Alex Monfort Quartet

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", 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. This is modern jazz piano trio that brings the legacy of jazz into the 21st Century.

Monfort will be appearing with Giulio Cavier Cetto, Sam Priven & Matthew Buckner.

Guilio Xavier Cetto is a bass player, composer, and songwriter living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Known for exploring multiple genres and styles, Giulio’s study of music spans continents and generations. Giulio is influenced by his Venezuelan-Italian heritage, Bay Area rap music, and his jazz and classically-trained family. His well rounded experience, deep listening and openness allow him to adapt to any musical scenario. This has been the key to his success as a bassist. Giulio has performed with Grammy award winning artists such as Lawrence Hobgood, Johnathan Hoard, Fantastic Negrito and Thomas Pridgen.

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.

Sam Priven is a composer and saxophonist from Albany, California. Sam is a graduate of the University of Miami Frost School of Music. Priven was selected for the exclusive Betty Carter Jazz Ahead workshop through the Kennedy Center, in which he had the opportunity to work with jazz greats such as Dee-Dee Bridgewater, Jason Moran, Greg Hutch, Peter Martin, Marcus Printup, Casey Benjamin and Christopher Thomas. Sam had the honor of receiving an outstanding soloist award at Lincoln Center from Jimmy Heath and Wynton Marsalis, as well as being the recipient of numerous downbeat awards in both small and large ensemble settings.

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