Carmen Staaf
Piano Solo on
Isfahan

About

Carmen Staaf's piano solo is the second of three solos on this Standard Sessions recording of Isfahan, following Chad Lefkowitz-Brown's tenor saxophone. She takes one poised chorus of the 32-bar ABAC form at 92 BPM, exploring the lush harmonic territory of Strayhorn and Ellington's composition with restraint and elegance. The ballad tempo demands patience and a refined touch, and Staaf responds with melodic clarity and tasteful harmonic choices that complement the tune's sophisticated chord movement. Her single-chorus statement maintains the intimate atmosphere established by the preceding tenor solo before Ricky Rodriguez closes the solo section on acoustic bass.

Carmen Staaf was 36 to 37 years old at the time.