Science Fair, a collaboration between drummer Allison Miller and pianist Carmen Staaf, arrived on Sunnyside Records in 2018. The album unfolds over nine tracks, threading post-bop rhythms with indie jazz sensibilities. Miller’s assertive drumming propels compositions like “Skyway,” where Staaf’s piano lines weave intricate patterns without excess ornamentation. The session’s instrumental focus allows space for subtle interplay, evident in pieces such as “Symmetry” and “Weightless.” Recorded with clarity and restraint, the record eschews flashy solos in favor of collective precision.Though modest in reach—garnering just over two thousand scrobbles on Last.fm—Science Fair stands as a quietly assured entry in contemporary jazz. Its balance of kinetic energy and thoughtful construction recalls the lineage of piano-drum duos, yet retains a distinct voice through Miller and Staaf’s measured approach. This artifact rewards attentive listening, especially for those who appreciate the mechanics of rhythmic dialogue and melodic economy.

Science Fair, a collaboration between drummer Allison Miller and pianist Carmen Staaf, arrived on Sunnyside Records in 2018. The album unfolds over nine tracks, threading post-bop rhythms with indie jazz sensibilities. Miller’s assertive drumming propels compositions like “Skyway,” where Staaf’s piano lines weave intricate patterns without excess ornamentation. The session’s instrumental focus allows space for subtle interplay, evident in pieces such as “Symmetry” and “Weightless.” Recorded with clarity and restraint, the record eschews flashy solos in favor of collective precision.Though modest in reach—garnering just over two thousand scrobbles on Last.fm—Science Fair stands as a quietly assured entry in contemporary jazz. Its balance of kinetic energy and thoughtful construction recalls the lineage of piano-drum duos, yet retains a distinct voice through Miller and Staaf’s measured approach. This artifact rewards attentive listening, especially for those who appreciate the mechanics of rhythmic dialogue and melodic economy.