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Lionel Hampton was among the many remarkable jazz musicians who made the festival a second home, of sorts. His love affair with education, jazz and Moscow started in 1984 and he helped fine-tune the annual gathering into a now internationally acclaimed four-day jazz festival named in his honor, the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival. This year marks the centennial of Hampton’s birth.

"This Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival has such an enduring impact not only on young jazz artists, but on established jazz artists and jazz supporters from around the world," says John Clayton, seven- time Grammy-nominated musician and festival artistic director. "Lionel Hampton’s vision that provided opportunities for professional musicians to mentor and nurture the next jazz generation is a strong part of the festival’s success. And Moscow creates an indescribable atmosphere for fostering jazz education and appreciation."

Through the years, the festival has attracted top-flight jazz artists from around the world, including current artistic director Clayton; Dizzy Gillespie, National Medal of Arts Medal winner in 1989; Ella Fitzgerald, who received the Arts Medal in 1987; Dianne Reeves; Toshiko Akioshi; the Lew Tabackin Big Band; Doc Severinsen; Gerry Mulligan; Stan Getz; Carmen McRae; Diana Krall; Wynton Marsalis, recipient of the Arts Medal in 2005; The Four Freshmen; and Bobby McFerrin.

Among the praise, honor and accolades earned by the festival is the 2007 National Medal of Arts - the first time the nation’s top arts honor has been bestowed upon a public university. Hampton received a Medal of Arts in 1996.

Learn more about the top-flight artists and activities that mark the 2008 Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival.