Ben Clifton Trio

About

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for the Ben Clifton Trio! Piano - Ben Clifton Bass - Chad Wesselkamper Drums - Gavin Moolchan Pianist and composer Ben Clifton, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, earned his degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Pittsburgh, where he studied with Frank Cunimundo and the late Geri Allen. Shaped by Pittsburgh’s rich jazz community, Clifton blends traditional and modern approaches with gospel warmth, classical sophistication, and contemporary textures, creating music rooted in the jazz tradition while looking toward its future. Now based in Houston, Clifton has become an active and prominent presence in the city’s jazz scene, appearing at the Houston Jazz Festival, Texas Jazz Festival, and other notable events. His 2025 debut album, Overlook, was praised by The Jazz Page as a “striking first statement” from a composer and bandleader with a “clear and resonant artistic vision,” and received national radio recognition, reaching #4 on the NACC Top Jazz Adds Chart and appearing three times on the NACC Top 30 Jazz Chart. For this performance at Monks Jazz Club, Clifton is joined by Chad Wesselkamper on bass and Gavin Moolchan on drums. Please Note: MONKS JAZZ IS NOW A FULL SERVICE BAR. As part of this transition, Monks Jazz is no longer a BYOB venue. We invite you to enjoy our thoughtfully curated beverage menu and roll with us through the changes! As always, this is a live-taping, so we'll be enforcing a whisper-policy! Free parking is available in the area. Doors at 7:00pm, Show at 7:30pm. Monks is open 6:30 PM for a new Happy Half Hour, featuring $2 off of our Classic and Signature Cocktails, $2 off Glasses of Wine, and $1 off of our Beer Menu between 6:30 PM and 7:00 PM. Join us for a drink, or come at your scheduled seating time! We'll have a wonderful evening planned ahead!