Time Traveling with Monique Zhang & The Moniko Stride Duo; 2nd Show

Jazz/stride pianist Monique invites you to a vintage night inspired by Jazz & Swing Era with The Moniko Stride Duo & friends. Let's stride on, tap your feet and swing!

Vintage jazz and stride piano is rare in Boston jazz and music scene. This will be our 2nd event by Monique, The Moniko Stride Duo and some guest musicians/friends of us.

A classically trained, multi-genre pianist and vintage jazz composer specializing in stride piano, Jazz and Swing era performance. Monique was introduced early to classic jazz through vintage animation, Golden Age Hollywood films and dances as a kid. She discovered jazz more deeply and soon found her passion in stride piano during teenage years.

Entirely self-taught by ears in stride style, Monique began composing original vintage-inspired music during her undergraduate studies at Berklee College of Music, developing a sound that blends authenticity, playfulness with some jazz ideas and making the sound personal as “the Monique way". Blues, vintage funk and vintage R&B are additional influences in Monique's improvisations.

Born in the 2000s, Monique carries a strong vintage spirit as a modernist artist. Her idiosyncratic musical identity and dedication to early jazz have made her stand out as the only pianist at Longy School of Music specializing in vintage jazz within the college's history. Besides piano. Monique is a trumpeter, vintage stylist, artist, and dancer. Creative identities that continue to shape her music and stage presence.

Monique is also a current swing-era pianist with Beantown Swing Orchestra and leads The Moniko Stride Duo - A brand new, unusual jazz duo with a rare instrumentation known for their story-driven performances with passion and creativity.

Founded in November 2025, The Moniko Stride Duo is the only stride piano & tuba duo in New England by two young jazz musicians.

The duo specializes in: Jazz & Swing era classics, trad/dixieland, blues, Monique's vintage jazz compositions & many more.

Why “Moniko”?

We've got almost the same full name — Monique/Zhang & Niko/Zontini. We share a deep love for vintage jazz, time-travel aesthetics, early jazz style & entertainment.

Put those all together and you get Moniko!

Monique Zhang - Duo leader, pianist, arranger, composer

Niko Zontini - Tuba player, co-composer

How The Moniko met:

Monique & Niko met in spring 2025 performing “The Famous Charleston Melody” together as part of a guest band. Niko quickly recognized Monique as a stride pianist while Monique was struck by Niko's powerful and personality-filled tuba playing.

A few months later, they reunited musically. Monique invited Niko to join her original vintage-jazz showcase at the Unplayed/Unheard Jazz & Contemporary Music Concert at Longy School of Music as our 1st duo public appearance.

The stride piano & tuba duo of Monique & Niko became an immediate public favorite.

“Stride piano with tuba by young musicians. Absolutely unique and beautifully synchronized!”

From that moment on, Monique & Niko became an official jazz duo. Stride hands & a happy tuba, here we go!

We are excited to see you again at our second show at a new venue!

Junhao Zhang - Drums

Roy Jurado - Drums & voice

Julie Cholley - Voice

Angle Celiz-Perez - Guitar

Yanbo Liu - Voice (chorus)

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Host or Publisher Monique Zhang