Monday, September 10, 7:00
The Kurt Rosenwinkel Group
$20/Adv $23/Door
"…Rosenwinkel makes the leap into that rarefied strata of artists who are truly moving the music forward.” –All About Jazz
Born in 1970, Kurt Rosenwinkel, since his apprenticeship in the early 90s with Gary Burton and the Paul Motian Be-Bop Band, has become one of the most sophisticated and adventurous American jazz guitarists on the scene today. This includes 7 albums as a leader--the last 4 with Verve--6 albums as co-leader, and a whole heap of appearances as sideman. He is joined by his long-time collaborator Mark Turner, on tenor sax, who came up with Chick Corea and Lee Konitz, and has a number of albums of his own; Rosenwinkel and Turner can be heard on Heartcore, Rosenwinkel's 2003 Verve album. Along for the ride will be the brilliant young pianist Aaron Parks, who debuted at age 18 with the Terrence Blanchard band; bassist Ben Street and drummer Rodney Green fill out the group.
Thursday, September 10, 8:00pm at The Rio Theater 
Dave Brubeck Quartet
$75/Gold Circle $40/General
Sponsored by All About Properties, Brubeck–Wong Realtors
" A legend in seven differnt decades.” –Jazziz
If the US, like Denmark and Japan, awarded its greatest living artists the title of National Treasure, Dave Brubeck--pianist, composer (jazz and symphonic), bandleader, and all-around exemplar of the Life Well Led--would surely be at the top of the list. In 1951, in SF, Brubeck formed his classic quartet, with the late Paul Desmond on alto, which quickly became one of the most successful, and controversial, groups in jazz history. A pianist of great daring and originality, Brubeck challenged many of the orthodoxies of the jazz establishment of the 50s, and, at the same time, managed to appeal to a broad spectrum of listeners, at home and abroad. He is joined by his long-time quartet, Bobby Militello on alto and flute, Michael Moore on bass, and Randy Jones on drums.
Monday, October 1, 7:00 & 9:00pm
Dave Douglas Quintet
$22/Adv $25/Door
"impeccable technique and a conversational style that features quicksilver responses."–Downbeat
In just over a decade as bandleader, the trumpeter / composer Dave Douglas has re-defined more boundaries than most players can boast in a life-spanning career. Despite this restless immersion in innovation, Douglas manages to maintain sideman gigs with a gamut of musicians from John Zorn to Joe Lovano. The Dave Douglas Quintet, featuring Donny McCaslin (tenor), Uri Caine (piano), James Genus (bass) and Clarence Penn (drums) guarantees a genuine improvisational experience- no time-tested chestnuts here, just top-notch artistry that braves a creative tightrope that most others fear to tread.
Monday, October 8, 7:00pm  
Benny Green–Javon Jackson Quartet
$20/Adv $23/Door
Sponsored by Kuumbwa Jazz Board Of Directors
The spirit of that wise shaman of jazz Art Blakey will be resurrected at Kuumbwa in all its funky glory with the appearance of two members of the last, late-80s, Jazz Messengers, tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson and pianist Benny Green. While still in his teens, Jackson was befriended by Branford Marsalis, who urged him to study at Boston's Berklee School of Music. He soon graduated to the Blakey band, with Terence Blanchard, Kenny Garrett, Wallace Roney and Benny Green; since then he has become a successful bandleader and Blue Note recording artist. Pianist Benny Green grew up in Berkeley, was discovered by Faye Carroll, and was gigging with Eddie Henderson while still in his teens. Since his stint with Blakey, he has led a successful trio, recording for Blue Note.
Monday, October 9, 7:00–9:00pm
John Scofield Trio
Featuring The ScoHorns
$23/Adv $26/Door
Sponsored by La Selva Beach Surf Shop
"…unequivocal and distinctively personal jazz language."–All About Jazz
Not just an innovative guitarist, but an adept composer with a flair for melodic hooks and an affinity for assembling the best bands imaginable; John Scofield has been stretching the boundaries of jazz since his salad days with Gary Burton and Gerry Mulligan. Best of all, there’s no sign of him letting up anytime soon. Never content to mine the same vein for very long, he has yet again hired brand new cohorts in restless pursuit of the quintessential sound. Many have described Sco’s huge tone as the guitar approximation of a booming brass section. This trio-plus-horns-propelled outing may well put that comparison to the test. Kuumbwa welcomes back long-time favorite John Scofield for a sure to sell out evening of unparalleled jazz guitar
Monday, October 15, 7:00pm
Nancy King & Claudia Villela
$22/Adv $25/Door
Sponsored by Silent Gong Fund
"She is, I think, one of the best singers that ever walked the planet"–– Karryn Allyson, jazz vocalist and recording artist
2006 Grammy nominee Nancy King has been described by Herb Ellis as “the greatest living jazz singer”, and has been called everything from a “cult figure” to an “uncompromising artist”. Nancy has worked with everyone from Jon Hendricks to Ray Brown and is one of the few jazz singers that truly mastered the jazz vocabulary.
Vocalist Claudia Villela describes her music as “the sum of all the sounds I’ve heard, from Brazilian Macumba to free form jazz to European classical”. The free-spirited diva brings all of these elements to the stage and skillfully interprets them with a staggering range that spans five octaves.
Thursday October 18, 7:00pm
Matthew Shipp Trio
Joe Morris, bass
Whit Dickey, drums
$20/Adv $23/Door
Co–Sponsored by KUSP
"Watching and listening to Matthew Shipp…encapsulates a lifetime"–Jazz Review
Pianist / composer Matthew Shipp once wrote: “The jazz solo speaks about the beauty of the neurological system, for it must mirror what it comes out of.” Indeed, the solos emanating from this man’s inner circuitry speak of a whole new kind of beauty. With the language of jazz now spanning from classical to electronica, few have so successfully taken on the idiom’s every angle. Shipp’s spacious compositions leave lots to the imagination without ever sacrificing the honesty and directness of free jazz. Matthew Shipp’s trio articulates his forward-thinking vision with music from a brand new CD entitled Piano Vortex. Prepare for something completely different.
Monday, October 22, 7:00pm
T.S. Monk
$23/Adv $26/Door
"…one of Jazz's most vital, influential artists" –L.A. Times
As the son of one of the true jazz immortals, Thelonious Sphere Monk, Jr was born under a most auspicious star indeed. At age 10 his drum teacher was Max Roach, who sprung for his first kit. After drumming with his father's trio until Monk Sr's retirement in 1975, T.S. embarked on a wide-ranging career, both in jazz and r'n'b –his band, with sister Barbara, had several commercial hits in the early 80s. Since then he has been intensely active as a performer, bandleader, composer, and educator--perpetuating the adventurous thrust of his father's music while founding and directing the educational Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, in New York. Monk's most recent album, Higher Ground, continues his commitment to presenting the freshest young talent in the music.
Thursday, OCtober 25, 7:00–9:00pm
Oliver Mtukudzi
$25/Adv $28/Door
Sponsored by The Print Gallery
"…confirms the essential place African music has in contemporary culture" –CNN Wprldbeat
Oliver Mtukudzi, or “Tuku” as his fans know him, has been performing an infectiously joyful blend of traditional rhythms and African pop for over thirty years. At the base level, he incorporates the oral tradition and Kateke drumming of his ethnic roots; the Korekore tribe of the sparsely populated Zambezi river valley. Modern elements are drawn from the mbira (thumb piano) based sound of Chimurenga, a genre pioneered by fellow Zimbabwean Thomas Mapfumo. But Tuku’s visionary music is too far-reaching to be so easily defined. His urgent message of unity and equality in the face of political turmoil takes shape within a wide range of styles that skillfully balance artistic integrity and all-inclusive accessibility.
Monday, October 29, 7:00pm
Dafnis Prieto Absolute Quintet
$20/Adv $23/Door
Sponsored by Pearl Alley Bistro and Wine Bar
"…complex, jaggedly modern writing (with) a deep cultural literacy.” –New York Times
Cuban master Dafnis Prieto has been working stateside for less than a decade. In that time he’s made a name for himself with effervescent trap set interpretations of traditional runs intended for an entire team of percussionists. But his polyrhythmic proficiency is only half the story. Prieto’s recent embrace of leadership duties has ushered in an exciting new direction in the advancement of Latin jazz. By assimilating avant-garde abstraction and impeccable groove into an understated technique, Prieto opens the music to infinite possibilities. Yosvany Terry (sax), Christian Howes (violin), Dana Leong (cello) and Jason Lindner (keys) round out his Grammy nominated quintet.
Friday, November 16, 8:00pm at the Santa Cruz Civic
Caetano Veloso–Brazilian Superstar
$68.25/Gold Circle Limited $47.25/31.50 General Reserved, No Jazztix or Comps
Sponsored in memory of Ann Fitz
Presented by Kuumbwa Jazz &UCSC Arts &Lectures
Tickets available from the Civic Box Office at 831–420–5260
or online at www.santacruztickets.com
"his lyrics juggle romance and history, events and myths, philosophy and wit.” – New York Times
Caetano Veloso’s vivid awareness of Brazil’s cultural history makes its way into each and every one of his cathartic compositions. As one of that nation’s most influential singer-songwriters, he has collaborated with Bossa Nova greats, scored numerous film soundtracks and blended samba, avant-garde and rock to create a compelling new genre known as Tropicalismo. As an equally influential artist-critic, his keen insight has affected the evolution of Brazilian music. In the words of his beloved exemplar Joao Gilberto, Caetano “added an intellectual dimension to Brazilian popular music.” His conceptual approach and outspoken politics invariably make for captivating live performances and fans would do well not to miss this first time Santa Cruz appearance.
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