Monks Jazz Club's Upcoming Shows

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for Eli Menezes Single Release!

Eli Menezes – Guitar

Matthew Weatherly – Bass

Sam Howden – Trumpet

Daniel Watson – Drums

Eli Menezes is a Brazilian multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer based in Austin, Texas, via New York City. Since relocating from Rio de Janeiro to NYC in the spring of 2000, he has traveled to over 50 countries and collaborated with a wide range of internationally recognized artists across multiple genres, including Lauryn Hill, Richard Bona, Rita Ora, Faith Evans, Common, Ashanti, Estelle, Thalia, Fred Hammond, and David Bisbal, among others.

Eli is a member of the soul-pop duo Gritty Sunset and the band FORQ, signed to Snarky Puppy’s GroundUP Music label. He is currently active in the Austin recording and live music scene, where he frequently performs and collaborates with artists such as David Grissom, Andrea Magee, JoJames, The Kill Tony Band, Aubrey Logan and Gina Chavez to name a few.

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 7:15, Show at 7:30 PM.

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Bruce Saunders Quintet!

Bruce Saunders – Guitar

Joel Frahm – Tenor Saxophone

Andy Langham – Piano

Daniel Dufour – Drums

James Suter – Bass

Bruce Saunders is a guitarist, composer and educator currently residing in Austin, TX. After receiving his Masters degree in jazz/classical guitar from the University of North Texas in 1986 he moved to New York City where he was a resident until late 2013. During his tenure in NY he recorded, performed and toured with some of the worlds best jazz musicians. Since moving to Austin he has played with many of the world class jazz musicians in the city and state. Saunders is currently a lecturer at the University of Texas/Austin’s Butler School of Music where he teaches private guitar lessons and a faculty member of Berklee’s Online University (BOL) where he developed and teaches two jazz guitar courses.

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 the Andre Hayward Quintet!

Andre Hayward – Trombone

Mike Fageros – Guitar

Jakob Hartz – Piano

Aaron Allen – Bass

Kevin Witt – Drums

Andre Hayward is a trombone player based in Austin, Texas. His sound and clarity are reminiscent of the late J.J. Johnson. Born in Houston in 1973, Hayward’s first exposure to music was through his parents, Melvin and Barbara Hayward. He began playing trombone and tuba at the age of 11. He attended HSPVA, and continued to hone his skills with Houston’s legendary educator Conrad O. Johnson. He has recorded or performed with Betty Carter, Roy Hargrove, Joe Williams, John Lewis, Kirk Whalum, The Duke Ellington Orchestra and many others. Hayward toured as lead trombonist with The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and the Duke Ellington Orchestra.

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 the Frida Ruiz Quartet!

Frida Ruiz-Berman – Vocalist

João Camargo – Piano

Marwan Ghonima – Bass

Daniel Dufour –Drums

Frida Ruiz-Berman is a young, upcoming New York City-based jazz vocalist from Houston, Texas. Moving from Salt Lake City to Lisbon to Houston throughout her childhood, Frida developed a marked passion for the performing arts from a young age. An alumnus of HSPVA in Houston, Texas, she developed a knack for vocal jazz there under the guidance of department head Warren Sneed. Moving to New York City in 2024, Frida quickly made a reputation for herself as a young and promising vocalist, attending the Tribeca Jazz Institute in 2025, where she studied with professionals such as Lucy Yeghiazaryan, Michael Kanan, Paul Sikevie, Greg Ruggiero, and Chris Byars.

Freshly out of TJI, Frida has begun working her way further into the scene and developing her craft, recording her debut album late 2025. The EP, featuring some of New York City's most prominent young musicians is scheduled for release April 2026. Praised for her classic and soulful renditions of jazz standards, Frida continuously morphs what she learns in life with her understanding of jazz, creating present yet refined interpretations.

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 Julie Slim & Rendezvous | Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien! Join us for a special evening featuring some French legends like Edith Piaf, Françoise Hardy and more on the occasion of Bastille Day with guest violinist, Alen Cileli. Vive la résistance!

Julie Slim – Vocals

Shawn Ellison – Piano

Shirley Johnson – Accordion

Phil Spencer – Upright Bass

Alen Cileli – Violin

Joe McCreary – Drums

Julie Slim is an Austin-based Lebanese-Palestinian-American world jazz vocalist and actress, who has been in the Austin theater and music scene since 1996, when she was nominated for an I.B. Payne Acting Award for her work in the original children’s show, Deep in the Heart of Texas. In 1999, Julie created a duet Cabaret Act, Cabarageous, with friend and vocalist Donna Lipman, which was featured in the summer Zach Scott Cabaret Series. In 2009, Julie also formed the Arabic band, Layalina in collaboration with Sari Andoni (oud), specializing in classical and folk Arabic music, which was featured in a SXSW World Music showcase in 2010. Julie has been a lead vocalist and clinician for the Austin Jazz Workshop since 2001, spreading the love of jazz to children in elementary schools in and around Austin. She is a member of the Austin Threshold Choir, thresholdchoir.org, an international organization that provides comfort during life transitions through song. Beginning in November 2023, Julie has been a lead vocalist with the Viva Palestina Orchestra, featuring Palestinian music, raising awareness of Palestinian culture. On March 27, 2025, Viva Palestina Orchestra received a music proclamation declaring this day to be Viva Palestina Orchestra Day, during which the VPO performed one of our songs in the City Council Chambers.

Since 2013, Julie and her band, Julie Slim & RendezVous, have been performing in and around Austin, creating community and bridging cultures while uplifting and touching audiences wherever they perform. The band specializes in reviving international jazz and pop standards from the early 20th century as well as featuring original songs composed by Shawn Ellison and Julie Slim. Julie Slim & RendezVous has held residencies at Skylark, Shore ATX, and Parker Jazz Club. Additionally, Julie Slim Duo with Shawn Ellison have a residency at Plate by Dzintra that is ongoing for over 4 years. Julie has self-produced several albums with RendezVous under the name Julie Slim, streaming wherever music lives.

“Singing is musical storytelling that heals while opening the heart to new possibilities.”

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.