Events for Friday, August 8 - Tuesday, August 26

Certain experiences burn themselves in your memory from the very first encounter. The jaw-dropping audio pyrotechnics that Naturally 7 put on display every night absolutely belong in that category. “A capella group” so vastly underplays what they create onstage that they had to coin a phrase – “Vocal Play” – to more accurately depict what […]

Guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli has been hailed by the Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” Established as one of the prime contemporary interpreters of the Great American Songbook, Pizzarelli has expanded that repertoire by including the music of Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Antônio Carlos Jobim […]

Sachal Vasandani is a vocalist and songwriter known for his singular voice, with a tone and unique phrasing that mark him as one of the most compelling artists on the scene today. His latest album, Best Life Now, produced by acclaimed drummer Nate Smith (Vulfpeck’s The Fearless Flyers, Brittany Howard, Emily King). This new project […]

Celebrate 15 years of CYT Santa Cruz with a special alumni vocal cabaret! Enjoy an evening of music and memories as alumni from throughout the years return to the stage to revisit some of their most beloved performances. Featuring a selection of solo and group acts from invited alumni—and a finale open to all CYT […]

Blind singer/songwriter/guitarist Raul Midón is nothing if not prolific. His fourteenth and latest album, Lost & Found, is a blend of what he calls “smooth folk,” “alt-pop” and “jazz.” A master at combining genres, “his music suggests a three way fusion of Stevie Wonder, Bobby McFerrin and José Feliciano” (The New York Times). Lost & Found, […]

Eliza Gilkyson, accompanied by the musical genius of Nina Gerber, returns to Kuumbwa Jazz in support of her new release, Dark Ages. "This record is reflective of the times we are going through in our country, personally and nationally. It is always important to me when making a record to strike a balance between the […]

The Coastal Highwaymen "Songwriters Round" show makes its Kuumbwa Jazz Center debut!  An intimate evening of songwriting and storytelling with local musical luminaries James Durbin, Dylan Rose, Anthony Arya, and Nick Gallant.  First set will be all four songwriters trading off acoustic solo performances and sharing the stories and inspirations behind their latest original works. […]

Celebrating the highly-anticipated release of Djangatos debut album, Roulette. Djangatos will be performing a yummy mix of original songs from their record, along with classic jazz tunes and catchy compositions penned by the legendary Django Reinhardt. Dare to dress to impress and be ready to tap your toes, sing along, and smile from ear to […]

Vocalist Dr. Kim Nalley has been heralded as “legendary” and a “San Francisco institution.” With an international reputation as one of world’s best jazz and blues vocalists, she has graced concert halls from Moscow to New York’s Lincoln Center. A true renaissance woman, Dr. Nalley has also been a featured writer for JazzWest and San Francisco Chronicle‘s ‘City […]

For twenty-five years, Soledad Prison had perhaps the most dynamic prison music program in the country. At its heart was a jazz improvisation workshop. Reggie Austin, a graduate of that program, and Jack Bowers, the program's director, will discuss how it affected both participants and the entire prison community. At a time when the purpose […]