Monks Jazz Club — Attraction in Austin

Another wonderful show and hang at Monks Jazz the Sunday night (9/1/2024) before Labor Day (Jacob Wise Quartet). Sold out gig. In many senses, Monks Jazz really found its sense of place in Spring 2020 amid the pandemic putting a halt to the normalcy we once knew.

Monks had previously operated as a roving pop-up series across various spaces and venues in east Austin curating and focusing on showcasing live jazz front and center before a captive and focused listening audience. In the early months of pandemic and out of necessity, Monks found a home briefly at the nearby East Austin Piano Shop and their current space dubbed as Pedernales Station in the heart of East Austin, housed in a collection of shops and studio spaces and small businesses.

In spring 2020 and many months following, Monks (with support from the Austin Jazz Society) swiftly sprang into action and a higher calling with its listener/viewer supported pandemic livestream series, Project Safety Net, which raised funds for artists/musicians in the jazz community who lost gigs and work in the early waves of the pandemic.

Gradually, live audiences returned as the pandemic situation improved. The overall mission never wavered, put the music and the artists first. No background music vibe here. Patrons and regular attendees come here for the whisper-only (and at a minimum) policy to maximize the experience for everyone.

A unique perk here is the BYOB policy allowing you to bring beer, wine or spirit of your choice.

Pro-tip: Book your seat reservations in advance as the small venue sells out quickly.

In a growing major city with a superb jazz scene which features 3 dedicated jazz venues, we don't want be in the business of picking favorites because they each have different approaches and do it well. But we must say 5/5 stars and congrats as Monks celebrates 8...

As an Aggie, I share this with you in the spirit of finding what's best about Texas, even if it's over here on the wrong side of the Brazos. I must say, the director of the jazz music program at UT Austin, Deago Rivera, played with his octet tonight at monk's in Austin. It was jazz of the first order. Good room, nice folks, reasonable prices...but it's also streamed...if you've got a nice stereo, spend $10 to visit the club virtually. Or go ... It a small room and they record, so the concentration level on the music is high. What a treat. Outstanding musicians. Great time.! Daughter treated me to Uber in and back to the house, so no worries. I may have found a way I can...

Getting to hear Pavel Polanco-Safadit in Monks' intimate setting was a world-class treat! If you like Latin Jazz, do not pass on the opportunity to hear him, especially in Monks, (which is likely the most music listening-centric club you will find in Austin). And if you don't like Latin Jazz, you should go anyway, because you leave a Pavel show loving it. Promise.

When your GPS directs you to walk inside what looks to be a fenced-in warehouse complex off Pedernales Street, no worries, you are in the right place. (Used to be a rope and sling yard, some bits of seriously cool Austin history...