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Since 2005, KNKX's School of Jazz has provided mentorship, learning and performance opportunities to Western Washington middle school, high school and college jazz students. A cornerstone of the station's signature community outreach program, it has directly impacted thousands of jazz students, band directors and professional musicians. School of Jazz is sponsored by BECU.

KNKX Guest Student DJ Dakota Huffman

Dakota Huffman (left) with Abe Beeson

Meet 16-year-old Dakota Huffman, who hails from Maple Valley and plays in the Tahoma High School jazz band. 

Dakota's playlist for November 3, 8-9 p.m.:

“I’M GLAD THERE IS YOU” CANNONBALL ADDERLEY (In the Land of Hi-Fi)

“I GOT IT BAD AND THAT AIN’T GOOD” DUKE ELLINGTON (Live at Newport)

“BONE OF CONTENTION” J.J.JOHNSON/KAI WINDING (Afternoon at Birdland)

“BLACK VELVET” SONNY CLARK (Blue Minor)

“YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS” SONNY ROLLINS (Saxophone Colossus)

“TENDERLY” JOSE JAMES (Yesterday I Had the Blues)

“PEACE PIECE” BILL EVANS (Everybody Digs Bill Evans)

“PENSIVE MISS” COUNT BASIE (Corner Pocket)

“MY ONE AND ONLY LOVE” GRANT GREEN (Ballads)

“I GUESS I’LL HANG MY TEARS OUT TO DRY” DEXTER GORDON (Ballads)

“ALISON’S UNCLE” CANNONBALL ADDERLEY (Somethin’ Else)

MORE ABOUT DAKOTA:

What instrument do you play and why?

I play alto sax, but started out on tenor.  After really getting into jazz, and listening a lot more, I decided that alto was the voice I wanted, and the rest is history!

All time favorite jazz piece:

I'm a big ballad fan, so I'd have to say "Misty"!

Who is your jazz hero?

Duke Ellington! What an amazing guy — the best composer in jazz, and a genuinely nice guy. He was always willing to help and listen. 

Why jazz?

Because there are so many ways to express yourself in jazz. Whether you're happy or mad, sad, blue, the whole range of emotions is expressible through the music, which is unique to jazz, I think.