Biography

Tony Monaco may be the best organ player you have yet to hear of flying stealth while playing arguably some of the hottest B-3 around. Mentored by the legendary Jimmy Smith in what is considered the more classic style, Monaco does not swing, smolder or smoke. "Tony Monaco burns is this most fitting!" Tony Monaco began his keyboard life at age eight. When he was twelve, his destiny as a jazz organist was sealed when he first heard Jimmy Smith. An enthusiastic student, Tony began working in Jazz clubs as a teenager in his native Columbus, Ohio, guided by local organ gurus Hank Marr and Don Patterson. Four years later, Jimmy Smith invited Tony to come play at his club in California, a peak lifetime experience for Tony. Two and a half decades and 13 albums into his multi-faceted career, Columbus, OH based Hammond B-3 master Tony Monaco remains a voracious seeker of dynamic soul-jazz inspiration. Mentored and inspired by his heroes, Monaco’s influences are often from the ones he recorded and toured with. Tony maintains a very busy schedule that includes festival appearances , clinics, and workshops !