Monks Jazz Club's Upcoming Shows

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Drew Simpson Quintet!

Drew Simpson – Guitar

Paul Deemer – Trumpet

Matthew Zelenin – Piano

Chris Jones – Bass

Gerry Gibbs – Drums

Drew Simpson is a guitarist and composer known for his expressive sound and dynamic blend of bossa nova, bebop, and modern jazz. He first made his mark in California, performing with jazz luminaries such as Wilton Felder, Ronnie Laws, Wayne Henderson, Ricky Lawson, Terrence Blanchard, The Banda Brothers, Bobby Hutcherson, Will Donato, Phillip Ingram and more, while appearing at renowned venues and festivals across the U.S. His debut album Noteworthy earned international acclaim, with “On Fallen Ground” and “Coastal Rays” reaching the Billboard Top 10. His follow-up release, Come Home, further showcased his composition skills across straight-ahead jazz and Bossa.

Since relocating to Texas, Simpson has become an active voice in the state’s vibrant jazz community, performing at The Elephant Room, River Sun, Continental Club, Monks, appearing on Austin PBS’s Women in Jazz, and bringing his music to festivals throughout the region. Building on his years of performing across the country, Simpson continues to captivate audiences with original compositions and inventive arrangements.

Please Note: This is a live-taping, so we'll be enforcing a whisper-policy! Cold bottles of still and sparkling water will be available for purchase, but this event is BYOB. Ice will be available if needed, wine keys and 9oz cups provided! Doors at 7:15pm, Show at 7:30pm.

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Mikailo Kasha Quartet!

Mikailo Kasha – Bass

Jalen Baker – Vibraphone

Tal Cohen – Piano

Anthony Fung – Drums

Mikailo Kasha is an award-winning bassist, composer, and bandleader based in Miami, Florida. Currently considered to be among “the top 1% of bassists worldwide”, as stated by Scotty Barnhart of the Count Basie Orchestra, Kasha is a dynamic bandleader, versatile sideman, and a prodigious voice on both upright and electric bass.

Please Note: This is a live-taping, so we'll be enforcing a whisper-policy! Cold bottles of still and sparkling water will be available for purchase, but this event is BYOB. Ice will be available if needed, wine keys and 9oz cups provided! Doors at 7:15pm, Show at 7:30pm.

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Elias Haslanger Quintet plays originals and some classics from the Blue Note era at Monks Jazz!

Elias Haslanger – Tenor Saxophone

Mike Sailors – Trumpet

Ross Margitza – Piano

Ryan Hagler – Bass

Gerry Gibbs – Drums

Over the span of his 30-year music career, native Texan and Austin resident Elias Haslanger has carved a unique and distinguished place in jazz history as a saxophonist, composer, and band leader, whose playing and writing has drawn comparisons to John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Ben Webster, and Wayne Shorter. He has performed, recorded, and toured with many world-class artists including Ellis Marsalis, Maynard Ferguson, Christopher Cross, Charlie Hunter, Asleep at the Wheel, Alejandro Escovedo, Sheryl Crow, Grupo Fantasma, Spoon, The Four Tops, and The Temptations, among many others.

Mentored by the legendary saxophonists Harvey Pittel and Dick Oatts, Elias studied saxophone at the University of Texas and then at the Manhattan School of Music. His interest in writing music culminated in a Master’s Degree in Composition at Texas State University in San Marcos. Elias has performed around the United States and Europe at clubs like Snug Harbor in New Orleans, Jazz Alley in Seattle, The Elephant Room in Austin, and The Blue Note in New York. He has also served as a guest artist/lecturer at universities around the nation.

Elias has 7 recordings as a leader all of which have been played on radio stations across the world. His 2014 recording LIVE at the Gallery, received 4.5 stars in Downbeat magazine and was listed as one of the best recordings of the year.

"Haslanger's freewheeling licks roar with virtuosity and infectious joie de vivre."

– Michael Jackson, DownBeat

Please Note: This is a live-taping, so we'll be enforcing a whisper-policy! Cold bottles of still and sparkling water will be available for purchase, but this event is BYOB. Ice will be available if needed, wine keys and 9oz cups provided!

First Show: Doors at 7:15pm, Show at 7:30pm.

Second Show: Doors at 9:15pm, Show at 9:30pm.

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for Elena Diaz Sings Jobim!

Elena Diaz – Vocals

Marco Santos – Guitar

João Camargo – Piano

Daniel Durham – Bass

Michael Longoria – Drums

Launching her new Global Songbook concert series, Elena Diaz makes her debut at Monks Jazz with Elena Diaz Sings Jobim — an intimate evening exploring the lesser-known repertoire of Brazilian composer Antônio Carlos Jobim through jazz improvisation, and stripped-down arrangements.

Elena Diaz is an Austin-based jazz vocalist, multilingual performer, curator and creator of the Global Songbook concert series. Drawing from Brazilian jazz, Afro-Cuban music, French chanson, and contemporary repertoire, her performances explore how music travels across language and culture. Diaz has performed in both the U.S. and France, including residencies on the French Riviera, and currently performs throughout Austin at venues including Monks Jazz, the Elephant Room, and Hotel Van Zandt.

This project is supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment.

Please Note: This is a live-taping, so we'll be enforcing a whisper-policy! Cold bottles of still and sparkling water will be available for purchase, but this event is BYOB. Ice will be available if needed, wine keys and 9oz cups provided! Doors at 7:15pm, Show at 7:30pm.

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Glenn Rexach Quartet!

Personnel TBA

Glenn Rexach, long a fixture on the Austin music scene, has been a first call guitarist for decades. His group, the Glenn Rexach Group, which features Rexach’s intricate compositions. has opened for guitarist Scott Henderson, drum legend Billy Cobham, and has performed at the JazzAlive Jazz Festival, the Wobeon Jazz Fusion Festival, the Jazz on Main Festival, and various venues throughout Texas. He is also the guitarist for the Jacqui Walker Band (blues), Darrell Goldman (country), the Austin Jazz Workshop, Jazz PR (Salsa), countless freelance gigs, and is on the praise and worship team at Bethany Lutheran Church. His performing credits include: jazz sax great Eddie Harris, Eddie Palmieri, Buddy Emmons, the Creative Opportunity Jazz Orchestra, Malford Milligan, Brannen Temple’s Atomic Soul, Just Released, Helen Sung, Jr. Medlow and the Bad Boys, Eliza Gilkyson, Nestor Torres, Dr. James Polk, Tony Campise, Hank Hehmsoth, violin and oud virtuoso Simon Shaheen, La Tribu, Ta Mere, Orchestra Tropicana, Jazz P.R., the Samba Police, Strings Attached, Gary Clark Jr., Carolyn Wonderland, and many others. He currently has 3 recordings under his own name, RoundTrip (out of print), Living Joe to Joe, and the group’s most recent release, PanaRican (a tribute to his Puerto Rican and Panamanian heritage). Rexach brings his vast experience to each of the many students he has taught and mentored. “Taste gives PanaRican an accessible lift most fusioneers never accomplish.” Austin Chronicle reviewer Michael Toland.

Please Note: This is a live-taping, so we'll be enforcing a whisper-policy! Cold bottles of still and sparkling water will be available for purchase, but this event is BYOB. Ice will be available if needed, wine keys and 9oz cups provided! Doors at 7:15pm, Show at 7:30pm.