Events for April 2026

From an early age, Booker T. Jones –“one of the legends of soul music” (The New Yorker) – was captivated by the magic of melody, rhythm, and harmony. So magnetic was the attraction, in fact, that by the time he turned sixteen, he was, incredibly, already a working musician with a hit song to his […]

From an early age, Booker T. Jones –“one of the legends of soul music” (The New Yorker) – was captivated by the magic of melody, rhythm, and harmony. So magnetic was the attraction, in fact, that by the time he turned sixteen, he was, incredibly, already a working musician with a hit song to his […]

It was the kind of endorsement most rising guitarists can only dream of, and then some. In his interview for Vintage Guitar magazine’s February 2016 cover story, Pat Metheny was asked to name some younger musicians who’d impressed him. “The best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life is floating around now, Pasquale […]

Mary Halvorson is a Brooklyn-based guitarist, composer and recording artist for Nonesuch Records. Her distinctive sound and innovative approach to her instrument have earned her widespread recognition over the past two decades, including numerous best-of-the-year lists, a 2019 MacArthur Foundation fellowship and 'Guitarist of the Year' honors in the DownBeat Critics Poll for the past […]

Upon the release of Kaleidoscopic Visions, the second album that Tom Skinner has made under his own name, the drummer-composer will be 45 years-old. Skinner is already in possession of an incredible career—two decades as a key member of London’s jazz community, including co-founding the mighty Sons of Kemet; in-demand collaborator to famed electronic producers […]

Mark Lettieri is a six time nominated, five-time GRAMMY-winning guitarist, composer, producer, and instructor based in Fort Worth, TX. He creates acclaimed guitar-based instrumental music, and is a member of leading instrumental bands Snarky Puppy and The Fearless Flyers. As a session musician proficient in a multitude of styles, he has recorded and performed in […]

For Lee Ritenour, there aren’t many ‘firsts’ left to achieve. A California native, Ritenour started on guitar at the age of eight. By sixteen, he was in the Los Angeles recording studios working with top musicians twice his age and experience. A founding member of Fourplay – with Harvey Mason, Nathan East and Bob James […]

For Lee Ritenour, there aren’t many ‘firsts’ left to achieve. A California native, Ritenour started on guitar at the age of eight. By sixteen, he was in the Los Angeles recording studios working with top musicians twice his age and experience. A founding member of Fourplay – with Harvey Mason, Nathan East and Bob James […]

Multi-faceted American jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen has emerged as one of his generation's pivotal figures in music and the related arts. Downbeat observed that his "nimble touch, measured stride and warm harmonic vocabulary indicate he's above any convoluted technical showmanship." In the same spirit, Cohen himself has noted that playing jazz is "about […]

Multi-faceted American jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen has emerged as one of his generation's pivotal figures in music and the related arts. Downbeat observed that his "nimble touch, measured stride and warm harmonic vocabulary indicate he's above any convoluted technical showmanship." In the same spirit, Cohen himself has noted that playing jazz is "about […]

NEA Jazz Master Gary Bartz has been one of the best purveyors of what he calls “informal composition” (as opposed to improvisation) on alto saxophone since the 1960s, working with such luminaries as Max Roach, Charles Mingus, Art Blakey, and Miles Davis. He has released more than forty-five solo albums and appears on more than […]

Jane Monheit is a jazz and adult contemporary vocalist with a deep passion for the Great American Songbook. With many highly acclaimed solo albums, countless awards and accolades, and over two decades of international touring experience, Monheit has not only been an extremely successful bandleader, but has had the privilege of making music with some […]

Kuumbwa Jazz and Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music present: A Change is Gonna Come featuring Palaver Strings and tenor Nicholas Phan in partnership with UC Santa Cruz Arts Division A Change is Gonna Come celebrates the rich legacy of American protest songs, from beloved anthems to new commissions. Arrangements of 1960s classics explore the sonic […]

“His fundamentals as a player could hardly be stronger, and his instincts as a composer and bandleader are almost startlingly mature.” - The New York Times For more than a decade, Sullivan Fortner has been stretching deep-rooted talents as a pianist, composer, bandleader, and uncompromising individualist. The GRAMMY Award-winning artist and recipient of the 2026 […]

Hailing from Cuba, the GRAMMY-winning and Latin GRAMMY-nominated drummer, composer, and MacArthur Fellow Dafnis Prieto’s revolutionary drumming techniques and compositions have had a powerful impact on the music landscape – nationally and internationally. As a composer, Prieto has created music for dance, film, chamber ensembles, and most notably for his own bands; ranging from duets […]

Join us to celebrate International Jazz Day with the Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band! Featuring Adler William Blackmun, Reuben Cave, Raymond Cavlan, Ryu Cirillo, Kyle McMillan, Max Sanderson & Xander Shulman, the ‘25/’26 Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band showcases some of the most talented high-school student musicians from Santa Cruz County and the Central Coast region. These […]