About
About the Archive
The Jim Knapp Music Archive is a public, community-built home for the recordings, charts, photographs, and stories of composer, arranger, trumpeter, and teacher Jim Knapp (1939–2021).
Jim's music lived for decades in the rooms where it was played — at Cornish, at the L.A.B., in rehearsals and one-night stands across Seattle. Much of it was never commercially released. Much of what was released has gone out of print. The recordings exist mostly on CDs, cassettes, DATs, and reels held by the musicians who were there. Without an effort to gather, preserve, and share them, that music risks slipping out of reach.
This archive is that effort.
The Inspiration
The project exists because of Jay Thomas and his father, Marvin Thomas.
Jay — trumpeter, saxophonist, and the current leader of the Jim Knapp Orchestra — was one of Jim's closest collaborators and is one of the clearest voices for why this music matters. Marv was a fixture of the Seattle scene for generations and played alongside Jim for much of that history. Between the two of them, they hold a remarkable collection of recordings, memories, and firsthand knowledge of the people, dates, and rooms behind this body of work.
Their generosity — sharing CDs, stories, photos, and time — is what made this archive possible. Without Jay and Marv, there would be nothing here. The archive is, in a real sense, an extension of what they've already been doing for years: keeping Jim's music alive by playing it, talking about it, and refusing to let it be forgotten.
What's Here
- Lossless digitizations of Jim's commercial releases
- Live recordings, rehearsals, and unreleased sessions
- PDF scores and charts of Jim's compositions and arrangements
- Photographs, program notes, and ephemera
- Personnel listings and session details, where known
- Tributes and reflections from musicians who knew him
The collection grows steadily as recordings are digitized, tagged, and uploaded. Many recordings appear here before they're fully documented — missing track titles, incomplete personnel, placeholder cover art. That's intentional. Getting the music online is the first priority; filling in the details is a community job.
How You Can Help
If you played with Jim, knew him, or have material that belongs in the archive, your contribution is welcome and needed:
- Identify musicians on specific recording dates
- Confirm session details, venues, and dates
- Share photographs, programs, posters, or memorabilia
- Send corrections, stories, or memories
- Suggest recordings that should be included
Reach out at info@knapparchive.org.
A note on scope
This archive is a labor of love, not a commercial endeavor. Nothing here is for sale. Recordings are made available for listening, study, and remembrance.
If you are a rights holder with a concern about specific material in the archive, please contact us directly at info@knapparchive.org. We will take your request seriously and respond promptly.
Contact
Jacob Lakatua, in collaboration with Jay Thomas and Marvin Thomas.