Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival with Victor Wooten, Manhattan Transfer, Atsuko Hashimoto and many more

When, where: Wednesday through Saturday at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho

Tickets: $25-$39 per night, through ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center Ticket Office, (208) 885-7212, 88-88-UIDAHO, or online at www.Utickets.com.

The first and only jazz festival named for an African-American jazz musician, the University of Idaho's Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival represents and 40-plus year legacy as a stage for students to learn from, and for audiences to be entertained by, the masters of jazz up close.

This year isn't any different except that it enhances that vision by extending access to jazz masters with orchestrated after-hours jam sessions at Moscow businesses and focused workshops with invitation-only special sessions for area schools.

This year the festival alters its platform chemistry by emphasizing multiple stages running simultaneously throughout the University of Idaho's campus -- staggering start times and giving showgoers the option of catching the first set of one show and moving to another, or staying for a double helping of their favorite.

Wednesday

Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Community Kickoff

5 p.m. at 414/416 S. Main Street, in Moscow

The University of Idaho's Prichard Art Gallery is the launch point for the festival opening reception displaying 213 pieces by mixed media visual artist John Wood.

Jimmy Heath, Terell Stafford and more

8 p.m. at the Student Union Building, 709 Deakin Ave.

Named 2003 American Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts, along with a myriad of honors, awards and achievements, multiple Grammy nominated saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator, Jimmy Heath was nicknamed "Little Bird" in the 1940s (denoting his similarity in style to Charlie "Bird" Parker), but has soared on his own wings for his distinctive sound on tenor saxophone as well as soprano and flute. Heath is part of Wednesday night's lineup along with house band Lionel Hampton All-Star Rhythm Section featuring rising jazz star and vocalist, Brooklyn-bred Charenee Wade; and  acclaimed jazz recording artist and Director of Jazz Studies at Temple University, trumpeter Terell Stafford -- who has appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,"  -- accompanied by the University of Idaho'a Lionel Hampton School of Music Jazz Band One.

Thursday

Atsuko Hashimoto

7:30 p.m. in the Student Union Building

Japanese Hammond organ virtuoso, Atsuko Hashimoto first came to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in 2008, appearing with the Lionel Hampton All-Star Rhythm Section's guitarist Graham Dechter and drummer Jeff Hamilton, who has recorded with the likes of Oscar Peterson, Diana Krall, the Clayton Brothers and his own trio.

Nikki Yanofsky

8 p.m. in the Lionel Hampton School of Music Building, Haddock Performance Hall, 1010 Blake Ave.

At age 16, jazz-pop singer prodigy Nikki Yanofsky sang Canada's national anthem at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and has collaborated with music greats, such as Herbie Hancock. She is joined Thursday by the All Star Rhythm Section.

Renee Rosnes and Bill Charlap

8:30 p.m. in the University of Idaho Administration Building Auditorium, 851 Campus Dr.

Returning to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival stage is piano duo Renee Rosnes and Bill Charlap. Both have international renown, separately and together. Canadian-born Rosnes has released 12 albums -- nine for Blue Note Records -- four of which received Juno Awards. Rosnes' husband, Charlap, has performed with artists such as Tony Bennett and Wynton Marsalis, and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards.

Friday, Feb. 25

The Manhattan Transfer and the Victor Wooten Band

8:30 in the ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center, 1000 Stadium Way

A longtime cohort of Bela Fleck, virtuoso bassist Victor Wooten was named "Bass Player of the Year" three times in a row and was the first person to win the award more than once. Active as a jazz educator, Wooten first starting learning bass from his brother at age 3, and made his stage debut at age 5. Grammy-winning group Manhattan Transfer originally formed in 1969 and has recorded with Smokey Robinson, Phil Collins, B.B. King and Chaka Khan.

Saturday, Feb. 26

Lionel Hampton New York Big Band featuring Jimmy Heath, Carmen Bradford and more

8:30 p.m. in the ASUI-Kibbie Activity Center

Currently under the direction of Cleave Guyton Jr. on alto saxophone and flute, with arrangements by tenor saxophonist Lace Bryant and trumpeter Cladio tony Barrero, the Lionel Hampton New York Big Band has been the catapult for world-class performers since Hampton debuted it more than 60 years ago. The band also features drummer Ed Shaughnessy and tenor sax player Pete Christlieb, who both played with "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" band. A third-generation jazz musician -- the daughter of legendary trumpeter/composer Bobby Bradford and world famous vocalist/composer Melba Joyce -- Carmen Bradford was discovered and hired by Count Basie and was featured in the legendary Count Basie Orchestra for nine years. She has since recorded and performed with John Clayton, Doc Severinsen, James Brown, Frank Sinatra, George Benson, and the Spokane Jazz Orchestra. Closing out the evening is a "Mallet Palooza" tribute to Hampton performed by the Legacy Percussion Orchestra.