John Beasley's Monk'estra at Irvine Barclay Theatre

In his three-decade-long career, Grammy Award winner and 9-time nominated pianist and composer John Beasley has worked with Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard–playing in the bands of both trumpet legends while still in his 20s–as well as with Herbie Hancock, Steely Dan, Al Jarreau, Christian McBride (and even, for one night, with James Brown!).

In this special Barclay performance, Beasley leads his smashing fifteen-piece MONK'estra, a big band that captures the spirit of Thelonious Monk’s singular music in fresh arrangements flavored with contemporary sounds that range from Afro-Cuban rhythms to hip-hop...

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In his three-decade-long career, Grammy Award winner and 9-time nominated pianist and composer John Beasley has worked with Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard–playing in the bands of both trumpet legends while still in his 20s–as well as with Herbie Hancock, Steely Dan, Al Jarreau, Christian McBride (and even, for one night, with James Brown!).

In this special Barclay performance, Beasley leads his smashing fifteen-piece MONK'estra, a big band that captures the spirit of Thelonious Monk’s singular music in fresh arrangements flavored with contemporary sounds that range from Afro-Cuban rhythms to hip-hop. Critics have called it “some of the most mesmerizing big band music of recent memory.”

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