Masumi Jones

Alex Coke winds Bruce Saunders guitar James Suter bass

Mitch Watkins guitar Sean Giddings piano Chris Meresh bass

Alex Coke is a jazz saxophonist, flutist and composer. He graduated with his B.A. from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1976, with emphasis on flute performance. An original member of the Austin-based Creative Opportunity Orchestra, Coke performed with Tina Marsh in various formations for over 25 years. Before moving to Amsterdam in the early's he received several local Austin awards. From 1990-2000 and then again in 2011-2015, he toured and recorded with the internationally renowned Dutch jazz group, the Willem Breuker Kollektief. An improvisor at heart, Coke's eclectic attitude has led him to explore everything from Be-Bop to Huddie Ledbetter. His flute studies have ranged from Eric Dolphy to Indian ragas on the bamboo flute to extended flute techniques such as those researched by Robert Dick, Ann LaBerge and Wil Offermans. Coke's multifarious bands include the Live Action Brass Band, the Leadbelly Legacy Band, NewTexas Swing, and his post-bop quintet, The Worthy Constituents, a collaboration with longtime partner, pianist Rich Harney and with Martin Banks on trumpet. Alex continues to split his time between Europe and Austin. This streaming event will be his first experience to play with a quartet since returning to Austin in March. Also streaming on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/34829... http://alexcoke.home.xs4all.nl http://austinjazzsociety.org http://monksjazz.com --- Live From East Austin Piano Shop One Set - 7:30pm - 9pm

Alex Coke - Saxophone Damian Garcia - Piano Michael Stevens - Double Bass Masumi Jones - Drums

Peggy Stern is as well-known as a composer as she is known for her fine piano playing. She arrived at jazz via classical music, R&B, and salsa. In addition to European and American classical music, Peggy's music draws from Brazilian, African, Jewish, Irish, Cuban, and traditional jazz influences. Peggy has composed, recorded, and toured in a wide variety of situations: from solo shows, to arranging for octets and jazz choruses. Her compositions range from highly original pieces to reharmonized jazz standards. "Everything she writes wants to dance",  says Ken Dais of Jazziz. Peggy began playing classical piano at an early age, continuing her studies at the Eastman School of Music, and earning a master's degree in classical music at the New England Conservatory. While living in San Francisco, she played in salsa bands, notably Azteca and Supercombo with Benny Vallarde. She served a stint in an R&B band (called Cat's Cradle) with singer Linda Tillery, and with Paul Jackson (bass) and Mike Clark (drums) of Herbie Hancock's Headhunter band. Subsequently, Peggy moved to New York, absorbing the piano stylings of jazz greats such as Jimmy Rowles and Tommy Flanagan. Peggy has worked and toured with many wonderful musicians: Lee Konitz, Diane Schuur, David "Fathead" Newman, Jay Clayton, Gary Peacock, Gene Bertoncini, Bud Shank, Red Holloway, Thomas Chapin, Machito, Puck Fair, Bobby Shew, Stanley Turrentine, Gerry Mulligan, Eddie Henderson, Emily Remler, to name a few. She has recorded a dozen albums. Peggy has toured throughout Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan. In addition, Peggy has worked as an educator for the past 20 years, at colleges in the US. She has given workshops throughout Europe (Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Italy), and the US. Peggy created the Wall Street Jazz Festival in Kingston, NY (2004 - present), a yearly festival featuring women-led jazz ensembles. Presented outdoors on a quiet store & tree-lined street, this festival draws thousands from NYC, Albany, and all the counties in between. Since September 2013, Peggy has lived in Austin, Texas, to be near her family. Her eclectic tastes have led her into the world of Western Swing music, which she considers a welcoming gift, for moving to Texas. Joining the vibrant music scene here, she has released two CD's in Austin: Z Octet (chamber jazz) and Shine On (western swing). In 2016, she created LuluFest (where the traditions meet the progressives, and all the leaders are women, currently entering its 5th year - to be live- streamed from Lulu-Fest.com on May 14th-16th, 2021. https://peggystern.com https://monksjazz.com http://austinjazzsociety.org --- Live from East Austin Piano Shop One Set - 7:30pm Peggy Stern - Piano Joey Colarusso - Tenor Saxophone Glenn Schuetz - Double Bass Masumi Jones - Drums

Continuing the collaboration between Monks Jazz and the Austin Jazz Society on behalf of #ProjectSafetyNet, the 28th concert in the series will feature a quintet led by Mitch Watkins and Dianne Donovan. Native Texan Mitch Watkins is a guitarist, producer, composer, and educator who has toured and recorded with legendary artists from numerous genres, including Lyle Lovett, Jerry Jeff Walker, Alejandro Escovedo, Joe Ely, Austin favorite Bob Schneider, GRAMMY-winning choral group, Conspirare, and the late Leonard Cohen (Watkins accompanied Cohen on his final world tour). Aside from Watkins own recordings, he has appeared as a sideman on many diverse recordings, and has appeared on major television shows such as The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman, and Austin City Limits. --- Dianne Donovan lives and breathes music, whether she is singing jazz or spinning music on the radio, she has hosted jazz radio programs and interviewed many legendary artists for 30+ years. In Austin, she is the voice of Midday Oasis on Classical 89.5 KMFA. The Montreal-born jazz vocalist has sung with a variety of combos and big bands, and has been featured on numerous radio and television programs. As vocalist with Gary Guthman's Symphony Pops Show, Tribute to Harry James, undefined, has worked with the Austin Jazz Workshop, and performed in various venues across town. She has two CDs to her name: Yes and No undefined (standards and original material). She and her husband, guitarist Mitch Watkins, are working on a new album to be released in 2021 https://mitchwatkins.com https://kmfa.org/hosts/7-dianne-donovan http://austinjazzsociety.org https://monskjazz.com Mitch Watkins - Guitar Dianne Donovan - Vocals Sean Giddings - Piano John Fremgen - Double Bass Masumi Jones - Drums