MONKS JAZZ CLUB

Monks Jazz Club started as a pop-up listening room and has evolved into a state-of-the-art audio and video recording studio and event space in East Austin. The origin story is grassroots in the best way. When the pandemic hit in 2020, founder Collin Shook pivoted to livestreaming shows from a single camera in his living room. Before long, he found a space that could double as a piano repair shop and a livestream studio, and the East Austin Piano Shop became the new home of Monks Jazz. The venue has since moved into a permanent brick-and-mortar space, fulfilling the original vision. Monks was voted Best Virtual Listening Room by Austin Chronicle readers in 2021, and the in-person experience carries that same attention to sonic detail. The room is intimate and casual, offering an alternative to loud bars and high-cost performance halls. The concert series is curated with care, featuring some of the best improvisational jazz musicians in the region. The audio and video recording capabilities mean that performances are captured at a professional level, which attracts musicians who want both a great live audience and a quality recording of the night. Monks aims to make jazz accessible and welcoming to all, and the room reflects that, unpretentious, focused on the music, and built with a genuine love for the art form.