Jazz performance by the David Chao Quartet, featuring compositions written by Chao in 2025, at the Monks Jazz Club.
David Chao brings his quartet to Monks Jazz Club on Tuesday, September 1. Chao is an Austin-based composer and jazz pianist, and the set is built around a specific body of work he put together over a short stretch: in September 2025, he wrote 50 new songs in 100 days, and the performance draws from that. The compositions are written to highlight each band member in turn, so you'll hear the piano, saxophone, drums, and bass each take their turn in the spotlight rather than just backing the melody.
The quartet features Chao on piano, Eric Hargett on saxophone, Daniel Sanchez on drums, and Aidan Berg on bass. This particular night is part of a series Chao is presenting throughout 2026, which will eventually culminate in an EP release in 2027 gathering the most compelling pieces from the project. If you've been following his work, this is one of the live stops on the way to that record.
Monks Jazz Club is at 310 E Saint Elmo Road, Unit B, in South Austin. A few things to keep in mind before you head over: the club has become a full-service bar and is no longer a BYOB venue, so you can get your drinks there. It also runs as a live-taping and listening room, which means they enforce a whisper policy during the set—it's a place to listen, not to chat. There's free parking available nearby.
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Doors open at 7 PM and the show starts at 7:30 PM. If you're planning to grab a drink before the music kicks off, getting there closer to door time gives you plenty of room to settle in.
