Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival

It’s OK if Idaho isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think about jazz innovation — but the University of Idaho’s annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival has brought top jazz musicians to the Palouse for almost half a century, and it’s the biggest jazz festival west of the Mississippi. The musicians range from high school ensembles to world-famous performers, and the four days include workshops, cross-disciplinary lectures and live music webcasts. But it’s the evening concert series that draws the stars — this year’s lineup features saxophonist Benny Golson, clarinetist Ken Peplowski, trumpet player Terell Stafford, singer Sheila Jordan, pianist Geoffrey Keezer, bandleader and pianist Eddie Palmieri, among others.