September 13, 2023 - April 3, 2024

FALL 2023
Wednesday, October 11
Noon
Wolfson Auditorium, Room 1261.

Watch the Livestream

Herbie Hancock calls Carmen Staaf “a consummate jazz pianist with equal talent in composition, orchestration and arranging.” Currently pianist and musical director for NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater, Staaf has performed on recordings with many artists, including Natalie Merchant (Keep Your Courage) and Lila Downs (Pecados Y Milagros). She was a fellow at the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute, where she studied with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. A Yamaha Artist, Staaf has played at venues including Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Newport and Monterey Jazz Festivals, Playboy Jazz Festival, International Jazz Days in Paris and the White House and throughout Europe, Latin America, Morocco, India and Japan.

Staaf has been a DownBeat Rising Star Pianist for the last two years. She and drummer Allison Miller released their duo album Nearness in 2022 to wide critical acclaim, including selection as one of DownBeat’s “Best of 2022.” Staaf is a faculty member at The New School, Stanford Jazz Workshop and Litchfield Jazz Camp.

All concerts are free and open to the public. Live performances will take place at Wolfson Campus Auditorium, 300 N.E. Second Ave., Miami, FL 33132. Building 1, Room 1261. Performances will be livestreamed, except for the student ensembles.