LMU’s Emma Dayhuff Emerges as a Leading Voice in Los Angeles Jazz

Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies and Director of Jazz Ensembles Emma Dayhuff has become one of the most dynamic and highly regarded young voices on the Los Angeles jazz scene, earning recognition for her artistry as a performer, composer, bandleader, and educator.

For Dayhuff, music is inseparable from its creators. "Connecting one's interest in the music to an interest in the people who make the music leads to a practice of lifelong learning and an informed and more empathic worldview," she says. This philosophy is central to her teaching.

As the first tenure-track faculty member in jazz at Loyola Marymount University, Dayhuff has illuminated a growing interest in the genre. In her first year, she launched a second jazz ensemble to meet demands. Dayhuff suspects the surge in interest is a hint that students crave the kind of unfiltered human connection that jazz provides.

"In an age where so much of what we interact with is on a screen - and so often it is polished, edited, and unreliable - this art form demands honesty, makes you accept your flaws and strengths, and builds trust between people," says Dayhuff.

At LMU, Jazz is grounded in the exacting foundational training in classical music. Dayhuff's goal is to ensure that every student graduates with not only a strong technical foundation, but also a deep curiosity about the artists and communities that shape the art form, along with the skills and perspective to pursue their own creative passions and contribute meaningfully to the broader community. She feels at home in LMU's Department of Music, where popular American music genres, ethnomusicology, and music technology are embraced under the frame of contemporary styles and practices. Dean Alexander notes, "Professor Dayhuff's professional notoriety and connections will soon make LMU a destination spot in Los Angeles."

"It's incredibly exciting to have the opportunity to contribute to curriculum, create new courses, and bring in some incredibly talented artists from around Los Angeles to share their experiences and expertise with the students," Dayhuff says.

Dayhuff's growing profile reflects her deep respect for jazz tradition and her commitment to pushing the art form forward through innovative collaborations and original creative work. Among her recent highlights is an upcoming tribute concert honoring jazz legend Herbie Hancock and arts patron Darlene Chan, where she will perform alongside fellow LMU faculty member and acclaimed saxophonist Nicole McCabe. Dayhuff is also generating excitement with the imminent release of her second album, "Mountains," a recording that explores the rich legacy and evolving influence of Chicago's jazz tradition, and features LMU Applied Instructor of Piano Paul Cornish and drummer Jonathan Pinson.

Dayhuff's connection to the Los Angeles jazz scene began while earning her master's degree at the prestigious Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA, where she graduated in 2020. A trailblazer in the field, she was the first female bassist to join the Monk/Hancock Institute and the fifth woman to graduate from the M.M. program. Her growing impact on the jazz community was further recognized when she was named a 2025 Jazz Fellow at the 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica, a fellowship that supported the writing and recording of her second album.

Reflecting on her journey, Dayhuff says, "For all front doors that were blocked based on aspects of my identity, hard work and real friendships have guided me to the side and back entrances, often leaving obstructions in the dust." She hopes her example encourages young women to pursue ambitious goals for their art and careers.