Kris Monson

Kris Monson is a bassist and composer from Virginia who has become a versatile presence on the New York jazz scene. He came up in the central Virginia jazz community, studying with John D'earth and Pete Spaar while earning degrees in both systems engineering and music at the University of Virginia, and he went on to advanced study at the Manhattan School of Music and the New England Conservatory with mentors including Buster Williams and Dave Holland. As a sideman he has anchored bands led by Charles Owens, Marc Cary, Veronica Swift, Ari Hoenig, and Steve Wilson, on stages from Smalls to Carnegie Hall. His own work as a leader includes the 2024 album Option to Extend and the extended piece Suite for Charlottesville, written in response to the 2017 Unite the Right rally. He balances his playing with a dedicated teaching life, including a faculty post at Gettysburg College.