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The history of jazz piano resonates from a plumb line whence new developments spring. Pianist/composer Carmen Staaf makes a case for the connection between two brilliant and revolutionary pianists, Thelonious Monk and Mary Lou Williams, exposing the common threads on her new recording, Sounding Line.

Staaf grew up unraveling the language of Thelonious Monk. But it was with her discovery of the vast stylistic range of Mary Lou Williams that Staaf began to see connections between the two piano legends, proposing that the two had similar influences and, also, influenced one another.

Monk's music is a treasure trove of fantastically diverse compositions. Though commonly seen as uniquely idiosyncratic, Monk's tunes are deliberate in their construction and methodical in their performance. Having been enamored with his works since her introduction to jazz, Staaf feels a deep connection and understanding of these pieces, though she insists that Monk can never truly be known, which is part of the attraction.

Staaf was introduced to the music of Mary Lou Williams fifteen years ago. Staaf's amazement at Williams's longevity, relevance, and integral support of the jazz scene led Staaf to an in-depth investigation into Williams and her music.

Through this study, Staaf kept coming across similar musical ideas, like voicings and harmonies, that reminded her of Monk. Williams famously held pianist salons at her Harlem apartment, where a who's who of pianists came to share ideas on composition, improvisation, and harmony. Monk was certainly a part. Their shared ideas emerged in their respective repertoire over the years, as they influenced each other.

Originally from Seattle, Staaf has become a fixture in the New York City and, through her connections with Allison Miller, Todd Sickafoose, and Jenny Scheinman and teaching at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, Staaf became engrained in the deep Bay Area jazz scene.

Bay Area concert promotor and producer Mark Weiss invited Staaf to propose a project to record with Bay Area musicians. Staaf suggested a recording exploring the commonalities between Monk and Williams. Staaf wanted to imagine a conversation between the two piano greats, figuring the best way to approximate this would be to perform their pieces in duos with some incredible and supportive musicians.

To fulfill her goal, Staaf reached out to Bay musicians she had developed relationships with. Trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire taught alongside Staaf at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, while clarinetist Ben Goldberg was introduced by Scheinman. Allison Miller was integral in some of the connections, including trumpeter Darren Johnston and percussionists Dillon Vado and John Santos, whom Staaf met through gigs with Miller or from teaching at Jazz Camp West where Miller is the artistic director. Finally, Staaf met drummer Hamir Atwal during their involvement in a North Indian dance and jazz collaboration entitled Speak.

The recording was made over two sessions at 25th Street Recording in Oakland, California in September 2024. Staaf and company recorded a collection of Monk and Williams tunes, eventually settling on five pieces from the two pianists along with two Staaf originals inspired by their work.

Taking cues from two uncompromising geniuses of the piano, Carmen Staaf presents a fabulous contemporary accounting of the importance of Mary Lou Williams and Thelonious Monk in the lineage of jazz on her new recording, Sounding Line.