Cliff Monear is one of the Midwest’s most respected and versatile jazz pianists, known for his masterful musicianship, impeccable artistry, and dynamic performances. His extensive résumé spans renowned venues and festivals around the globe, sharing the stage with some of jazz’s most celebrated artists, including Eddie Daniels, Joshua Redman, Roy Hargrove, Stanley Clarke, Sheila Jordan, and Dee Dee Bridgewater. 

A dedicated educator and mentor, Monear joined the music faculty at Wayne State University in 2004, where he helped shape the next generation of jazz musicians. In addition to his performing and teaching career, he serves as a senior sales consultant for Steinway Piano Gallery Detroit in Commerce Township, Michigan, where he helped establish the celebrated Steinway Jazz Café series more than twenty years ago. The ongoing concert series has become a valued destination for jazz enthusiasts, presenting outstanding performances by leading local and national artists. 

“...Monear’s breathy ideas leave lots of space, girding the music with exquisite tension. 

What gives the music personality is Monear’s suave touch, relaxed swing, fresh melodic and harmonic turns and the unpretentious way he draws on familiar influences." --Mark Stryker,  Detroit Free Press