The Staaf Quartet- This group features Carmen and her brother Carl Staaf on tenor saxophone, as well as Michael Glynn, bass, and Mark Ivester, drums.  The Quartet recently released their self-titled debut album featuring swinging originals by both siblings.  "Here ... were two young people who composed and played with the kind of relaxed grace and sharp mental focus that hearkened back to an earlier time ... her "Bluebell Waltz" [is] a complex but beautifully melodic jazz waltz whose inventive lyricism calls to mind the immortal collaborations of Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond ... [Carl's] "Big Foot Blues" is slow and satisfyingly expressive, showcasing him in an exquisitely smooth low-range style reminiscent of the great Ben Webster ... [the recording is] at once intellectually challenging and emotionally accessible." - Doug Bright, Heritage Music Review, January 2005.

Read more about the CD at www.carlstaaf.com or purchase it at www.cdbaby.com.  To hear a clip of the Staaf Quartet performing live, please visit http://myspace.com/lilypadcambridge.

The Carmen Staaf Trio- Carmen leads this piano trio featuring Kendall Eddy on bass and Austin McMahon on drums.  The group performs Carmen's originals as well as standards, and appeared recently at the Zeitgeist Gallery's 2005 Piano Festival.

The Brick Trio- This group features fellow NEC students Richie Barshay (drums) and Bridget Kearney (bass) and travelled to Panama City, Panama in January 2005 to perform at the Panama Jazz Festival.  Featured guests included Allan Chase (alto saxophone), and Peter Kenagy (trumpet).

Khevre- "New sounds in Jewish Music", a modern Klezmer Ensemble led by renowned clarinetist Michael Winograd.  Khevre's debut album, "Oyfn Sheydveg", is available at www.cdbaby.com/cd/khevre.  Khevre will perform at the New York Jewish Music and Heritage Festival on September 17th; see the calendar or www.khevre.com for more details.