“I haven’t heard many pianists with his strong sense of time and to me, that’s the most important thing.”  Saxophonist Joel Frahm (Jane Monheit).

Pianist Abebi Stafford captivates audiences with treatments that showcase his inquisitive, far-ranging intellect as well as smooth style and strong technique. Subtle threads of humor reward the careful listener. A Minnesota native, Abebi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from prestigious Rice University in Houston, Texas. Widely traveled in Europe and Latin America, he converses well in German or Spanish. I like to challenge myself, he says.

Music drew him from childhood. Visiting relatives at age 9, Abebi was drawn to an old keyboard in a corner. His parents noticed. For the next seven years, piano lessons were part of his life just like school and Little League. They never had to make me practice, he recalls. I loved it. Classically trained, Abebi was playing Gershwin, Chopin and Grieg by the time he was 16. Then he chose a new direction, focusing on jazz in the spirit of artists like Wynton Kelly and Keith Jarrett. He taught himself and began composing.

AARP MN & the Twin Cities Jazz Fest Present Jazz Fest Live Featuring Abebi Stafford