History of the Monica Shriver Quartet
The Monica Shriver Quartet was originally formed in Phoenix, AZ in 2012, and over the next eight years, regularly performed jazz standards and original compositions at area venues including Winfield’s, Sacred Grounds, and The Nash, as well as in communal spaces including churches, museums, community theaters and schools throughout Arizona. Beginning in 2015 and continuing for five years, Shriver annually brought guitarist and composer Stan Smith to Phoenix (from Columbus, OH) as a guest performer for the quartet's shows at The Nash. The ensemble performed a combination of original music and free group improvisations. In 2016, Monica started incorporating her visual art into the concert experience and the MSQ’s concerts became often presented in tandem with her abstract visual art, resulting in a unique and powerful experience of sound and sight. The music of the MSQ draws on experimental and improvisatory forms and settings, and takes much inspiration from groundbreaking artists such as Ornette Coleman, Pharoah Sanders, John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Don Cherry, and others, who are at times associated with modern approaches to jazz performance and composition.
In June of 2020, Monica moved to Nashville, TN and found success with the current members of the ensemble - Matt Endahl - keys, Jon Estes and Alec Newnam - bass, and Derrek Phillips - drums. With these musicians, she completed recording sessions for her first album in April and December of 2022, recording sessions for her second album in June 2023 (made possible by a grant through Chamber Music America’s Performance Plus program, funded through the generosity of the Doris Duke Foundation), and an album-release tour in July 2023 of the South and Midwest (made possible with the support of Jazz Road, (a national initiative of South Arts, which is funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation with additional support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation).
