Events for November 2024

Among the most intensely admired composers in jazz, Wayne Shorter was a true legend whose career stretched over half a century. The golden era of this saxophonist’s extraordinary musical journey was marked by the formation of his quartet with Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, and Brian Blade, who went forth to confound all preconceptions of jazz […]

Nduduzo Makhathini grew up in the lush and rugged hillscapes of umGungundlovu in South Africa, a peri-urban landscape in which music and ritual practices were symbiotically linked. The area is significant historically as the site of the Zulu king Dingane kingdom between 1828 and 1840. It’s important to note that the Zulu, in fact the […]

Three standard-bearers of West African musical traditions come together to celebrate Mandé Sila: the way of the Mandingo empire, symbolizing languages, cultures, music, and the entire organology of West Africa. One of Africa’s most popular and recognized musicians, Habib Koité is a modern troubadour with extraordinary appeal due to his musicianship, wit, and wisdom. The Kora […]

Three standard-bearers of West African musical traditions come together to celebrate Mandé Sila: the way of the Mandingo empire, symbolizing languages, cultures, music, and the entire organology of West Africa. One of Africa’s most popular and recognized musicians, Habib Koité is a modern troubadour with extraordinary appeal due to his musicianship, wit, and wisdom. The Kora […]

Born in Saverne, Alsace, France, Biréli Lagrène started playing guitar around the age of five and started improvising jazz similar to Django Reinhardt's style by the age of seven. He honed his craft in his early teenage years when he toured with several musical acts, including Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucía, Stéphane Grappelli, The Gil Evans […]

After a wait of almost three years, Kandace Springs’ legion of worldwide fans finally have a new album to look forward to. 2024’s Run Your Race, a tribute to her late father (legendary Nashville soul singer Scat Springs) is the first album of hers to feature almost all original songs, written by Springs both solo and […]

Don’t miss Tony nominee Ann Hampton Callaway in her new show Finding Beauty – Inspired Classics & Originals. Callaway’s show is comprised of classics from her songwriting inspirations, including Carole King, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Paul Simon, and many more. Also, the recent inductee into The Women Songwriters Hall of Fame shares songs from her new […]

The Grammy-nominated African American vocal ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock® marked it’s 50th anniversary beginning in November 2023 with a powerful three-year celebration that will honor their storied past and set the course for the future of the group, which has been described as, “one of the most dynamic, versatile and still relevant musical […]

Dawan Muhammad is a grassroots community activist who has also maintained a career as a jazz artist for over fifty years.  From 1969 through the late 1970s Muhammad resided in Santa Cruz as a student, artist in residence, and staff member at UCSC.  He has been a supporter of Kuumbwa Jazz since its inception and has returned periodically over […]

With “a voice like a beacon of hope” (Seattle Times), vocalist Jimmie Herrod brings singular power and expressivity to his global career as a singer, songwriter, and entertainer on stage and screen. Herrod first came to worldwide prominence as a finalist on the NBC nationally broadcast television show, America’s Got Talent, earning the rare “Golden […]