Brad Mehldau Trio - Wednesday, May 16 7:00 PM
Wednesday, May 16, 7:00 pm
Brad Mehldau Trio
$28/Adv $31/Door
No Jazztix or Comps
Door and Dinner beginning at 6:00 pm
“…admired as one of the most adventurous pianists to arrive on the jazz scene.” – LA Times
Jazz pianist Brad Mehldau has recorded and performed extensively since the early 1990s. Mehldau’s most consistent output over the years has taken place in the trio format. Starting in 1996, his group released a series of five records on Warner Bros. entitled The Art of the Trio. Mehldau also has a solo piano recording entitled Elegiac Cycle, and a record called Places that includes both solo piano and trio songs. Elegiac Cycle and Places might be called “concept” albums. They are made up exclusively of original material and have central themes that hover over the compositions. His newest project Ode (Nonesuch) – to be released March 12, 2012, features 11 previously unreleased songs composed by Mehldau written specifically for bandmates bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard.
Rosanne Cash - Sunday, May 06 7:00 PM
Sunday, May 6, 7:00 PM
at the Rio Theatre
Rosanne Cash
$45/Gold Circle
$30/General
No Jazztix or Comps
Doors: 6:00 PM
“The songs she has written over the past three decades… have been defined by their focus and integrity.” — The New York Times
More than a country music icon, Rosanne Cash is America’s foremost musical woman of letters, a singularly literate artist whose poignant vocals turn every song into a revelatory tale. At the peak of her interpretive powers, she’s still riding high from the 2009 release of The List, an album distilled from a list of 100 essential country songs given to her at 18 by her father, the legendary Johnny Cash. Her latest release, aptly titled The Essential Rosanne Cash (Sony Music) is a 36-song collection hand selected by Rosanne that definitively covers her 30 years of recording. Since her 1980 album debut with Right or Wrong, Rosanne has blazed a brilliant trail, landing nearly a dozen #1 singles, blurring the genres of country, rock, roots and pop, while earning 10 Grammy nominations and a Best Female Country Vocal Performance Grammy Award in 1985 for “I Don’t Know Why You Don’t Want Me.” Her highly personal— yet universally appealing—writing style is also manifest in her parallel prose career. She’s also generated an acclaimed volume of short stories, Bodies of Water, a fascinating memoir, Composed and a children’s book, Penelope Jane: A Fairy’s Tale. Her essays and fiction have appeared in various collections and publications, including The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Time Magazine, The Oxford American and New York Magazine. Whether she’s writing prose or lyrics, Cash is a natural born storyteller who cuts to the bone. For this date expect an overview of her essential hits, with husband and guitarist John Leventhal to accompany.
Jazz Notes, Jan/Feb 2012 - Sunday, May 06 7:00 PM
Support Jazz Education! Dine at Shadowbrook on Tuesday, January 24th
Eat, Drink and Be Merry! Gather your family and friends, make a date, and schedule your reservations to dine at the landmark Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola on Tuesday, January 24th. Kuumbwa Jazz is happy once again to be part of the Community Tuesdays program, proceeds of which benefit our jazz education programs. The Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band, directed by Steve Wilson, will hit the Rock Lounge Stage beginning at 6:00 pm. Shadowbrook will donate 1/3rd of the evening’s food and beverage sales to Kuumbwa. Call (831) 475-1511 to make your reservations. Be sure to mention that you are dining for Kuumbwa Jazz. See you all there!
Thank you to our 2011 Sponsors
A Train Law group; Appenrodt Commercial Properties; Central Coast Oncology and Hematology: Michael Alexander MD, Michael Yen MD, PhD, Amy McMullen MD; Dr. Arthur Dover and Aptos Travel Clinic; Erik’s DeliCafé; Kyle Goldman; Harry Harrington and Sharon Hale; High Notes; Howerton Construction; Carolyn Hyatt and Joe Hyatt; Bob Jackson and Stuart Hurt; JazzAlleyKats; Kuumbwa Jazz Board of Trustees; Logos Books & Records; Mateo Lettunich; Dr. Duncan McCollum, McCollum Wellness Center; Drew Miller Insurance Services, Inc.; Miner Family Winery; Beth Ostrowski; Pacific Sun Properties, Susan and Alan Goldstein; Plazita Medical Clinic; Gordon and Teresa Pusser, Swift Street ArtWorkSpace; Radiology Medical Group; Redtree Properties; Silent Gong Fund; Smoothjazz.com; Soif Wine Bar & Merchants; Ten Sharps; The Print Gallery; Tom Thacher and Sue Nerton; Universal Audio; Wells Fargo Bank; ZNA Communications
Kuumbwa Profiles: Dr. Michael and Toby Alexander
“Kuumbwa also provides music education…”
Longtime Kuumbwa members Dr. Michael and Toby Alexander are strong believers in giving back to the community. For many years they have been, and continue to be, generous supporters of numerous nonprofit organizations. In addition, they have served on the governing boards of many of those same organizations. Michael is currently serving his second term on Kuumbwa’s Board of Trustees, having originally served in the mid ’90s. Toby is a past board president of Shakespeare Santa Cruz and continues to work with them as a fundraising advisor.
Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, the Alexanders were high school sweethearts who married shortly after graduating from the University of Illinois. Both Michael and Toby grew up with an appreciation for the arts. Michael took classical piano lessons, enjoyed popular music, and developed an appreciation for jazz. “I played in a rock and roll band when I was a teenager. We weren’t very good, but we had fun,” he laughs. In the jazz venues of Chicago, he was able to hear Count Basie, with Joe Williams, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, Ahmad Jamal, and many others. “The clubs were very smoky. Everybody smoked cigarettes back then, but I saw a lot of great musicians. It was a great time.” It was 1965 when they moved to California to attend Stanford University. Michael majored in medicine. Toby studied for her master’s degree in education. After completing her degree, Toby worked as a math teacher in the South Bay Peninsula schools, while Michael finished his medical training to become an oncologist.
In 1976, the opportunity arose for Michael to go into medical practice in Santa Cruz with another doctor, and they relocated to Scotts Valley. Initially, they had little time for enjoying concerts, or theater productions, as they focused on building Michael’s medical practice and starting a family. Toby began teaching in the Santa Cruz County schools, and later served as president of the Scotts Valley Board of Education. Today, in addition to her community work, she is the business/accounting manager for Michael’s medical practice. They are also parents of a son and daughter, Jonathan and Jane, now adults, and have five grandchildren. “It wasn’t until 1986 that I saw my first concert at Kuumbwa. It was Stan Getz,” says Michael. Infrequent concert goers at first, the Alexanders soon became Kuumbwa members. “Toby and I feel very lucky to live here. Branford Marsalis has said Kuumbwa is second only to the Village Vanguard (in New York) as the best jazz venue in the world. That’s not bad company. But, unlike the Vanguard, Kuumbwa is a nonprofit organization that also provides music education programs. It picks up the slack from the budget cuts in school music programs. I think that, for a small town like Santa Cruz, to have access to the level of artists that you usually find only in larger cities is very unique.” –Kurt Brinkmeyer
Announcing the 2011-2012 Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band - Sunday, May 06 7:00 PM
Directed by Steve Wilson
Cameron Smith, Guitar – AFE Home School
Caley Chase, Vocals – Harbor High School
Kevin Dong, Violin – Pacific Collegiate School
Barney Greer, Saxophone – Harbor High School
Casey Monahan, Piano – Harbor High School
Jackie Partida, Vocals – Pacific Collegiate School
Peter Tarantino, Drums – Harbor High School
Mark Wason, Bass – Pacific Collegiate School
Grae Zimmerman, Drums – Soquel High School
The Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band is an all-star ensemble of high school musicians representing Santa Cruz County. Having successfully auditioned, band members attend weekly rehearsals, study complex jazz theory and improvisation, and learn essential life skills such as communication, cooperation and critical thinking. The Honor Band performs at community benefits, festivals and special events, ending each school year with a concert at Kuumbwa Jazz Center.
The Honor Band will make their public debut on Tuesday, January 24th at the Shadowbrook Restaurant as part of their Community Tuesday calendar.
Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band offers young musicians a place to expand their horizons. Whether the student’s path is toward a career in the music industry or just finding a place to expand their sense of creativity and personal expression, this program has a profound influence on all those who are accepted. For nearly two decades, Kuumbwa Jazz has been providing this unique opportunity to hardworking, talented, and deserving young musicians. Jazz Education is key to our mission and could not continue without the support of our community. Please contribute to Jazz Education by becoming a Kuumbwa Jazz member or contributing directly by following the link below. Thank you for your support.
Our year round education programs are made possible by generous donations from our many contributors both individuals and businesses; David & Lucile Packard Foundation, William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, Newman’s Own Foundation, Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County and Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County and Kyle Goldman.
Contact: Melody Korkos, (831) 427-2227 x212
melody@kuumbwajazz.org
Jazz Notes – Nov/Dec - Sunday, May 06 7:00 PM
We Love You Madly! 7th Annual Ellington Awards
David & Kate Hartzell, and Chris Tomkins were honored Monday, August 22nd at the Jazz Center in recognition of their generousand long standing support of Kuumbwa Jazz. David and Kate sponsor the ongoing and very successful ½ Price Student Discount ticket program.This program makes it possible for students of all ages to attend concerts year round becoming part of our growing music community of aficionados.
Most of you know Chris Tomkins very well – Chris is the first person to greet you when you walk into the jazz center; he possesses a rare blend of professional and personable coolness fitting for our jazz fans. Chris our man at the front door has been volunteering his services for over 30 years! We send them a heartfelt round of applause for making our experiences both today and into the future memorable! Thank you!
Click here to view photos of the award winners.
Kuumbwa Profile: Erik & Judy Johnson
Erik & Judy Johnson “It’s impossible to pick a favorite concert…”
Erik & Judy Johnson of Erik’s DeliCafe have been unflagging in their support of Kuumbwa over the past three decades. A local success story that originated out of a 600 square foot location in Scott’s Valley, their business has grown to 28 locations in Santa Cruz County, and beyond. Along with that growth has been a conscious giving back to the community. For Kuumbwa, they regularly sponsor concerts; support jazz education for local youth through Jazz Camp and the High School Honors Band; and since its inauguration in 2002, have been a key supporter of Kuumbwa’s Wine Tasting/Jazz Auction, featuring generous wine offerings from Erik’s private collection, including a hosted dinner at their residence as one of the auction offerings. “It’s a fun way to do a fundraiser,” says Erik, “and it’s been very successful.”
Erik Johnson had been working in real estate after moving to the Santa Cruz area in 1971, but he really wanted to run his own business. With help from his family, and Judy, he opened the first Erik’s DeliCafe in late 1973. The beginnings of the business also marked the start of Erik and Judy’s relationship. Married since 1978, they have a son, Brian, 30, and a daughter, Katie, 26. “When they were young, we took our children to Kuumbwa,” says Judy, who believes it’s important to expose young people to jazz, especially if jazz is to attract new audiences. She and Erik enjoy a wide variety of music, but she credits her father for her love of jazz. Her brother Don – himself an avid jazz fan, and a good friend of Erik’s since high school – introduced them to Kuumbwa in the early ’80s. Soon after, they became members of Kuumbwa Jazz.
By the early ’90s, the Johnsons were sponsoring Kuumbwa concerts through Erik’s DeliCafe. To date, they’ve sponsored 19 artists over the past two decades, including such greats as Mose Allison, Michael Brecker, Betty Carter, Joshua Redman, and Toots Thielemanns. “It’s amazing that we live 5 minutes away from this ‘jewel’ in the community that has these great musicians every week,” says Erik. “And the staff, Tim Jackson, Bobbi Todaro, Cheryl Simons, Chris Tomkins, and everyone, have been just great. I don’t know where else in this area you can go and have great food and great music. It really says something about a place that has so many long-time volunteers.” Asked to pick a favorite concert Erik laughs, “It’s impossible to pick a favorite concert, because every time we go we say, ‘that’s the best concert we’ve ever seen!’” Judy agrees, but admits she does favor the saxophonists, and sums up her thoughts about Kuumbwa this way: “I know it’s been said before, but the intimacy of the space is so special. To be able to hear these amazing musicians, up close, in such a small venue – it’s the kind of experience that warms your heart and soothes your soul.” –Kurt Brinkmeyer
