Alex Hamburger & José Luiz Martins Catalog of Dreams Album Release
with The Matt Benham Trio

Doors: 6:30pm ⎮ Show: 7:30pm

Tickets: $20 advance price ⎮ $25 at door

Advance tickets can only be purchased online-we do not sell advance tickets at the venue. Refunds are not available within 48 hours of the event. Tickets do not guarantee seating during shows at the Royal Room.

We are now accepting reservations for diners! After purchasing tickets, please visit the Reservations page to book a table. Table reservations require advance tickets, and are only for guests who plan to dine at the Royal Room.  We do not take reservations over the phone. Seating for non-diners is first come, first served. Please arrive early to guarantee a seat!

Alex Hamburger & José Luiz Martins Catalog of Dreams album release

Alex Hamburger & José Luiz Martins is a duo project that explores many different styles through an interactive approach. Being from the Washington D.C. area and São Paulo and forming the group in Switzerland and then living in New York and settling in the D.C. area, they pull from many different influences, creating a unique and inter-genre repertoire that explores interplay in a fresh and captivating way. Their duo EP “Vapor Trails” recorded in Basel Switzerland where the two met was released in the summer of 2019 and they are currently releasing their debut full length album Catalog of Dreams in August 2026 on Challenge Records. The duo has played all around the world from jazz clubs to concert halls; from the East Coast to Brazil and all around Europe, always with the intention of giving the audience a unique experience that insights exploration and wonder. After more than six years of performing, touring, and creating together, flutist/vocalist Alex Hamburger & pianist/keyboardist José Luiz Martins present Catalog of Dreams, their debut duo album. Featuring six reimagined works alongside two original compositions, the album reflects the pair's shared musical language, drawing from Brazilian music, jazz, the Great American Songbook, and contemporary influences. Recorded following a creative residency in Switzerland, Catalog of Dreams captures the duo's intimate yet groove-driven approach through a repertoire that includes music by Gilberto Gil, Airto Moreira, Wayne Shorter, Luisa Lacerda, and Thundercat, alongside original compositions that showcase their evolving artistic partnership. Thoughtfully arranged while leaving space for spontaneity, the album highlights two acclaimed musicians whose individual voices have merged into a singular sound. 

The Matt Benham Trio is a Seattle-based group focused on original compositions and unique interpretations of modern classics. With Tom Cole on bass and Donovan Pfeifer on drums, the band cultivates a deep sense of groove while also prioritizing musical conversation spurred on by guitarist Matt Benham’s quirky originals. Each player has been on the Seattle scene for years and boasts many eclectic projects. Matt can be found with the Scratch Cats Organ Trio, the Jazz Guild quintet, the experimental guitar trio Lotus Lungs, or as the President of the Seattle Jazz Guitar Society. Drummer Donovan Pfeifer plays regularly with the jazz/funk project How Now Brown Cow, and can be seen sitting in with Birch Pereira and the Gin Joints, as well as with rock and Americana projects Sam Cobra, Red Heart Alarm, Casey Freedom, and Vince Bigos (Invisible Cowboys). Tom is a much sought after bassist who plays with the Jazz Guild, the Rainier Symphony, jazz combo Lost and Found, The Savoy Night Owls, Back By Popular Demand Jazz Band, and Brite Lines. The diversity of their approaches informs a sound that evokes their influences (from Bill Evans to Bill Withers, Wayne Shorter to Willie Nelson) while also setting a course for uncharted waters with a focus on the joy of intimate group interaction.