Austin Live Jazz Meetup

Come join Austin Jazz Society as they continue the finest and longest jazz series Austin has known. Brazilian pianist, Rique Pantoja, will bring his quartet to perform originals and other favorites.

THE RIQUE PANTOJA QUARTET
Rique Pantoja - Piano
Jake Lampe - Saxophone
Aidan Berg - Bass
Adriano Santos - Drums

About Rique Pantoja
Meet Rique Pantoja, a multi-talented composer, arranger, songwriter, singer, and jazz pianist hailing from Rio de Janeiro. With over two decades of experience based in Los Angeles, Rique is in great demand worldwide for his outstanding work in concerts, recordings, TV and film, and advertising projects.

Rique's journey began when he moved to Boston at the young age of 19 to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. He then traveled to Paris to work with legendary American jazz trumpeter Chet Baker before returning to Brazil, where he quickly gained acceptance among notable artists in the Brazilian music scene such as Milton Nascimento, Ivan Lins, Gilberto Gil, Djavan, Gal Costa, Chico Buarque, Gonzaguinha and Tim Maia. He was one of the founding members of the highly successful Cama de Gato ("Cat's Cradle"), a bestseller instrumental group 1986/87, remaining one of the outstanding Brazilian jazz groups to date.

Rique has worked with many heavyweights in the international musical scene, including Carlos Santana, Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Alejandro Sanz, Yasuko Agawa, classical guitarist Christopher Parkening, Abraham Laboriel, Ernie Watts, Lee Ritenour, Airto & Flora Purim, Frank Gambale, Alex Acuña, Kirk Whalum, Don Grusin, Brandon Fields, Justo Almario, Luis Conte, Steps Ahead - Mike Mainieri, Sadao Watanabe, and Israel Houghton to name a few.

His work spans a wide range of musical styles, including jazz, modern classical, pop, and gospel music. Regardless of the genre, Rique's distinctive stylings are recognizable for their cool beats, unmistakable passion, sophisticated harmonic voicings, and highly original melodic lines.

In addition to his diverse portfolio, Rique has made his mark on the worldwide music scene. His tune "I Believed It" co-written with Zoë Theodorou won the prestigious Covenant Awards in Canada as "Jazz/Blues Song of the Year" in 2008. He has also composed and arranged themes and underscoring for hit TV shows, including "Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous" and "Santa Barbara," as well as for major brands like Coca-Cola, Nissan, and Pepsi- Cola.

The music of Rique has been featured on the soundtracks of various movies, such as Disney's "Jungle 2 Jungle" and the biographical documentary "Let's Get Lost," which chronicles the life of jazz trumpeter Chet Baker. He was also part of the musical soundtrack of the animation "Rio" with Sergio Mendes and film composer John Powell.

Apart from his successful music career, Rique is also a respected music educator. He has taught at Southern California's Biola University for years and offered workshops and master classes at various schools, including UCLA, CBU Riverside, Pepperdine University, and at NAMM for Yamaha keyboards. His involvement with different universities and training programs highlights his passion for teaching and nurturing the next generation of musicians.

Rique's remarkable talent has earned him endorsement deals with Yamaha, M-Audio, Celemony (Melodyne), and his Salseada appears on the Yamaha Drum module DTXtreme instrument line.

Rique Pantoja's diverse musical output have established him as a major figure in the music industry, both in his native Brazil and around the world.

Jazz Legacy: The Next Movement - An intimate showcase of Austin’s rising jazz stars.

Join us for two unforgettable evenings celebrating the future of jazz at the elegant Chez Zee Gallery. Curated to spotlight the next generation of talented young jazz musicians, Jazz Legacy: The Next Movement honors tradition while boldly exploring where the music is headed next.

Dates: Saturday, August 9th and Saturday, August 16th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm each per day.

Location: Chez Zee Bistro ‘The Gallery’ – a cozy, art-filled venue perfect for an inspiring night out.

Come join Austin Jazz Society as they continue to bring jazz to Georgetown. This month one of finest pianists in the area, Ross Margitza, brings top-call bassist, James Suter, and the versatile guitarist, Tommy Howard, to the 1st Presbyterian Church.

THE ROSS MARGITZA TRIO
- Ross Margitza - piano
- James Suter - bass
- Tommy Howard - guitar

About Dr. Ross Margitza
“Dr. Ross Margitza is a distinguished pianist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator. He resides in Austin, TX where he serves as a Lecturer in Jazz Studies/Jazz Piano at the University of Texas at Austin. Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, he began his musical journey under the guidance of his father and grandfather, both professional pianists. He started playing piano at age six and trumpet at age ten. Inspired by Oscar Peterson's recording of “West Side Story,” Ross pursued a career in jazz.
Congratulations is in order... in his own words...:
"Honored beyond words — I’ve officially been accepted as a Steinway Artist. Joining the ranks of some of the most iconic pianists in history is both humbling and inspiring".

"Grateful for every note, every challenge, every late-night rehearsal that brought me to this moment. Thank you to Steinway & Sons for this incredible recognition — and to all of you who’ve supported me on this journey".
"Here’s to continuing the legacy, one key at a time".
Dr. Ross Margitza

An award-winning pianist, Dr. Margitza clinched first place in the 2024 Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition and second place in the 2009 Phillips Jazz Piano Competition. He has performed alongside acclaimed musicians such as Russell Malone, Jon Faddis, Phil Woods, Patti Austin, Wess "Warmdaddy" Anderson, Roy McCurdy, Antonio Hart, Lynn Roberts, and Christian McBride. His credits also include performances with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Detroit Jazz Orchestra, Glenn Miller Orchestra, and Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
Internationally, Ross has performed in Japan, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Spain, and Canada, as well as major U.S. cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., and New York. As an educator, his previous appointments include serving as the Director of Instrumental Music at both Flintridge Preparatory School near Los Angeles and also St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Austin. In 2023, he taught collegiately as the Jazz Piano Instructor at Huston-Tillotson University.
He holds a Bachelor of Music from Michigan State University, a Master of Music from Northern Illinois University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin.”

Come join Austin Jazz Society as they continue their collaboration with Monks Jazz Club. Saxophonist Joel Frahm features a quartet with the always excellent Mitch Watkins, John Fremgen and Daniel DuFour. I dare you to try to keep count of the song quotes during their solos.

The Joel Frahm Quartet
Joel Frahm - Saxophone
Mitch Watkins - Guitar
John Fremgen - Bass
Daniel DuFour - Drums

About Joel Frahm
Born in Racine, Wisconsin in 1969, saxophonist Joel Frahm began his musical journey with classical piano and bassoon before switching to tenor saxophone at 14. After his family moved to Hartford, Connecticut, he joined the city’s high school jazz program, where he first met pianist Brad Mehldau. Frahm went on to study at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts and later earned a B.A. in Jazz Performance from Manhattan School of Music. Quickly establishing himself in New York's jazz scene, he performed with top musicians including Matt Wilson, David Berkman, Maynard Ferguson, Betty Carter, and Pat Martino.

Frahm has become known for his stylistic versatility, strong improvisational voice, and skill in supporting vocalists. His collaborations span generations, including artists like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ingrid Jensen, Diane Schuur, and Jane Monheit. His 2004 duo album "Don’t Explain" with Brad Mehldau received critical acclaim for its inventive interplay. Since then, Frahm has released multiple albums as a leader, contributed to over 100 recordings, and played on Grammy-nominated and Grammy-winning albums by Freddy Cole, Dafnis Prieto, and Mehldau. A dedicated educator, Frahm now teaches at Texas State University, where he is developing a sought-after saxophone program.