Allison Wheeler
Winterspring
Allison Wheeler - Winterspring feat. Alex Sjobeck
Join us on February 28, 2026 for an incredible evening of music with international super-talents coming together for one night in Monterey! Vocalist and songwriter Allison Wheeler brings her debut album Winterspring and some surprises to the stage in an intimate, two-set show. Rooted in jazz but shaped by storytelling, her songs exude warmth and emotional honesty. Winterspring has received international praise, including a four-star review from the UK's Jazzwise and JazzTimes, which called the album “a spell that deepens with each listen.” Joined by pianist Alex Sjobeck, bassist Dan Robbins, and drummer Petr, Wheeler invites listeners into the Winterspring world along with a few other surprises for the evening.
Allison Wheeler - vocals
Alex Sjobeck - piano
Dan Robbins - bass
Petr Nohavica - drums
Allison Wheeler, vocalist & songwriter from Salinas, California, is a “composer of great sonic imagination” (Peter Quinn, Jazzwise UK) and a versatile voice with a love for creative challenge. After being named Undergraduate Vocal Soloist of the Year by Downbeat magazine in 2018, she relocated to Prague, where she has broken free from her straight-ahead roots and is forging a new path. Her debut album Winterspring was released on the London-based label Ubuntu Music in 2022 and was hailed as “one of the strongest collections of songs in the last few years” (Jan Hocek, JazzPort). She has been compared by critics to artists such as Becca Stevens (Jazz Times) and Gretchen Parlato (Jazzwise UK) — yet creates a world uniquely her own. Her music seamlessly crosses genre lines, drawing influence from her jazz roots, love of bluegrass/folk tradition, and her talent in the visual arts to construct a realm of imagination fueled by improvisation, nostalgia and a love for impressionism. Wheeler is currently assistant professor of jazz voice at the Janáčkova akademie múzických umění (JAMU) in Brno and has her sophomore album in the works.
Alex Sjobeck, piano
Alex Sjobeck is a nationally recognized jazz pianist and composer whose genre-blending music has been featured on PBS, award-winning short films, and projects with millions of views. Her album Pictures in Time appeared on the 2023 GRAMMY® nominating ballot, and her compositions have earned honors from major film, jazz, and songwriting organizations. Beyond performance, she is a dedicated educator and arts advocate—co-founding the nonprofit Lala’s Jazz, teaching at Boise State University, and directing the Gene Harris All-Stars Jazz Program.
Dan Robbins, bass
Dan Robbins is a versatile bassist known for his driving, harmonically rich playing across jazz, funk, world, classical, and contemporary styles. Equally at home on acoustic bass and multi-string electric bass, he brings a fiery improvisational energy to projects ranging from solo “one-man band” performances to ensembles including Wasabi, Source Field, and the Hristo Vitchev Quartet. An active educator and composer, he teaches at San Jose State University and Santa Clara University and works with leading jazz festivals throughout California.
Petr Nohavica, drums
Petr Nohavica is a Czech drummer, composer, and bandleader active across genres, known both for his own project Glance and for collaborations with leading Czech and international artists. His debut Glance album, featuring top Czech jazz musicians and vocalist Allison Wheeler, was released on Bivak Records and was shortlisted for the 2023 Czech Anděl Awards. The project has since returned with a new lineup, continuing to evolve on the contemporary Czech jazz scene.