Double Vision + Invoke — Live at Monks Jazz
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.
An AACME Elevate-supported collaboration presented with Austin Jazz Society
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 · Monks Jazz · Austin, Texas
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.
Guest artists: Invoke
Zach Matteson — violin
A man of many origins (i.e. Maryland, Siberia, Montana), Zach is proud to call Austin, TX his home base. When he's not making tunes with Invoke, you can find him at a a local coffee shop writing down some haikus, playing in the Austin Symphony, slurping down ramen from Ramen Tatsuya, or adding to his crazy collection of shirts from the local goodwill.
Karl Mitze — Viola
When he isn’t performing and teaching with Invoke, Karl enjoys baseball, board games, and walking his dog Max. A huge baseball fan, he follows the Cincinnati Reds avidly and listens to as many games as possible, usually when running at the park. Karl is also kind of a nerd: he’s a weekend Xbox player, loves fantasy novels, and enjoys anything Dungeons and Dragons related. You can often find him enjoying a beer at a trivia night somewhere in Austin, TX.
Photo by Marshall Tidrick
Nick Montopoli — violin
When he's not banjo pickin' or fiddle scrapin' with Invoke, you might find Nick at the recording studio of composer Graham Reynolds, where he works as Graham's assistant, or pumping iron at the Montopoli Barbell Club. He also loves kicking back with a prime bourbon, relaxing to the soothing tones of power metal, or stalking around the stage of a reunion show as lead singer of the former D.C. hair metal band, Sextacy.
Photo by Marshall Tidrick
Photo by Marshall Tidrick
Photo by Marshall Tidrick
Geoff Manyin — Cello
Geoff is passionate about scrumptious vegan food, always searching for Austin's best tacos, Thai, or tofu scramble. Don't forget about good drink too - just be sure to think twice before asking him about mezcal or whisk(e)y. An avid videogamer, you'll often find him enjoying a role-playing game, a story-rich one-off, or whatever may strike his fancy that month. Sometimes though, all he needs to be happy is a stroll through a local park on a crisp afternoon, a great Netflix show, or a nice chat with an old friend.
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
Austin, Texas
Date:
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Tickets / event details:
Coming soon
This project is supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music, & Entertainment.
Special Guests:
Nick Montopoli — violin
Zach Matteson — violin
Geoff Manyin — viola
Karl Mitze — cello
This project is supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music, & Entertainment.
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. ”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.