This week 6.16.2025 Monday Jazz @ Brother Don’s features guest artists and multi instrumentalist: Conner Forsyth - keys & bass and Jonas Myers - keys & bass. After a classical music education that began at age six, pianist Connor Forsyth moved on to New Orleans, where he studied under jazz legend Ellis Marsalis at Loyola University. From there, he became a founding member of Austin-based Americana ensemble The Belleville Outfit. The group toured the U.S. from 2007–2011, during which time they released two critically acclaimed albums and played several major festivals, including Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, and MerleFest. The band was nominated for Best New and Emerging Artist by the Americana Music Association in 2009. When The Belleville Outfit disbanded in 2011, Connor continued to write, record, and tour with Phoebe Hunt and Ghosts Along the Brazos, amassing three more studio records between the two. After a stint touring with Country Music Hall-of-Famer Ray Price, Connor became a permanent member of 10-time Grammy winner Asleep at the Wheel, whom he toured the U.S. and Europe with from 2016–2022. During his time with The Wheel, he had the opportunity to play with several American music icons, including Willie Nelson, George Strait, James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Bonnie Raitt. When on the road, he taught himself lutherie and started his bespoke guitar–making business, Forsyth Instruments. He moved from Austin, Texas to Port Angeles, Washington in 2024. Jonas Myers is a musician, writer, teacher, bicycle wanderer, and proud lifelong Cascadian. Growing up, he played bass and sang in a family band. Later, as a pianist in Seattle's Garfield High School Jazz Ensemble, he performed at Lincoln Center in New York, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, and the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy. He attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, where he majored in English with a focus on creative writing and minored in mathematics. In his twenties, Jonas gained recognition as a jazz pianist, composer and bandleader on the Seattle scene. In 2018, he spent five months wandering the West Coast on his bicycle. These travels, fueled by the generosity of countless strangers, were to have a profound influence on his music and writing. He returned to Seattle in 2019 and recorded an album of original songs, featuring a nine-piece ensemble, titled “Driving Home.” In 2021, he created a livestream variety show on YouTube called “North City Almanac,” featuring artists from around the Pacific Northwest. That same year, he moved to Corvallis, Oregon, for an MFA program in fiction at OSU, from which he graduated in 2023. He now lives in Port Townsend, WA, where he performs and teaches music.

Rounding out the band this evening Ronnie Bishop on drums, and Chris Bickley on sax. Enjoy great food, your favorite beverage, a comfortable kid friendly atmosphere, and WORLD CLASS JAZZ. Hope to see you!

Check out all of the great Monday Jazz at: https://www.chrisbickleyjazz.com/calendar