It's Not Business, It's Personal

4-STARS This newly released CD by Seattle-based trumpeter, composer, bandleader and arranger Jim Knapp, who died in November 2021 at the age of 82, was recorded in 2009. Composer and arranger Maria Schneider praises: "Jim Knapp's music is full of intensity, emotions and creative textures and should be better known. It is among the best that is currently being written." Unfortunately, Knapp is only known to insiders, although he was considered Seattle's Gil Evans because of his distinctive, very colorful compositions and arrangements. The eight tracks on the CD demonstrate his special skills and are a real challenge for the musicians of the big band, which consists mainly of students from the Cornish College of the Arts, former students and professional musicians from Seattle. In addition to the well-rehearsed rhythm section, the main soloists Jay Thomas (tp, flh), Mark Taylor and Steve Treseler (as, ts), Jeff Hay (tb) and Tom Varner (frh) stand out, making the uptempo numbers "Miami Vince", "Kumasi", "Forward Motion" and "Nerds Of Steel" shine.