Brothers Ryan and Chris Mondak visit BOP STOP at 7:00 p.m. on December 26, performing with a quintet that features tenor players Brendon Phillips and Steven Zeleznik, and drummer/multi-instrumentalist Tyler Hawes. The quintet offers a contemporary, high-energy take on jazz standards, along with a dose of originals and holiday classics.

Cincinnati-based guitarist/composer/producer Ryan Mondak currently plays in the band Emmaline, which he co-founded with vocalist/violinist Emma Campbell. Ryan has co-written and produced several of Emmaline’s originals. Ryan also has recorded with Postmodern Jukebox, co-written a song with Rock Hall of Fame member Bootsy Collins, and performed with three-time Grammy winner Steve Gilmore. Ryan’s band Emmaline has released scores of videos, with one, their cover of Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time” receiving 30 million views on Facebook. Ryan plays Relish guitars, along with his signature custom-made 7-string Benedetto Bravo.

Bassist/composer Chris Mondak resides in Boston, where he attends the New England Conservatory, studying with jazz legends Cecil McBee and Dave Holland. Chris’s aggressive playing is reminiscent of that of Charles Mingus. Chris is co-founder of the jazz combo West of Staley, and a member of the NEC Next Generation Jazz Quartet. A former member of the Jazz Band of America and a fellow at the Brubeck Institute, Chris has performed around the world, from Carnegie Hall to Jazz at Lincoln Center-Shanghai. Chris has played with such musicians as Shelly Berg, Melanie Charles, Dave Douglas, Richard Drexler, Wayne Escoffery, Wycliffe Gordon, Jesus Molina, Matt Savage, and Marvin Stamm.