Lynn "Doc" Skinner celebrates his 80th birthday on November 20, 2020

Lynn "Doc" Skinner celebrates his 80th birthday on November 20, 2020.

A talented pianist, composer, conductor, teacher, he was a founder and art director of one of the largest festivals in the USA, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival (Moscow, Idaho) for 35 years.

The "Greatest Jazz Festival in the World" gave a unique opportunity for many Russian musicians to meet the jazz legends who created this music.

The festival was attended by Ella Fitzgerald, Al Jarreau, Elvin Jones, Claudio Roditi, John Stowell, Jay Ashby, Igor Butman, James Morisson, and this is just a small list.

Doc Skinner has been honored with the Presidential Award for building a cultural bridge between America and Russia. This is the only festival where musicians from Russia have been invited for 35 years. The first ones were Lembit Saarsalu and Leonid Vintskevich. These artists were constant participants for many years there.

Doc Skinner’s and Lionel Hampton’s efforts have made a valuable contribution to the development of the jazz industry around the world, passing on experience to other musicians.

“This festival was a quite unique. Its location was 5 hours away from New York. Returning from one of my performances gave me a reason to think about how I can help in promoting jazz art in Russia ... This is how "Jazz Province" appeared, - Leonid Vintskevich.

Based on American experience, Igor Butman  has founded "Triumph of Jazz" and a dozen other festivals in Russia.

Lembit Saarsalu has also organized international festivals “Rainbow Jazz” in Estonia.

In 1998, Doc Skinner and his wife came to Jazz Province.

Together with other musicians, they visited all the cities of the festival.

Dear Lynn!

We congratulate you on your anniversary! We wish you health, joy, optimism and creative achievements!

We are glad that this anniversary year your album “Take my love” is published. It is recorded by Leonid Vintskevich and Lembit Saarsalu.

This album is released with the help of Igor Butman Music Group label and the personal participation of Igor Butman.

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