What's this? An off-week episode of Strong Songs??Indeed it is! For this episode of Strong Conversations (working title), Kirk hopped on a call with New York pianist Carmen Staaf to talk about the fundamental elements of music, learning to sing as an instrumentalist, teaching jazz and ear training, her collaborations with vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater and drummer Allison Miller, and the similarities between jazz and chess.Learn more about Carmen at her website: https://www.carmenstaaf.com/Check out her music here: https://carmenstaaf.bandcamp.com/ALSO REFERENCED IN THIS CONVERSATION:“Blackbird” by Paul McCartney, performed by Carmen Staaf on Eye to Eye, 2020“Saint James Infirmary” by Don Redman/Irving Mills performed by Dee Dee Bridgewater on Dee Dee’s Feathers, 2015Alexander Technique: https://alexandertechnique.com/“Take The ‘A’ Train” by Duke Ellington sung by Ella Fitzgerald on Ella Fitzgerald Sings: The Duke Ellington Songbook, 1957“I’ve Got The World on a String” by Harold Arlen performed by Sarah Vaughn with the Oscar Peterson Trio on How Long Has This Been Going On, 1978“‘Round Midnight” by Thelonious Monk performed by Betty Carter on ‘Round Midnight, 1963“Weightless” and "MLW" by Carmen Staaf and Allison Miller from Science Fair, 2018“Congratulations and Condolences” by Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom from Glitter Wolf, 2019Kathak dance performed by Meghranjani Medhi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZmCmQjoehwThe Harmonic Experience by W.A. Matthieu: https://www.amazon.com/Harmonic-Experience-Harmony-Natural-Expression/dp/0892815604“Nuclear Fusion” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard from Flying Microtonal Banana, 2017“Does math actually exist?” - a good question tbh“Syl-O-G**m” by Mary Lou Williams from Zoning, 1974“Spain” by Chick Corea and Joaquin Rodrigo from Light as a Feather, 1973“Gentleman” by Féla Kuti from Gentleman, 1973STRONG MERCHVisit the Strong Songs merch store for some cool t-shirts, mugs, totes, and more: store.strongsongspodcast.comKEEP IT SOCIALYou can follow Strong Songs on Twitter @StrongSongs: http://twitter.com/strongsongsAnd you can find Kirk on Twitter @Kirkhamilton and on Instagram at @Kirk_Hamilton: https://www.instagram.com/kirk_hamilton/NEWSLETTER/MAILING LISTSign up for Kirk's mailing list to start getting monthly-ish newsletters with music recommendations, links, news, and extra thoughts on new Strong Songs episodes: https://kirkhamilton.substack.com/subscribeSTRONG PLAYLISTSKirk has condensed his Strong Songs picks into a single new list, which you can find on Spotify and Apple Music, and YouTube Music.SUPPORT STRONG SONGS ON PATREON!This bonus episode was made possible by Strong Songs' wonderful Patreon backers. For more on how to become a patron and support the show, go here: https://Patreon.com/StrongSongsMARCH 2021 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSChristopher Miller Tim Byrne Allison Clift-Jennings Patrick Funston Jamie White Johanna L. Branson Thomas König Angus McKimm Christopher Kupski Christopher McConnell Joshua Jarvis Rick Klaras Niko Laurie Acreman Ken Hirsh Jez Jenness Gardner Simon Cammell Guinevere Boostrom Narelle Horn Nathaniel Bauernfeind Bill Rosinger Anne Britt David Zahm Erin Aidan Coughlan Jeanneret Manning Family Four Matt Butler Doug Paton Robert Paul R Watson Viki Dun Christer Lindqvist Sami Samhuri Craig J Covell AccessViolation Ryan Torvik Merlin Mann Fraser Glenn CALEB ROTACH Andre Bremer Mark Schechter Dave Florey Dan ApczynskiMARCH 2021 HALF-NOTE PATRONSBernard Khoo Andrew Shpall Robert Heuer Matthew Golden Brian Meldrum David Noah Ben Hunt Geraldine Butler Richard Cambier Madeleine Mader Andy Smith will reddell Fernando Rodriguez Timothy Dougherty Jason Pratt John Hargis Stewart Oak Caroline Miller Abbie Berg Sam Norton Nicole Schleicher Doug Belew Dermot Crowley Achint Srivastava Ryan Rairigh Michael Berman stephen matthews Bridget Lyons Melody Valdez Olivia Bishop Jeremy Schwartz John Gisselquist Elaine Martin Belinda Mcgrath-steer Eoin de Burca Kevin Potter M Shane B