Shows - Monks Jazz Club

Hard Proof Presents: Miles at 100 | Bitches Brew

Tue, May 26

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for Hard Proof Presents: Miles at 100 | Bitches Brew!

Joseph Woullard – Saxophones, Bass Clarinet

Jason Frey – Saxophones

Erik Telford – Trumpet

John Branch – Guitar

Aaron Slater – Guitar

Eddie Torres – Fender Bass

Liam Odell – Bass

Nick Litterski – Keys

Thomas Spampinato – Percussion

John Speice IV – Drums, Percussion

Steve Bidwell – Drums, Percussion

In early 2020, Hard Proof assembled to try something that was a big deviation from the dancefloor-friendly afrobeat explorations they were known for: perform Miles Davis' sprawling, genre-obliterating masterpiece Bitches Brew in its entirety. They rehearsed it once. The grooves were locking in, the energy was building, and then COVID happened. The 50th anniversary of the album came and went, and that rehearsal became a memory of what could have been.

But some things are worth waiting for. May 26th marks what would have been Miles Davis' 100th birthday, and Hard Proof is finally bringing Bitches Brew to life at Monks Jazz. Joined by trumpeter Erik Telford, keyboardist Jaron Marshall, and other special guests, the band will attempt to capture the electric, free-flowing intensity that made the album revolutionary. It's been five years since that lone rehearsal—and this is a one-night-only event. May 26th, 8pm at Monks Jazz. Come witness them either nail it or stumble into some other magical chaos.

NEW ADDRESS | 310 E SAINT ELMO ROAD, UNIT B AUSTIN TX 78745

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.

AJS Presents: Chase Baird Quintet

Wed, May 27

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for Chase Baird Quintet!

Chase Baird – Tenor Saxophone

Michael Fradkin – Saxophone

Andy Langham – Piano

Aaron Allen – Bass

Gerry Gibbs – Drums

Part experimental rocker, part classical romantic and part hard-bop devotee, saxophonist and composer Chase Baird has been described as "... the future of jazz music and the saxophone" by Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Randy Brecker.

His latest album, A Life Between, covers a vast emotional terrain with a band comprised of modern jazz’s most revered innovators. Pianist Brad Mehldau and drummer Antonio Sánchez are veteran companions alongside new-generation talents Nir Felder, guitar, and Dan Chmielinski, bass. Critics have declared the album “…a truly inspired, dare we say, epic recording complete with progressive singularities and sonic cosmicalities.”

Chase has worked as a sideman with pop icon Chaka Khan, legendary Chicago vocalist Bill Champlin as well as indie-rocker Jakob Dylan. In the jazz realm, he has performed or recorded with Chris Botti, Brad Mehldau, Antonio Sánchez, Mike Stern, Antonio Faraò, Mike Clark, Victor Wooten, Thana Alexa, Dennis Chambers, Julian Pollack (J3PO), Dan Tepfer, Thomas Dawson, Steve Lyman and others.

During 2017 - 2020, Chase performed as an active member of drummer Antonio Sánchez’s band Migration, recording both saxophone and EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument) on the groups’ acclaimed album Lines In The Sand. He also recorded and toured with multi-generational progressive jazz ensemble Venture, featuring drum legend Mike Clark, multi-instrumentalist Mark Sherman and electric bassist Felix Pastorius. Venture explores hard-bop roots and accents of funk and fusion on their first studio collaboration, Life Cycle, released on Ropeadope Records in May 2018.

Chase plays exclusively EWI with all-synthesizer band Circuit Kisser, created by collaborator Dan “Chimy“ Chmielinski. The band’s most recent album, First Kiss, released on La Reserve Records in 2023. When not touring, Chase makes his home in Austin, Texas.

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Make a donation to be recognized:

Supporter Level: Donate $50 or more, and we'll mention your name as a Supporter of the "AJS Presents: Midweek @ Monks" series, as part of the mission to creating more sustaining performance opportunities for Austin jazz musicians!

Sponsor Level: Donate $100 or more, you’ll be recognized as a Sponsor of the "AJS Presents: Midweek @ Monks" series.

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NEW ADDRESS | 310 E SAINT ELMO ROAD, UNIT B AUSTIN TX 78745

Sasha Ripley Quintet

Thu, May 28

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Sasha Ripley Quintet! Sasha Ripley – Tenor Saxophone Jalen Baker – Vibraphone Phineas Davenport – Piano Marwan Ghonima – Bass Gavin Moolchan – Drums Sasha Ripley is a dynamic tenor saxophonist, composer, and educator whose work bridges the rich musical traditions of his Houston upbringing and Russian heritage with contemporary jazz innovation. From an early age, Sasha demonstrated exceptional talent, gaining admission to Houston’s Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and later earning a prestigious World Tour Scholarship to Berklee College of Music. His artistic development was further shaped by immersive study at the Global Jazz Institute under the mentorship of Grammy-winning pianist Danilo Perez, and culminated with a Master’s degree from the notoriously prestigious Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz at UCLA. Sasha’s music is characterized by a deep sense of storytelling, created by melding intricate improvisation with cultural narratives that reflect his diverse background. His newest compositions from his debut album, Music from the People explore themes of identity, community, and transformation. He has performed extensively across the United States and internationally, appearing at renowned venues such as Birdland in New York City, the Blue Note Jazz Festival, the Hollywood Bowl and iconic international cultural centers from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai. Performing with some of the most respected names in jazz—including Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, George Garzone, Marcus Miller, and Christian McBride—Sasha actively expands his horizons by using these experiences to push the music forward. ‘‘Sasha is an extremely talented saxophonist and generational talent.’’ – Godwin Louis NEW ADDRESS | 310 E SAINT ELMO ROAD, UNIT B AUSTIN TX 78745 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.

Elias Haslanger | Tribute to Joe Henderson

Fri, May 29

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Elias Haslanger | Tribute to Joe Henderson! Elias and his all-star band will play the music and celebrate the life and legacy of one of the most important tenor saxophonists of all-time, Joe Henderson. Elias has studied Joe's music for years and will showcase some of his most famous compositions and a few that are off the beaten path for this night of music at Monks. Elias Haslanger – Saxophone Mike Sailors – Trumpet Andy Langham – Piano Ryan Hagler – Bass Daniel Dufour – 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 NEW ADDRESS | 310 E SAINT ELMO ROAD AUSTIN TX 78745 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.

Amina Scott Quartet

Sat, May 30

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Amina Scott Quartet! Amina Scott – Bass Jalen Baker – Vibraphone Dayne Reliford – Piano Gavin Moolchan – Drums Amina Scott, born and raised in Oakland, CA, is an upright and electric bassist, composer, and arranger. Her interest in music began at an early age when her grandmother began giving her piano lessons. From then, her love and passion for music has yet to cease, playing electric bass at the age of twelve and was soon playing gigs with local bands in Oakland. In Oakland, Amina has ties to the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music (OPCM) which was started by trombonist Angela Wellman to provide arts and music classes to the Oakland community in an economical way. Through OPCM, Amina was able to take her skills to Lima, Peru to be part a of a group that represented the United States at the first Festival of Music and Dance in the African Diaspora where she played various concerts around Lima and held seminars discussing the music of the African Diaspora in the United States. In 2017, Amina joined the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra led by Adonis Rose. Now based in New Orleans, Amina leads her own band and she has performed with various artists including Dee Dee Bridgewater, Steve Turre, Wessell “Warm Daddy” Anderson, Nicholas Payton, David Murray, Jamison Ross, Joanne Brackeen, Don Vappie, Herlin Riley, Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah, and more. NEW ADDRESS | 310 E SAINT ELMO ROAD AUSTIN TX 78745 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.

Monks Jazz Club's Upcoming Shows