crusaders, Grover Washington, Jr.Grover Washington, Jr.Grover Washington, Jr. was an American jazz-funk / soul-jazz saxophonist. Along with George Benson, John Klemmer, David Sanborn, Bob James, Chuck Mangione, Herb Alpert, and Spyro Gyra, he is considered by many to be one of the founders of the smooth jazz genre.He wrote some of his material and... - 1980 - Bobby "Blue" Bland, Angela Bofill, Chic, Lou Donaldson, Herbie Hancock, Phyllis Hyman, Kool and the Gang, Ronnie Laws, Peaches & Herb, Sam and Dave, The Brothers Johnson, Dionne Warwick
- 1981 - Jerry Butler, Hank Crawford, Spyro Gyra, Herbie Hancock Quartet, B.B. King, Gerry Mulligan, Smokey Robinson, The Crusaders, The O'Jays, Mel TormeMel TorméMelvin Howard Tormé , nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, known for his jazz singing. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, a drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books...
, McCoy Tyner, Nancy Wilson - 1982 - Count Basie, George Benson, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Angela Bofill, Heath Brothers, Ron Carter, Betty Carter, George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Dr. John with Hank Crawford, Joe Henderson, Millie Jackson, Hubert Laws, Herbie Mann, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin, Carmen McRae, Dave "Fathead" Newman, Oscar Peterson, Pieces of a Dream, Jean-Luc Ponty, Patrice Rushen, Woody Shaw, Sarah Vaughan, Junior Walker & the All-Stars, Tony Williams
- 1983 - James Brown, Ron Carter, Dazz Band, Roberta Flack, Herbie Hancock & VSOP II, Eddie Harris Quartet, Phyllis Hyman, Etta Jones, Kool & the GangKool & the GangKool & the Gang are an American jazz, R&B, soul, and funk group, originally formed as the Jazziacs in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964.They went through several musical phases during the course of their recording career, starting out with a purist jazz sound, then becoming practitioners of R&B and...
, Wynton MarsalisWynton MarsalisWynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
, Branford MarsalisBranford MarsalisBranford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.-Biography:Marsalis was born...
, Houston Person, Lou RawlsLou RawlsLouis Allen "Lou" Rawls was an American soul, jazz, and blues singer. He was known for his smooth vocal style: Frank Sinatra once said that Rawls had "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game"...
, The O'Jays, Luther Vandross, Rudy West & The Keys, Tony Williams - 1984 - Bob James, Al JarreauAl JarreauAlwin "Al" Lopez Jarreau is a seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer.- Background :Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, the fifth of six children. His web site refers to Reservoir, Inc., the name of the street where he lived. His father was a Seventh-Day Adventist Church minister and singer, and...
, B.B. King, Gladys Knight & the PipsGladys Knight & the PipsGladys Knight & The Pips were an R&B/soul family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, active from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight...
, Patti LaBellePatti LaBellePatricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
, Tania Marie, Les McCann, Pieces of a Dream, Pointer Sisters, David Sanborn, Shirley Scott, Jae Sinnett, Stanley Turrentine - 1985 - Roy Ayres, Andrae Crouch, Jeff Lorber, Fusion, Spyro Gyra, Patti LaBelle, Jimmy McGriff, Melba Moore, Jeffrey Osborne, Nina Simone, The Clark Sisters, The Commodores, The Manhattans, Stevie Ray Vaughan
- 1986 - Anita Baker, Natalie Cole, The Four Tops, George Howard, B.B. King, Midnight Star, Stephanie Mills, O.T.B., Rene and Angela, Starpoint, The Dells, The Temptations
- 1987 - Larry Carlton, Ray CharlesRay CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, Roberta FlackRoberta FlackRoberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
, Stan GetzStan GetzStanley Getz was an American jazz saxophone player. Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of his idol, Lester Young. Coming to prominence in the late 1940s with Woody Herman's big band, Getz is described by critic Scott...
, Phyllis Hyman, Freddie Jackson, Stanley Jordan, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Wynton Marsalis, Neville Brothers, The Crusaders, Grover Washington, Jr. - 1988 - Gerald Albright, George Benson, Miles Davis, Miki Howard, Al Jarreau, Kenny G, B. B. King, Dianne Reeves, Jae Sinnett, Super Jazz Band, Dionne Warwick
- 1989 - Larry Carlton, Ray Charles, Hank Crawford, Lou Donaldson, Spyro Gyra, Jimmy McGriff, David (Fathead) Newman, Arthur Prysock, Dianne Reeves, David Sanborn, Diane Schuur & the Count Basie Orchestra, Take Six, The O'Jays, Sarah Vaughan, Grover Washington, Jr., Be Be & Ce Ce Winans
- 1990 - New York Voices, Patti Austin, Regina Belle, George Benson, Roberta Flack, Dizzy Gillespie UN Orchestra, GRP All-Stars, Hiroshima, Marlon Jordan, Patti LaBelle, Pieces of a Dream, Lee Ritenour, The Four Tops, McCoy Tyner
- 1991 - Regina Belle, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Ruth Brown, George Duke, Al Green, Gladys Knight, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Najee, Neville Brothers, Jeffrey Osborne, Plunky & Oneness, Diane Reeves, David Sanborn, Dionne Warwick
- 1992 - Gerald Albright, Count Basie Orchestra, Frankie Beverly with Maze, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Manhattan Transfer, O'Jays & Whispers, Grover Washington, Jr.
- 1993 - Regina Belle, Peabo BrysonPeabo BrysonPeabo Bryson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, born in Greenville, South Carolina...
, Jazz Explosion Super Band, Kenny G, Patti LaBelle, Stephanie Mills, Smokey Robinson & The Yellowjackets - 1994 - Gerald Albright, Count Basie Orchestra, George Duke & The Jazz Explosion, Four Tops, Lalah Hathaway, B.B. King, Earl Klugh, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Ramsey Lewis, Little Richard, Connie Parker Trio
- 1995 - Cleo Lane & John Dankworth, Gerald Albright, Patti Austin, Anita Baker, George Benson, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Ray Charles, Earth, Wind & Fire, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Al Jarreau, Jazz Explosion, Gladys Knight, Stanley Turrentine, Grover Washington, Jr.
- 1996 - Jonathan Butler, Joe De Francesco, Rachelle Ferrell, Herbie Hancock, Isaac Hayes, Isley Brothers, Millie Jackson, Ahmad Jamal, Chaka Khan, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Chick Corea's Salute to Bud Powell, David SanbornDavid SanbornDavid Sanborn is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school...
, Luther Vandross, Grover Washington, Jr., Barry White - 1997 - Regina Belle, George Benson, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Peabo Bryson, Robert Cray and the Memphis Horns, Tower of Power, Will Downing, Kirk Franklin & the Family, Kenny G, B.B. King, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Pieces of a Dream, Dianne Reeves, Solo
- 1998 - Mary J. Blige, Fourplay, Aretha FranklinAretha FranklinAretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, Boney James, Jazz Crusaders All-Stars, LSG, Brian McKnight, The Whispers, Grover Washington, Jr. - 1999 - Gerald Alston/w Manhattans, Average White Band, George Benson, George Duke/Sounds of Soul, Kevin Eubanks, Faith Evans, Rachelle Ferrell/Sounds of Soul, Boney James, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Kenny Lattimore/Sounds of Soul, Blue Lovett /w Manhattans, Ohio Players, Grover Washington, Jr.
- 2000 - Roy Ayers, Erykah Badu, Regina Belle, Kirk Franklin & Nu Nation, Roy Hargrove Quintet, Gladys Knight, Ellis Marsalis Quartet, Jeffrey Osborne, Sinbad, The O'Jays, Stanley Turrentine, Kirk Whalum
- 2001 - George Benson, Frankie Beverly w/ Maze, Norman Brown, Brian Culbertson, Miki Howard, Boney James, Dave Koz, Brian McKnight, Stephanie Mills, Najee, Connie Parker, Jill Scott, The Temptations, The Whispers
- 2002 - The Stylistics, The Chi-Lites, Harold Melvin's Blue Notes, Dave Koz, Norman Brown, Brian Culbertson, James Ingram, Patti LaBelle, Oleta Adams, Fourplay, Stephanie Mills, O'Jays, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Teena Marie, The Gap Band
- 2003 - Anita Baker, Earth, Wind & Fire, India.Arie, Gladys Knight, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, George Benson, Michael McDonald, The Isley Brothers featuring Ronald Isley, The Crusaders featuring special guest Randy Crawford, Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum, Norman Brown, David Sanborn, The Jeff Golub Band, The Dramatics, Ray, Goodman & Brown, The Manhattans, The Harold Blanchard Trio
- 2004 - Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Stephanie Mills, The Gap Band, Dave Koz and Friends featuring Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler and Wayman Tisdale, Gerald Levert, The East Coast All-Stars featuring Chuck Loeb, Alex Bugnon, Bill Evans, Will Lee and Omar Hakim, Dells, Chilites, The Intruders, Kool and the Gang, Kem, Floetry
- 2005 - Hot Summer Nights featuring Al Jarreau, Boney James & Yolanda Adams, Al Green, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Ruben Studdard, Guitars & Saxes featuring Mindi Abair, Warren Hill, Jeff Golub & Wayman Tisdale, Angie Stone, Earl Kluge, Ashford & Simpson, Jazz Attack featuring Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot & Peter White, Chris Botti
- 2006 - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, B.B. King, Toni Braxton, The Original Superstars Of Jazz Fusion featuring Roy Ayers, Jean Carne, Wayne Henderson, Bobbi Humphrey, Ronnie Laws, Jon Lucien & Lonnie Liston Smith, Charlie Wilson, Will Downing, Kem, Boney James, Groovin' For Grover featuring Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright & Jeff Lorber, Kindred: The Family Soul
- 2007 - Patti LaBelle, Jill Scott, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, George Benson, David Sanborn, Tower of Power, Norman Brown's Summer Storm featuring Peabo Bryson, Jeff Lorber & Marion Meadows, The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band featuring Slide Hampton, Roberta Gambarini, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Roy Hargrove, Claudio Roditi and Antonio Hart, Stephanie Mills, Ramsey Lewis Trio
- 2008 - Gladys Knight, Jill Scott, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Boney James & Jonathan Butler, Raheem DeVaughn, Chrisette Michele, Kenny GKenny GKenneth Bruce Gorelick , better known by his stage name Kenny G, is an American, adult contemporary and smooth jazz saxophonist. His fourth album, Duotones, brought him breakthrough success in 1986...
, KEM, Joss Stone, Dave Koz & Friends featuring Peabo Bryson - 2009 - Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, The O'Jays, Patti LaBelle, George Benson, Ledisi, Jazz Attack featuring Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot and Rick Braun, Michael McDonald, Fantasia, Forte Jazz Band featuring Brian Pinner, Robin Thicke, Chuck Brown, Keiko Matsui
- 2010 - Gladys Knight, Charlie Wilson, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Keith Sweat, Dave Koz & Jonathan Butler with special guest Sheila E., Melanie Fiona, Teena Marie, Joe, Down to the Bone, En Vogue, SAX for STAX featuring Gerald Albright & Kirk Whalum, The Fuzz Band