Monks Livestream's Upcoming Shows

7:00 PM Early Show with Mike Sailors

9:30 PM Late Show with Elena Diaz

About Mike Sailors:

Mike Sailors has performed around the world in venues such as the Blue Note (New York, Tokyo, and Sapporo locations), Ronnie Scott’s, Porgy and Bess, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, The Jazz Standard, Smalls Jazz Club, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center; and has appeared at the Montreal, Detroit, EFG London, and Tokyo Blue Note Jazz Festivals. He has also been an active musician in Broadway orchestras, most notably as the Music Director of Sleep No More. In addition to leading the Mike Sailors Nonet, once dubbed "an all-star outfit" by the New York Times, he has performed as a sideman with the Birdland Big Band, the Hot Sardines, the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, and The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra.

An active composer and arranger, Mike has written for such luminaries as Dewey Redman, Dick Oatts, Sean Jones, Jimmy Cobb, and Peter Bernstein. He has composed and recorded music for numerous commercial campaigns, as well as for TV and Film – most recently for the Netflix original series, Cannon Busters. Sailors is also a performing artist/educator with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Let Freedom Swing educational program, is a copyist and editor for the Essentially Ellington jazz program, and currently serves as the Professor of Jazz Trumpet at University of Texas at Austin.

About Elena Diaz:

Elena Diaz is an Austin-based jazz vocalist, multilingual performer, curator and creator of the Global Songbook concert series. Drawing from Brazilian jazz, Afro-Cuban music, French chanson, and contemporary repertoire, her performances explore how music travels across language and culture. Diaz has performed in both the U.S. and France, including residencies on the French Riviera, and currently performs throughout Austin at venues including Monks Jazz, the Elephant Room, and Hotel Van Zandt.

7:00 PM Early Show with Jalen Baker

9:30 PM Late Show with Jessica Healey

About Jalen Baker:

Jalen Baker, born in Washington DC and raised in Houston, TX, is a vibraphonist and composer whose early training involved both classical and jazz. Jalen received his BA in Jazz Studies from Columbia College Chicago. He distinguished himself as a jazz vibraphonist and received several accolades including outstanding soloist at both the Notre Dame and Elmhurst Jazz Festivals.

Jalen was accepted as a Graduate Assistant in the Jazz Performance program at Florida State University and in 2019 received his MM in Jazz Studies. During his tenure at Florida State he was chosen as a Ravinia Jazz Fellow in 2018. He has been a performer with the Johnathan Blake Quintet, The Ulysses Owens Trio and Quartet, Jeremy Pelt Quintet, Tim Warfield Sextet, Michael Mwenso, Paul Cornish Group, Leon Anderson Quartet as well as leading his own band in venues all over the country. In 2021 Jalen released his Debut Album “This Is Me, This is Us” which was chosen as the #4 best Jazz Debut of 2021 and in 2023 released his second album “Be Still” that made it as high as #24 on the international jazz charts.

About Jessica Healey:

Jessica Healey is a full-time singer-songwriter and jazz vocalist in Austin, Texas. Originally from Fort Worth, she joined the local live music scene just over a year ago and has quickly built a name for herself in Austin and beyond.

Jess performs as lead vocalist and bandleader for her straight-ahead jazz ensemble, the Jessica Healey Quintet. She has been featured in ensembles led by renowned musicians such as Gerry Gibbs, Mike Sailors, and Kevin Lovejoy.

Jess is also the songwriter, bandleader, guitarist, and vocalist of her indie-pop band, which showcased at the 2024 South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival. Drawing from rock, folk, soul, and jazz influences, she’s been compared to artists like Madison Cunningham, Fiona Apple, and Corinne Bailey Rae. Known for her brutally honest lyrics and unique sound, Jess has earned showcases with both SoFar Sounds and the Austin Music Love Concert Series.

7:00 PM Early Show with Elias Haslanger

9:30 PM Late Show with Tito Carrillo

About Elias Haslanger:

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.

About Tito Carrillo:

Tito Carrillo is a trumpeter, composer, and educator whose music blurs the lines between Afro-Caribbean music traditions and modern jazz. Born and raised in Austin to a Puerto Rican father and Mexican-American mother, Carrillo came to prominence in the mid-90’s in Chicago’s rich jazz and Latin music scenes, becoming a top call soloist, bandleader, and freelance trumpet artist.

The Chicago Tribune describes him as having “acquired a reputation as a fluid improviser, doubly blessed with a warm lyric style and technique to burn.”

Carrillo released his debut solo album in 2011, entitled Opening Statement (Origin Records), to rave reviews. His most recent project Urbanessence (Origin Records), was released in October 2022 to much critical acclaim, and was selected as one of the top Latin music albums of 2023 by the North American College and Community (NACC) Radio Chart.

5:00 PM Early Show with Mercedes Solis

7:30 PM Late Show with Bruce Saunders

About Mercedes Solis:

Mercedes Solis is bassist born and raised in Austin, TX. She graduated from Austin Community College, completing her associates in 2024, studying with Dr. James Suter, Jacob Wise, and Dr. Steven Sodders. After getting her associates, she transferred to Texas State University where she completed her Bachelor of Jazz Performance degree in 2026, studying under Dr. Utah Hamrick and Tito Carillo.

Mercedes is the founder of Women of Jazz TX, a member of the Austin Federation of Musicians Local 433, and a musician for Austin Jazz Workshop. She has had the opportunity to perform alongside some of the most outstanding national and local musicians of our time such as Tito Carrillo, Daniel Dufour, Elias Haslanger, Peggy Stern, Hank Hemsoth, Mara Kaye, Matt Berger, Bruce Saunders, Rosie Flores, Jim Stringer, Mark Scott III, and Sam Howden. She has also toured the country with The Grand Ol’ Production Company for their “Grand Ol’ Americana Show” and “Grand Ol’ Christmas Show” 2025 and 2026 productions.

About Bruce Saunders:

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.