[1][2] Monaco played accordion from childhood and was heavily influenced by Jimmy Smith in his youth.
In the early 2000s, he recorded his debut album in collaboration with Joey DeFrancesco, A New Generation: Paesanos on the New B3 which reached No.
Down Beat International Critics Poll placed Monaco in the top 5 jazz organists for the years 2005–2011.
[5] Monaco is also noted for his efforts in jazz education and holds the position of Artist in Residence in Music at Hope College.
[6] Monaco's work, along with several contemporaries, is associated with a minor resurgence of "Chitlin' Circuit" style jazz.