Tall Oaks Trio
Matt Valerio
Pianist & Composer
Michael "Kujo" Kujawski
Double Bass & Electric Bass
Bassist Michael Kujawski, was born in Rochester New York in 1985. A graduate of the esteemed Eastman School of Music (BM, Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media '07), Michael studied double bass in the studio of Jeffery Campbell and was classically trained by James VanDemark.
Upon graduation, Michael packed his bags and moved to New York City in order to pursue a Masters degree (MM, Jazz Studies’09) at Purchase Collage under the guidance of renowned bassist and educator Todd Coolman where he was also mentored by trumpet legend John Faddis, completing his Master's Thesis entitled, "Jazz and Hip-Hop: Making The Connection", a socio-historical and musical exploration of jazz and hip-hop musical culture and content. Michael’s early recording career began with instrumental funk ensemble “Dubblestuff” and Purchase College Studio Composition Professor Ted Piltzecker for the album “Steppe Forward”
An active freelance musicians since performing with “Nik and The Nice Guys” at age 15, Michael became an on-demand freelance bassist in NYC and Upstate NY before being offered an opportunity as a bassist in the house band for Princess Cruises, performing shows every night in an 800 seat theater with acts from around the globe.
Michael became one of the youngest Music Managers in the fleet in 2011 and completed contracts in China, Japan, and Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Caribbean, South America, French Polynesia, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, and many, many more itineraries.
In 2018, Michael earned a promotion to Entertainment Director, and shortly afterwards moved to California. As an executive hotel officer, Michael was responsible for the Music Department, Youth Center, Stage Staff, Production Cast, Cruise Director and Cruise Staff, as well as Guest Entertainers, Lecturers, daily event schedule and onboard television show, as well as NPS and financial targets for various vessels such as The Ruby, Star, Golden, Caribbean, Grand, Sea, Sun, Sapphire, Diamond, Pacific, Majestic and Coral Princess.
Later relocating to Utah and eventually Colorado, Michael worked in distribution as an Operations Manager for m7 Business Systems before returning to his former role as Entertainment Director- completing the 2024 World Cruise, a 110-day journey clear around the world!
In 2025, Michael moved back to New York, and began work as a Production Manager and Talent Buyer for Turning Stone Resort & Casino where he has resumed his freelance musical career in New York.
His electric bass playing is heard on major network television like ‘Chicago Fire’, ‘Entertainment Tonight’ and more with singer/songwriter Aaron Celentano, and he is a regular house band member at the weekly Jazz Jam in downtown Syracuse NY.
Aaron Staebell
Drums & Composer
AARON STAEBELL. (@aaronstaebell on Instagram // @aaronstaebelldrums on TikTok)
“Probably not what you are expecting.” “Renegade jazz”. “Energized, eclectic and a weirdo that you don’t want to miss.” “A concoction of jazz, hiphop, avantgarde, rock, and more.” “A combination of conservatory training, raw emotion and a clever sense of musical storytelling.”
Aaron Staebell hails from Buffalo, NY and has lived in Rochester, NY since 2001. Jazz legend Bob Brookmeyer described Aaron as having “swing, energy and musicianship to a remarkable degree” and said, “I would hire him. My utmost praise.” Having earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Eastman School of Music, Staebell is an in-demand performer, clinician and composer both locally and nationwide.
As a performer, Staebell is active as both a drummer and percussionist. He has played with such visionaries as Bob Brookmeyer, Maria Schneider and Tony Malaby. He has performed with smooth jazz trumpeter Rick Braun, jazz trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, and is a member of the Dave Rivello Ensemble, and world music quartet The Rita Collective. He also spent time as the drummer for the Brownman Electryc Trio (Toronto, CA) and hip-hop syndicate ”Gruvasylum” featuring Mad Dukez. His playing has been described as “honest, unpredictable and refreshing” and he is a frequent first-call for recording sessions, musicals, concerts and a wide range of freelance projects.
His debut album “Bending and Breaking” was released in June of 2011, and was met with outstanding reviews. Bruce Lindsay of All About Jazz called it “a debut filled with energy, enthusiasm, and invention, signaling the appearance of yet another talented newcomer on the scene.” It was named by iTunes to its “New and Noteworthy” list on the day it was released. The success of the release led to Staebell being a featured interview guest on popular jazz podcast “The Jazz Session” with Jason Crane. Staebell’s latest project is a collection of pieces called “Harriettstown”; a musical tribute to the town in the Adirondack Mountains that his family has called home each summer since the later 1970s.
His playing can be heard on other recent releases: an album by trumpeter Dave Chisholm called “Instrumental”, which combines a suite of 8 songs with a 200 page graphic novel. Staebell also plays on another Chisholm record called “Calligraphy”, and a release from Ben Thomas featuring free jazz legend Tony Malaby called “Endless Mountain Regions”. He is featured on a recording from Las Vegas-based composer Jennifer Bellor called “Stay”, which includes the solo piece “After Hours”.
Recent works for percussion include The State of Things for percussion quartet and laptop, The Seven Virtues for percussion trio, and The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, for percussion quartet and projected images. His self-published book, Alternative Solos for Snare Drum, makes use of contemporary techniques, notation and sounds within the snare drum solo repertoire.
His latest publication, Inspired By Masters, is a collection of 8 solos for the young drumset student, all inspired by different famous jazz drummers. The book was recently selected to appear in the NYSSMA Manual.
Staebell’s teachers have included Rich Thompson, John Hollenbeck, John Riley, Tom Davis and Bill Dobbins. He has studied in workshops with Bob Brookmeyer, Maria Schneider, Tony Malaby, Claire Fischer and Mark Helias.
He spent 15 years as a public school music teacher, and has been on staff for the WGI “A class” finalist Hilton Indoor Percussion. He spent three and a half years as the Manager of Educational Resources for Hal Leonard LLC, the world’s largest music publisher. Currently, Staebell is Assistant Professor of Jazz at Ithaca College, directing the jazz ensemble and teaching the drumset studio, as well as serving as Visiting Lecturer of Drumset at Cornell University. He lives in Rochester, NY with his partner Sarah, and their two children. Their music consulting collective, Sounds of the True North, works with school music programs across the Northeast, presenting workshops, guest conducting, and finding ways to imbue music programs with creativity and community. You can connect at aaronstaebellmusic.com or soundsofthetruenorth.com.
A shorter version:
Aaron Staebell is a dedicated educator, performer, and composer, with a passion for inspiring the next generation of musicians. Currently serving as Assistant Professor of Jazz at Ithaca College and Visiting Lecturer of Drumset at Cornell University, he brings a wealth of experience from both the classroom and the stage. With undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Eastman School of Music, Staebell spent 15 years as a public school music teacher before transitioning to higher education, where he directs jazz ensembles and mentors drumset students. His teaching extends beyond academia through his consulting collective, Sounds of the True North, which collaborates with school music programs across the Northeast to foster creativity and community. A sought-after clinician, Staebell has published multiple educational resources, including Inspired By Masters, a collection of drumset solos selected for the advanced beginner. His dynamic approach to teaching is informed by years of professional performance, appearing live and on recordings, including performances with visionaries such as Bob Brookmeyer, Maria Schneider, Wycliffe Gordon, and Rick Braun. Staebell also served for 3.5 years as the Manager of Educational Resources for Hal Leonard, the world’s largest music publisher, and now continues to work in the music industry as a consultant, and as the Content Marketing and Events Manager for MusicFirst. Whether in the classroom, on stage, or through his work in the industry, Staebell is committed to shaping musicians who are expressive, passionate, and versatile. Learn more at www.aaronstaebellmusic.com, www.soundsofthetruenorth.com, or @aaronstaebell on Instagram.