Double Vision + Invoke — Live at Monks Jazz
An AACME Elevate-supported collaboration presented with Austin Jazz Society
Monks Jazz
310 E St Elmo Rd Ste A
Austin, TX 78745
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 · 7:30 PM
Double Vision Jazz Ensemble joins forces with Invoke, the acclaimed Austin-based string quartet, for a special 8-piece collaboration at Monks Jazz. Co-leaders and composers Hank Hehmsoth and John Mills will create new arrangements and original music for jazz quartet and string quartet, bringing together contemporary jazz, improvisation, chamber music, and Austin-based creative collaboration.
About the collaboration
Double Vision + Invoke brings together two Austin-based ensembles for a special 8-piece collaboration: jazz quartet and string quartet.
For this concert, Double Vision co-leaders Hank Hehmsoth and John Mills will create new arrangements and original music that expand the Double Vision sound into a chamber-jazz setting. The program connects contemporary jazz, improvisation, composition, and string writing, with Invoke joining Double Vision as guest artists in a collaborative ensemble format.
The performance features Hank Hehmsoth, John Mills, Utah Hamrick, and Aaron Easley with Nick Montopoli, Zach Matteson, Karl Mitze, and Geoff Manyin of Invoke.
Why this program is special
This program expands HPPAA’s AACME Elevate-supported Double Vision series by developing and presenting new collaborative work between Austin jazz artists and chamber musicians.
The project supports artist fees, new music creation, public performance, and cross-community audience development. By bringing together Double Vision Jazz Ensemble and Invoke, the concert creates a meeting point between jazz, chamber music, improvisation, and Austin’s broader creative arts community.
Presented at Monks Jazz with support from Austin Jazz Society, the event continues HPPAA’s 2026 Elevate series focus on original music, artist collaboration, public access, and high-quality documentation of Austin-based cultural work.
This project is supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music, & Entertainment.
About Double Vision Jazz Ensemble
Double Vision Jazz Ensemble is a contemporary jazz quartet co-led by composers and improvisers Hank Hehmsoth (piano) and John Mills (saxophone and flute). Rooted in a musical relationship that stretches back roughly half a century, Hehmsoth and Mills bring a rare depth of shared language to the stage.
Blending original composition, modern swing, groove-driven improvisation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, Double Vision presents jazz as both a living tradition and an evolving art form. The ensemble performs original works alongside selections from the modern jazz canon, creating programs that are sophisticated, emotionally resonant, and accessible to diverse audiences.
Through performance, lecture-performance, and community-based programming, Double Vision connects music with visual art, creative writing, reflective listening, and Texas cultural history.
Guest artists: Invoke
Nick Montopoli — violin
Zach Matteson — violin
Karl Mitze — viola
Geoff Manyin — cello
Photos by Marshall Tidrick
Double Vision
Meet the Artists Behind Double Vision
“The Two Compositional Pens of Austin Jazz - With award-winning credentials as jazz composers, Hank Hehmsoth and John Mills showcase their original compositions and exceptional artistry. ”
Double Vision is composed of four accomplished musicians, each bringing their unique voice and expertise to the band’s dynamic sound. Together, they form a collective that thrives on innovation and musical dialogue, led by the remarkable co-leadership of Hank Hehmsoth and John Mills.
Hank Hehmsoth – Piano & Composer
Hank Hehmsoth is a pianist, composer, educator, and cultural historian whose work brings together jazz performance, original composition, visual art, and Texas music history. Along with John Mills, he co-leads Double Vision, contributing original compositions and his distinctive harmonic and improvisational language to the group’s sound.
John Mills – Flute & Saxophone & Composer
John Mills is a saxophonist, flutist, composer, and one of Austin’s most versatile jazz artists. As co-leader of Double Vision, Mills contributes original compositions, expressive improvisation, and a deep command of modern jazz language developed over a career spanning more than five decades.
Utah Hamrick – Bass
Utah Hamrick provides the harmonic and rhythmic foundation of Double Vision. His bass playing brings depth, clarity, and flexible support to the ensemble’s original compositions and improvisational dialogue.
Aaron Easley – Drums
Aaron Easley brings rhythmic energy, imagination, and momentum to Double Vision. His creative approach to time, texture, and ensemble interaction helps define the group’s dynamic sound.
Event Details
Presented by:
H Project Performing Arts Association (HPPAA)
With support from:
Austin Jazz Society
Featuring:
Double Vision Jazz Ensemble and Invoke
Venue:
Monks Jazz
310 E St Elmo Rd Ste A
Austin, TX 78745
(512) 827-8819
Date:
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 · 7:30 PM
Tickets / event details:
Tickets / Monks Jazz Calendar
Tickets will be available through Monks Jazz closer to the event date.
This project is supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music, & Entertainment.
This project is supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music, & Entertainment.
