From Ella to Sarah: A Nonet Songbook

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for: From Ella to Sarah: A Nonet Songbook brings the tradition of jazz vocals and classic arrangements to the stage, connecting the sound of New York with the legacy of two of jazz’s most celebrated voices. Arranged by Mike Sailors and Carolina Peña, the nonet explores swing, the birth of the cool, and modern interpretations of vocal classics.

Featuring leading jazz musicians from Austin and New York, the program combines the rich sound of a big band with an intimate setting for the voice, honoring the tradition while offering a fresh perspective on the enduring music of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.

Vocal: Carolina Pena

Piano: Ross Margitza

Bass: Alexander Claffy

Drums: Daniel Dufour

Alto: Seth Carper

Tenor: Dan Thomas

Bari: Eric Hargett

Trumpet: Matthew Collins

Trumpet: Jonah Springs

Trombone: Andre Hayward

Carolina Peña is a distinctive new voice in New York City jazz, bringing together a deep grounding in the jazz tradition with a powerful commitment to Latin American musical expression. A current Ella Fitzgerald Scholar, she has performed alongside artists including Jon Faddis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Benny Bennack III, with performances across Europe and the U.S.

For Ella to Sarah: A Nonet Songbook, Carolina channels her deep admiration for Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan through her work as both vocalist and arranger. The program features her own arrangements, including her big band arrangement of Miles Davis and Gil Evans’ “Moon Dreams,” which she debuted at Dizzy’s Club in New York with her original Spanish lyrics. The project celebrates two of jazz’s greatest voices while creating space for Spanish-language storytelling and Latin American musical expression.

Monks is now a Cocktail Bar, with Table Service offering a curated menu of mixed beverages, wine, beer, and light fare snacks! As part of this transition, Monks Jazz is no longer a BYOB venue. (No beverages permitted in or out of the building)

As always, this is a live-taping, so we'll be enforcing a whisper-policy. Free parking is available in the area.

Doors at 7 PM, Show at 7:30 PM.