Before studying with Benny Green and Diego Rivera and working his way through the CenTex jazz scene with gigs at Monks, the Elephant Room, Nica, the Brass Peacock, etc., pianist/composer David Chao worked for 10-plus years as a theoretical particle physicist. For more on the connection between improvisation and science, check author Stephon Alexander’s book The Jazz of Physics – or come to this gig at the new Monks to see Chao put it into practice. To prepare, Chao challenged himself to write 50 pieces in 100 days, so he should have a deep well of brand-new material from which to draw. – Michael Toland