Paris based pianist Alex Monfort is presently rising to fame in
the jazz
world. His trio has found success in
prestigious competitions such as the Rezzo Focal de Vienne, Jazz à St
Germain des Près, Jazz à Vannes, Trophée SACEM, and the Blue Note
Festival, where they unanimously took first place. Following their
success in competition, the trio was enthusiastically received on stage
at
Sunset-Sunside in Paris for the release of their first album.
In his latest Opus "Introspection" (May 2018), pianist Alex Monfort
pays homage to many of his heroes, such as Mulgrew Miller, Chick Corea,
McCoy Tyner, and John Coltrane, blending with the influence of
African-American jazz roots.
He performed at Chez Hanny previously with the Alex Monfort Trio.
Owen Clapp is a bass player, composer, and songwriter living in
the San Francisco Bay Area.
In high school he was a member of the award-winning SFJazz High School
All-Star Big Band and the California All-State Jazz Ensemble. He
studied music at UCLA where he was mentored by bassist John Clayton.
He has worked with jazz artists Kenny Burrell, John Clayton, Ruslan
Sirota, Mads Tolling, Evan Price, Ken Fowser, Tony Tixier, Alex
Monfort, and Paula West.
In 2015 he was among four bassists from around the world who were
chosen as finalists for the Thelonious Monk Institute graduate program
at UCLA, but instead joined guitarist Bruce Forman's Western Swing
group Cowbop.
In 2019 he was a finalist in the International Society of Bassists jazz
bass competition.
Matthew Buckner is a drummer, composer and producer hailing from
Minneapolis, MN. A graduate of the University of Miami Frost School of
Music, Matthew performed as part of the Brian Lynch Artists Ensemble,
as well as with a Downbeat Award winning trio with David Leon and
Lowell Ringel. He has performed around the US and Canada as part of the
Ariel Pocock group, including performances at the Twin Cities Jazz
Festival, Quebec City International Jazz Festival, and the 2014 Jazz
Cruise.
He recorded an album of original and improvised music, Wabi
Sabi, as part of the collaborative trio "Inventions and Dimensions".
Relocated to the Bay Area, he performs with musicians including Aaron
Kruziki, Jay Standards, Nora Stanley, Luke Westbrook, Tony Tixier, Luis
Salcedo, Dahveed Behroozi, Eric Vogler, Tyler Harlow, and Owen Clapp.
He performed at Chez Hanny previously with the Alex Monfort Trio.