Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Rafael Rosa Quartet! Rafael Rosa - Guitar & FX Renato Diz - Piano & Keyboards Juan Acosta - Bass Gerry Gibs - Drums Rafael Rosa, a distinguished guitarist, composer, and engineer from San Juan, Puerto Rico, has been an influential presence in the New York City music scene since relocating in 2011. A self-taught musician who began playing guitar at 14, Rosa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Popular Music from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico. His dynamic performances have graced notable venues such as the Blue Note Jazz Club, ShapeShifter Lab, and Dizzy’s Club, and he’s collaborated with celebrated artists including Luba Mason, Al Jarreau, and the Ben Rosenblum Nebula Project. His acclaimed 2014 debut album Portrait, co-produced with Grammy-winning bassist John Benitez, blended Puerto Rican rhythms with jazz and rock. Rosa’s 2022 follow-up, Axiomatic: Music For The People, further cemented his reputation, earning him a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition. As an educator, Rosa teaches at Long Island University's Roc Nation School of Music, where he covers a broad range of courses from music technology to production. He has also taught at NYU, CUNY, and St. John’s University. Currently, Rosa is working on several ambitious projects, all set for release in 2026. These include R & R, a piano-guitar duo with Portuguese pianist Renato Diz; Thru The Years, a trio album with longtime collaborators Dan Martinez and Leonardo Osuna; the debut of the DRD Modern Organ Trio with Danny DeFeo and Danny Borg; and Profe, a genre-blending, guest-filled exploration of global rhythms and groove-forward soundscapes. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. First Show: Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. Second Show: Doors at 9:45pm, Show at 10pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Dan Redner Trio! Dan Redner - Piano James Suter - Double Bass Aaron Parks - Drums Dan Redner, a Grand Rapids, Michigan native, is a versatile pianist with a background in both classical and jazz. A 2007 alumnus of Grand Valley State University, he has received outstanding performance recognition from Western Michigan University, Central Michigan University, Aquinas College, and the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival. He has collaborated with the Grand Rapids Symphony and the Austin Symphony Orchestra and worked as a clinic musician for renowned jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. Dan also performed at the T.S. Eliot Society Conference in St. Louis for the world premiere of Craig Benjamin’s opera, The Wasteland. As a member of the New Music Ensemble, Dan recorded Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians on the Innova Recordings label. The album was named one of the top recordings of 2007 by The New York Times, L.A. Weekly, The Rest Is Noise, and New York Magazine. It topped Apple Music and Amazon’s classical charts and spent 11 weeks on Billboard’s Top 25 Classical Crossover chart. The ensemble performed at the “Bang on a Can” New Music Festival in NYC and was featured on NPR. Dan spent six years performing internationally as a musical director for Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Azamara Cruises, leading Broadway, revue, and cabaret productions. After relocating to Austin, Texas, in 2011, he earned a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies from the Butler School of Music at UT Austin. Currently, Dan performs in various jazz settings, accompanies national Broadway tours at Bass Concert Hall (Wicked, Mean Girls, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin), and plays & musical directs for Austin’s Moontower Entertainment. In addition to performing, he teaches a full roster of 60 weekly piano students from his home studio. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. Doors at 4:45pm, Show at 5pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for Christian Wiggs | Oscar Meets Tony – Part II: Songs From Broadway & Cinema! Christian Wiggs — Voice Hank Hehmsoth — Piano James Suter — Bass Matt Carr — Drums Matthew Collins — Trumpet Joey Colarusso — Tenor Saxophone An emerging polymath in the music industry, Christian Wiggs is a vocalist, bandleader, lyricist, producer, director, artist manager, educator, record label executive, founder and CEO of Bandstand Presents and host of “Jazz Tonight” on PBS. Born to a choreographer, Wiggs’ immersion into theatre and the jazz tradition has led to a remarkable career as an artist, leading and featured with ensembles on prolific stages such as Birdland, Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club and SXSW. Producing chart topping records for the most sought-after names in jazz including Emmet Cohen (JazzWeek #1), Benny Benack and Steven Feifke, Wiggs manages GRAMMY and Tony Award-winner Bryan Carter, Chad LB and serves as the musical/band manager for global icon Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. As an educator, Wiggs is the co-founder and Executive Director of Global Jazz Workshop alongside Artistic Director, Chad LB. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Izze Stein Quartet! Izze Stein - Vocals/Piano Elias Haslanger - Saxophone Ryan Hagler - Upright Bass Joshua Alderete - Drums Izze Stein is a singer-songwriter driven by a deep desire to connect the world and help others heal. Born on the stages and jazz clubs of New York City, Izze is an unsigned independent artist who has made frequent appearances at Birdland Jazz Club, the Apollo Theater, and Wallace Lounge while opening for many soul artists, including Adi Oasis at Palm Heights in the Cayman Islands and Morgan James at the Sellersville Theatre. In addition, Izze is part of Hometowne Music Group, a Nashville-based writing & publishing company. A musician, lyricist, pianist, and singer with a limitless vocal range, Izze released her debut solo album, Questions, earlier this year. Rising Australian sensation EMEREE produced the album, as both artists build their momentum in the Jazz & R&B scenes. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for AJS Presents: Sammy Epstein Quintet! Sammy Epstein – Tenor/Alto Saxophones/Clarinet Aaron Lack – Vibraphone Ben Irom – Piano Alex Bilodeau – Acoustic Bass Danny Sanchez – Drums Sammy Epstein has been playing jazz in Austin since arriving in 2006 from Portland Oregon, where he was an active band leader/performer in the Portland jazz scene. He currently has an active performance schedule, leading several Austin-based groups:  Mirage Jazz Ensemble - (Saxes/Clarinet, Vibraphone, Bass)  Sammy’s Satin Sounds (Swing Dance Sextet)  Rio Novo (Brazilian Quintet)  Sammy Epstein Jazz Duo (Reeds & Piano)  Austin Klezmer Ensemble (Klezmer Quintet) Sammy earned a Ph.D. in physics and a J.D., both from University of Oregon. He taught Acoustics and Math/Physics for Recording Engineers at Berklee College of Music in Boston MA, where he attended music classes. His “day job” is patent attorney at a patent law boutique firm in Austin. –––– 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. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for Wizards of Loneliness! Paulo Santos - Saxophone & FX Zach Kursman - Drums & FX Wizards of Loneliness is an experimental fusion duo led by Paulo Santos (saxophone) and Zach Kursman (drums). Known for their genre-defying interplay and improvisational instinct, the two musicians blend jazz, electronic textures, and spontaneous composition into a sound that is both visceral and transportive. They debuted their project at Monks Jazz in March 2025 as part of the Monks' Jazz Showcases, and return with an ever-evolving set of original material. Regular fixtures in Austin’s creative music scene, Santos and Kursman have each made their mark as in-demand sidemen—and together, they conjure a sonic landscape all their own. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Kwinton Gray Project! Kwinton Gray - Piano/Keyboards Mathew Babineaux - Sax/Flute KJ Gray - Bass Nicholas Rothouse - Percussion Jackie Whitmill Jr - Drums The Kwinton Gray Project is a high-energy jazz fusion group that was assembled in the fall of 2015 by keyboardist Kwinton Gray. The Dallas-based group's first album titled, 'Leap of Faith' released in 2018! This band continues to make waves across the globe, pushing boundaries and genre-bending to their satisfaction. Kwinton has had success as a Composer, Music Director and Keyboardist touring around the world with artist like Lalah Hathaway, Janet Jackson, Camile A. Brown & Dancers, Foley, The Funky Knuckles, MonoNeon, and many more. He continues to shape his story with his own band as They are currently working in their sophomore album Titled “‘BOUNCE’ set to release this summer. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. First Show: Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. Second Show: Doors at 9:45pm, Show at 10pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for Elias Haslanger | Blue Note Review! Playing classic compositions and arrangements from the 50's and 60's Blue Note era of jazz, this show will highlight some of the players, studio sessions and stories that made the Blue Note sound such a unique and important part of our culture. Elias Haslanger - Tenor Saxophone Tito Carrillo - Trumpet Ross Margitza - Piano Ryan Hagler - Bass Mike Gordon - 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. First Show: Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. Second Show: Doors at 9:45pm, Show at 10pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Sofia Kriger Quartet! Sofia Kriger - Voice Sander Pinheiro - Guitar James Sutter - Acoustic Bass Michael Longoria - Drums Sofia Kriger is a singer, songwriter and improviser. She was born and raised in Brazil. At the age of 16, she decided to move to NYC to study music and pursue a career. She graduated from the New England Conservatory with a Bachelor's in Jazz Performance, and her music currently embraces a variety of styles and sounds, including Brazilian music, jazz and pop. Sofia has also lived in South Korea for a music residency before she moved to Austin in 2024. Throughout her career, she has performed in several renowned venues including Jordan Hall, The Velvet Note, High Museum of Art and The Museum of Fine Arts. In her past, she was the co-leader of the Mojubá Ensemble, a modern world-jazz quintet that explored the meeting points between Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban music. She also led the Solos de Ave Ensemble, a group that explored and reconstructed music of renowned Brazilian composers. Sofia also co-leads the Sofia and Sander project, with Brazilian singer/guitarist Sander Pinheiro. This project emerged when Sofia and Sander started creating and performing their arrangements of different types of World music (in Portuguese, Spanish, and English), including Brazilian music, jazz and pop. Since then, they have been recording original compositions and arrangements, and performing in several venues around the US. Their Brazilian roots from the Southeast and Northeast along with their experiences in different genres is what characterizes Sofia and Sander. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the JJ Johnson Quartet! JJ Johnson - Drums Sam Pankey - Bass Sean Giddings - Piano Eli Menezes - Guitar Growing up in San Antonio and Austin, TX, JJ Johnson has built a tremendous reputation as a masterful drummer with his polyrhythmic grooves and pin-dropping dynamics coupled with his thunderous power and intensity. He has backed some of music’s most talented artists such as Tedeschi-Trucks Band, John Mayer, Lenny Kravitz, Sugarland, Doyle Bramhall II, Boz Scaggs and many others. "You've got to put the work and time in, to be armed and prepared, Being in position is being in any position. Then, also doing it with feeling, and learning from it. Those are important principles for me. The camaraderie of a unit on tour and the energy of playing for a live audience is incredibly special. When the lights go down and everyone hits the stage, it brings you to life and reminds you what you’re here to do.” JJ currently resides in Austin, TX and is endorsed by Gretsch Drums, Istanbul Mehmet Cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Remo drumheads and DW Hardware. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. 

Join us for Night One of the No Idea Festival Vernacular Residency with Ken Vandermark & Mabel Kwan! 7pm: Film screening of Daniel Kraus’ Work Series #2: Musician 58 mins, 2007 Daniel Krauss’ film, Musician, works with a similar methodology as Frederick Wiseman—no voice overs, no talking heads—letting the camera capture events as they unfold in real time. Though Ken Vandermark is at the center of the action, he is not the subject of the film. Instead, the subject is the work it takes for every musician, whatever genre, to get their material onstage and is a one-of-a-kind document of this process. 8pm: Mabel Kwan + Ken Vandermark Duo Mabel Kwan and Ken Vandermark have worked together in various formats, including projects with the new music group Ensemble Dal Niente featuring new work by Roscoe Mitchell, Last Trane to Clover Five (2021), and performances at Big Ears Festival (2022). Since then they have played together in various improvised music groups; this will be their first concert as a duo. 9:15pm: Panel Discussion and Artist Talk Vandermark's resoluteness managing innumerable projects function as a springboard to investigate and understand the complexities of establishing and maintaining a creative life in music. Panel members represent different aspects of Ken's sprawling work as musician, label owner (Audiographic Records since 2014), Director of the Catalytic Sound musician cooperative (since 2012), concert presenter (Catalytic Sound Festival since 2020), and writer. Ken Vandermark - musician Mabel Kwan - musician Eric Drott - Professor at UT Butler School of Music and author of Streaming Music, Streaming Capital (Duke Press) Pedro Moreno - Founder of Epistrophy Arts, a grass-roots organization dedicated to presenting the finest in improvised music and adventurous jazz in Austin Texas since 1998. + more TBA 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. 

Join us for Night Two of the No Idea Festival Vernacular Residency with Ken Vandermark & Mabel Kwan! 5 PM | Open Rehearsal / Masterclass (Doors @ 4:45pm) Ken Vandermark leads a 2-hour open rehearsal with his quartet of Texas musicians performing this evening. Ample time will be left for audience questions about Vandermark’s working process as composer, improvisor, and bandleader. 5 PM to 7 PM ---------- 7:30 PM Show (Doors @ 7:15pm) Set 1: Mabel Kwan + Juan García duo First-time free improvisations between two acclaimed artists investigating the peripheries of contemporary classical, improvised, and experimental music. Mabel Kwan - piano Juan García - double bass Set 2: Ken Vandermark Texas Ensemble Ken Vandermark will present new compositions exploring distinct melodic, rhythmic and architectural strategies for improvisers. Vandermark will work with Texas musicians Jonathan Horne (guitar, Austin), Matthew Frerck (double bass, Denton), and Stefan González (drumset, Denton) in a debut collaboration. --------- 10 PM Show (Doors @ 9:45pm) The music of Fred Anderson + Dennis González The music of legendary musician Fred Anderson, a founding member of the AACM and a mentor for numerous musicians, is rarely heard outside of Chicago. Vandermark was fortunate enough to work with Anderson on a regular basis, record an album of his compositions with the DKV Trio, as well as feature Anderson as a guest soloist on the Territory Band album, Collide (2007). Vandermark will present a selection of Fred Anderson's pieces in a trio with North Texas musicians Stefan González and Matthew Frerck. Adding to the evening's music, the trio will perform selections of music from Dallas' pioneering trumpeter, artist and educator Dennis González. González established the Dallas Association for Avant-Garde and Neo Impressionistic Music (daagnim) in the late 1970s, at the suggestion of Anthony Braxton and Art Lande. The daagnim organization, which functioned both as a group of musicians and as a record label, was based on and named after Chicago's AACM. Dennis' son, drummer and vibraphonist Stefan González, will present selections of his father's music heavily influenced by his work with Chicago colleagues Malachi Favors and Alvin Fielder (via MIssissippi), among others. Ken Vandermark - tenor saxophone, Bb clarinet Matthew Frerck - double bass Stefan González - drumset 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for Sweet Megg! Sweet Megg - Vocals Daniel Dufour - Drums Jacob Wise - Guitar Ryan Hagler - Bass Sweet Megg returns to Monks this May 31st for an unforgettable night of jazz standards. Accompanied by her stellar 4-piece band, Megg transports her audience through the rich traditions of jazz, blending the soulful blues of Billie Holiday with the swinging rhythms of Anita O'Day. Known for her deep emotional resonance and dynamic vocal delivery, Sweet Megg has become a favorite among jazz enthusiasts for her ability to reinterpret classic tunes with a modern flair while staying true to their roots. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. First Show: Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. Second Show: Doors at 9:45pm, Show at 10pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Cyrus Nabipoor Quartet! Cyrus Nabipoor - Trumpet Matt Muehling - Guitar James Suter - Bass Adam Jackson - Drums A distinctive voice both on the horn and in his writing, Cyrus Nabipoor's singular sound has garnered him international acclaim. He has been a featured festival artist at PDX Jazz, Cathedral Park, Montavilla Jazz, New Orleans French Quarter, and Chicago Instigation. To date, he has released 2 albums under his own name, and collaborated on numerous more. In addition to his self-titled work, Cyrus runs the Puddletown Stompers, is a member of Reb & The Good News, and works as a freelance trumpeter & music director. An in-demand composer/arranger, Cyrus has had several works commissioned by Portland Jazz Composer’s Ensemble. Cyrus has produced horn tracks for major artists including Nicky Youre, Grace Enger, Maggie Koerner, Peach Tree Rascals, and David Hugo. He has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with a wide variety of artists including Jamison Ross, Elle King, Tarriona “Tank” Ball, Wess “Warmdaddy” Anderson, James Singleton, Jason Marsalis, Steve Masakowski, Mike Dillon, Stanton Moore, Amina Scott & Nicole McCabe. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Spencer Foster Quartet! Spencer Foster - Piano Marco Antonio Santos - Guitar Chris Jones - Bass Terrance McDaniel - Drums Spencer Foster is a multifaceted musician based in Austin, Texas. A dedicated pianist since the age of five, he began with classical training and later studied privately with esteemed UT Austin professors Jeff Hellmer and Sean Giddings. He earned his degree in Spanish and Portuguese from UT while continuing his musical development under the guidance of internationally recognized artists such as Rique Pantoja, Vitor Gonçalves, and Richard Huntley. His debut album, Crossed Out, is available on all major streaming platforms. Spencer balances a dynamic schedule that includes performing throughout Austin, teaching music, and working full-time at a local nonprofit focused on social justice. His diverse performance background features highlights such as playing accordion in musical theater productions, a monthly residency with the Shalane Quartet at the Elephant Room, and a six-month solo piano residency where he sang and accompanied himself weekly. Prior to college, Spencer was awarded a piano chair in the Texas All-State Jazz Band and performed at Lincoln Center in New York City as a finalist in the Essentially Ellington competition with his high school big band. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for AJS Presents: Elias Haslanger Quartet! Elias Haslanger - Tenor Saxophone 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, Black Pumas, 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 8 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. His 2024 release Elias Haslanger Meets Mike Sailors is featured on Apple Music’s Pure Jazz playlist and has received over 100,000 streams worldwide as of today. "Haslanger's freewheeling licks roar with virtuosity and infectious joie de vivre." -Michael Jackson, DownBeat –––– 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. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Wayne Salzmann II Quartet! Justin Vasquez - Tenor Saxophone Andy Langham - Piano Chris Maresh - Bass Wayne Salzmann II - Drums Wayne Salzmann II is a Drummer, Educator, Author, and Composer who has toured/recorded extensively with Grammy winning guitarist Eric Johnson. He has performed/recorded with Steve Miller, Kenny Rogers, Kris Kristofferson, Joe Satriani, Christopher Cross, Mike Stern, Robben Ford, Oz Noy, Chris Potter, Dick Oatts, San Antonio Symphony, and many others. His recording credits include a Billboard no. 1 Jazz record, a Billboard no. 1 Blues record, and feature film soundtracks. Salzmann was the Drum Set Instructor at the University of Texas at Austin from 2010-2022 and has given clinics and masterclasses worldwide. His book Developing Melodic Language on the Drums has received high acclaim from Peter Erskine, Ed Soph, Carl Allen, John Riley, and Modern Drummer Magazine. His compositions and arrangements can be heard on recordings with his jazz quartet and six-piece funk band, Wayne Salzmann’s Groove Society. He is an Artist/Clinician for DW Drums, Pedals, & Hardware, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Drumheads, and Vic Firth Drumsticks. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. First Show: Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. Second Show: Doors at 9:45pm, Show at 10pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for Progger! Brian Donohoe - Saxophone/Keyboard Matt Muehling - Guitar Ryan Hagler - Bass Charles Reid III - Drums What began as a jam session at a rehearsal space in Austin has become an international collection of gifted musicians whose captivating live performances and studio releases have garnered acclaim from fans and publications around the world. Progger is held together by a passion for music that balances sophisticated harmony and melody with visceral beats and riffs. Through four critically-acclaimed releases and live tours supporting acts like Parliament/Funkadelic, Snarky Puppy, and the Funky Knuckles, Progger has developed an international following of devoted fans. Despite the inevitable cancellations caused by the world-changing Covid-19 pandemic, Progger’s constituent members began working with a staggering variety of prominent artists across numerous genres. The likes of Bruno Mars, Jon Batiste, Janelle Monáe, the Black Pumas, Kool and the Gang, and the Kill Tony Show have been keeping various Progger people quite busy. Nonetheless, the band will be rehearsing and performing its piles of new music throughout late 2024 in eager anticipation of producing its fifth album. This show is presented by and supported in part by the Austin Live Music Fund. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. First Show: Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. Second Show: Doors at 9:45pm, Show at 10pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for Andy Boutot and the Big Night Band! Andy Boutot - Vocals Steven Vague - Tenor Saxophone Tommy Howard - Guitar Ross Margitza - Keys Chris Jones - Bass Mike Gordon - Drums Andy Boutot and Big Night is a highly acclaimed Austin-based Jazz and Blues band that offers a unique mixture of true talent, soulful energy, and polish. With a faithful and growing following, Big Night captivates audiences with musicianship, effortless style, and a singer with a smooth, rich, soulful voice that can flow over you like honey or powerfully soar and take you out of your seat. Andy and Big Night call upon an eclectic and meticulously crafted music library that mixes jazz standards made famous by artists like Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughn, Louis Jordan, and Chet Baker, and Blues and Soul tunes made famous by Ray Charles, Etta James, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Taj Mahal, Freddie King, Bonnie Raitt, Little Walter, Bill Withers, and George Benson. Big Night is a bridge between the old world and new world. Their passion, versatility, and talent will delight you. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. Doors at 6:45pm, Show at 7pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Beat Divas! Mady Kaye - Vocals Beth Ullman - Vocals Dianne Donovan - Vocals Andy Langham - Piano Ryan Hagler - Bass Stephen Summer - Drums Mady Kaye, Beth Ullman and Dianne Donovan are the ebullient Beat Divas. Three remarkable voices in tight harmony romp through American jazz and pop with a joie de vivre and vocal abandon rarely heard. Sexy, sassy and swingin', their repertoire includes original works, jazz standards and the best of American pop music jazzed up. From bebop to pop-gone-salsa, their song styling is totally refreshing. The Divas' original songs about food, which they include in their cooking classes at Central Market Cooking School, are delicious and hilarious. Mady Kaye, Divas' bandleader, is a 2024 inductee into the Austin Jazz Society Hall of Fame. This year marks fifty years in the Austin music scene for Ms. Kaye, from performing to bandleading, studio vocal production, vocal coaching, songwriting and arranging. The Austin Chronicle's Critic's Picks named her the best professional voice instructor in Austin. Mady and Beth write the Beat Divas' original material and arrangements. Beth Ullman is back in Austin after almost thirty years on the commercial music faculty at McLennan Community College in Waco, where she was an instructor of voice and vocal ensemble, a vocal arranger and accompanist (she's an amazing pianist). The Divas are thrilled she's in town again! Her most recent recording of all-original compositions, "We've Got Tonight," was released on Aardvark Records to wide acclaim. Dianne Donovan, a Montreal-born jazz vocalist, has a voice you already know as queen of the classical airwaves, host of Midday Oasis on KMFA Classical Radio 89.5 FM. She is also host and producer of "Classical Austin," and continues to produce a weekly vocal jazz show, "Voices in Jazz" for CKUA Radio in Edmonton, Canada. She has interviewed jazz greats from Bobby McFerrin to Shirley Horn. Dianne's luscious voice provides the perfect low end to the Beat Divas' harmonies. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for Brazilian Jazz Night | Malone & Friends! Michael Malone - Saxophone Sofia Kriger - Vocals Sander Pinheiro - Guitar Ciriaco Isma - Bass Michael Longoria - Drums Michael Malone, a Cleveland, Ohio native, is a world-renowned saxophonist and composer. Michael's resume includes a five-year stint touring with legendary jazz organist Jimmy Smith, as well as dates with Cindy Blackmon, guitarist Mark Whitfield, and steel drummer Othello Molineaux. In addition to touring Europe and Asia with his own group Just Released, Michael was also a member and composer in the award-winning Austin-based group Blaze. A Resident of Austin, Texas, he leads The Michael Malone Quintet, works extensively with jazz organist extraordinaire Red Young, and plays frequently with Austin vocalist Pamela Hart. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. First Show: Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. Second Show: Doors at 9:45pm, Show at 10pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Sahara Quartet | Vinyl Release Show! Jesse Ebaugh - Double Bass Damien Valenzuela - Saxophones Danny Kerner - Guitar Steve Mankenberg - Drums The Sahara Quartet rides the line between “free” jazz and post bop, exploring that zone between composition and improvisation as defined by players like Ornette Coleman, Pharaoh Sanders, Steve Lacy, Dewey Redman, or Sonny Sharrock. The Quartet keeps one foot in the blues while playing tunes written by members Jesse Ebaugh and Damien Valenzuela, defining a space that is musically modern primitive, at times outsider, and a toast to the traditional. The group formed, and takes it’s name, from a once a month jam at the Sahara Lounge in Austin, Texas. Mankenberg has been on the jazz and improvised scene in Austin for many years, and Ebaugh is a multi genre musician who works in rock and country and leads a band called The Tender Things. Kerner and Valenzuela are both from Las Cruces, New Mexico and migrated to Austin by way of Chicago to immerse themselves in the scene and are members of multiple bands like Zoumountchi, Sahara All Stars and Cazayoux. Come celebrate the release of the first recordings from The Sahara Quartet. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. First Show: Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. Second Show: Doors at 9:45pm, Show at 10pm. 

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Chase Baird/Will Brahm Quartet! Chase Baird - Saxophone Will Brahm - Guitar Ryan Hagler - Bass Adam Jackson - Drums About Chase Baird: Part experimental rocker, part classical romantic, and part hard-bop devotee, saxophonist and composer Chase Baird has been hailed by Grammy-winner Randy Brecker as “the future of jazz music and the saxophone.” His latest album A Life Between features jazz luminaries Brad Mehldau and Antonio Sánchez alongside rising stars Nir Felder and Dan Chmielinski, earning praise as an “epic recording complete with progressive singularities and sonic cosmicalities.” Baird has toured and recorded widely, collaborating with icons across genres—from Chaka Khan and Jakob Dylan to Chris Botti, Mike Stern, Victor Wooten, and Thana Alexa. He was also a key member of Antonio Sánchez’s band Migration and a founding contributor to the progressive jazz ensemble Venture. Raised between Seattle, Salt Lake City, and California, Baird picked up the saxophone at age ten and was mentored early on by Michael Brecker. He studied at California State University Long Beach and The Juilliard School, where he honed both jazz and classical technique. Alongside his work as a saxophonist, Baird plays EWI with the synth-forward group Circuit Kisser and collaborates on guitar with his sister Christine Baird’s band, Rocky Mountain Soul. When not on the road, he’s based in Austin, Texas, continuing to push genre boundaries with his emotionally expansive and technically fearless approach to music. About Will Brahm: Hailing from Portland Oregon and receiving a guitar in 8th grade, Will Brahm immediately began channeling his love for music through the guitar. After high school he moved to Southern California, earning a Bachelors degree in Jazz Guitar performance from Cal State Long Beach where he studied with jazz guitar extraordinaire Ron Eschete. After college he began touring with The New West Guitar Group, skyrocketing his musical technique and stamina. In 2019 he released his acoustic ensemble album “Venture Atlas." Next he joined world renowned Jazz Trumpet legend Arturo Sandoval band, touring domestic and abroad. Soon after competed as a semifinalist in the 2019 Herbie Hancock International Jazz Guitar Competition, performing for his idols including Guitarist Pat Metheny. This era ushered Will into new musical demands as both a jazz guitar aficionado, and a front-and-center electric player on stages bigger and louder than ever before. In this moment, Will finally began bridging all of the facets of his passionate musical self into one singular instrument and unmistakable sound: the Fender Stratocaster. Will's music evokes the captivating melodic delivery of guitarists like Jeff Beck, paired with the lush emotional and harmonically complex soundscapes of bands like Pat Metheny Group. This is demonstrated on his newest album “Distance to Empty” (2025). Will lives in Los Angeles and tours domestically and abroad. He composes daily and lives a life full of and inside of the music. 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! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm.