Originally published Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 12:00 AM
After 36 years, jazz educator Knatt steps down
Washington Middle School band director Robert Knatt, one of the pillars of Seattle's award-winning jazz-education programs, announced his...
Seattle Times jazz critic
Washington Middle School band director Robert Knatt, one of the pillars of Seattle's award-winning jazz-education programs, announced his retirement Monday.
"After 36 years, I think that's kind of enough," Knatt said. "It's time to move aside and let some young, energetic person ... motivate these people."
Knatt, 59, came to the Seattle School District from Louisiana in 1972 and has taught at Washington Middle School since 1990.
Since then, the school's jazz band — along with Seattle's Eckstein Middle School jazz band — has dominated statewide, regional and even national competitions.
From 1994 to 2002, Knatt's band won eight times in a row at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, in Moscow, Idaho.
The middle school has served as a "feeder school" for Garfield High School, whose jazz program has been equally powerful. Many alums of Washington and Garfield, such as flutist Anne Drummond and trumpeter Tatum Greenblatt, have gone on to professional jazz careers.
Washington Middle School competes this weekend at the Reno Jazz Festival, where the band has taken top honors five times since 1998. The band then goes to the Heritage Festival in Fullerton, Calif.
Knatt — who last year became the first middle-school director ever given an Achievement Award for Jazz Education from the national jazz magazine Down Beat — said he has no specific plans for the future.
"I'm gonna lay low for a while, see what happens, you know?" he said.
Knatt's successor has not been selected.
Paul de Barros: 206-464-3247 or pdebarros@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
National Survivors of Suicide Day helps those who have lost loved ones
UW provost tapped for Nike's board
University of Calif. approves big fee hikes
$335 million in education grants
State schools chief wants to delay dates for passing key tests

New Beginnings Christian Fellowship
Coming in Sunday's Pacific Northwest Magazine: Pastor Braxton's mission is to preach a message that appeals to everyone.
general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Sporting goods
just listed
Bed - $400
Bedroom set - $850
Christmas Centerpiece - $12
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
shopping
events for Tuesday, Nov. 24
- Local Children's Brands Preholiday Sale
- Kibbn Anniversary Sale
- Lizzie's Faves Sale at Lizzie Parker Designs
- Seattle Premium Outlets Midnight Madness Sale...
editors' picks
- Local jewelry designers
- Pioneer Square shopping
- Independent bookstores
- Vintage, consignment and used clothing
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Jerry Brewer | Jerry Brewer: Seahawks can't lean on the Hutch Crutch now
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- UW, WSU once again meet to see who's worse
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Husky Football Blog | Ranking the Pac
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Illegal workers quietly let go
424 - Climate change speeds up since 1997 Kyoto accord
224 - Bellevue residents blast new bikini espresso stand
178 - New Husky recruit: Enes Kanter
109 - Washington State coach Paul Wulff says he's excited about Cougars' future
108 - Big demand, grim outlook for state Basic Health Plan
104 - Next Seahawks GM should be Mike Holmgren
102 - Seattle woman charged with knife attack on boyfriend's ex
93 - Middleton says Huskies "plan on scoring at least 50 points'' Saturday
87 - Jose Lopez appears to be on his way out
76
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- Nicole Brodeur | Homeless woman bent on giving
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
- UW, WSU once again meet to see who's worse
- Hutch gets $10M from Bezos family for immunotherapy research
- Elton John & Billy Joel reschedule Seattle concerts

