Bassist Emma Dayhuff makes her first appearance in our series, leading a trio that mixes soulful lyricism with adventurous experimentation. Emma is the most recent bassist to graduate from the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance and is the fifth woman to ever participate in the prestigious program. Emma has had opportunities to share the stage and the recording studio with Herbie Hancock, David Murray, Jeff Parker, Kahil El Zabar, Gretchen Parlato, Robert Irving III, Patricia Barber, Victor Goines, Nicole Mitchell, and Willie Pickens.
Originally from Bozeman, Montana, she left home to attend the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where she studied with Peter Dominguez, Eddie Gomez, and Billy Hart. Upon graduation, Emma moved to Chicago where she worked as a freelance musician and as the recording engineer for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She is the recording engineer for two releases by the CSO: “Mason Bates: Anthology of Fantastic Zoology” and “Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony.”
In 2015, Emma had grown curious about New York so she put her life in a trailer, attached it to her Subaru, and drove 800 miles east. While in New York, she studied with Gerald Cannon and Ron Carter and performed regularly with the Victor Goines Quartet.
She has returned to Chicago to reconnect to and give back to the uniquely supportive and creative community that first helped her blossom into the confident and passionate musician she has become. She is also currently pursuing a DMA at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.