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Benny Green_web

Benny Green – Solo

October 20

Riley Mulherkar2

Riley Mulherkar

October 23

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Hristo Vitchev & Jivko Petrov_web

Hristo Vitchev &
Jivko Petrov

October 24

Rachael & Vilray

Rachael & Vilray
at the Rio Theatre

October 25

Upcoming Events

View All Events

Kuumbwa Jazz Presents

Benny Green – Solo

Monday, October 20 @ 7:00 PM

Kuumbwa Jazz Presents

Riley Mulherkar

Thursday, October 23 @ 7:00 PM

Kuumbwa Jazz Presents

Hristo Vitchev & Jivko Petrov

Friday, October 24 @ 7:00 PM

Kuumbwa Jazz Presents

Rachael & Vilray at the Rio Theatre

Saturday, October 25 @ 7:30 PM

Kuumbwa Jazz Presents

Simon Moullier Quartet

Thursday, October 30 @ 7:00 PM

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn - 25th Anniversary Celebration with Adam Scott, Boots Riley, Glynn Washington, The Mermen and Scott Simpson

Saturday, November 1 @ 8:00 PM

@kuumbwajazz

🌬️ From 'Komorebi' (sunlight filtering throug

🌬️ From 'Komorebi' (sunlight filtering through the trees) to 'Petrichor' (the smell of the earth after rain), we all learned a thing or two about the elements from @artemisjazz . Thank you for an incredible show! 🍂

📸 Divya Lih Ramesh @_torchginger

#kuumbwajazz #artemisjazz

🎶 Three-time JUNO award-winning vocalist @caity

🎶 Three-time JUNO award-winning vocalist @caitygyorgy promises a swinging show, performing songs off her latest album, 'Asking For Trouble.' Don't miss this Kuumbwa debut!

🎟️ Tickets available at the link in our bio!

🌃 Our thanks to Boyd Brown & Helene Milner for sponsoring this evening.

#kuumbwajazz #caitygyorgy #jazz #santacruz #livemusic #santacruzmusic

For this year’s Ellington Awards we reflected ba

For this year’s Ellington Awards we reflected back on our 50 year history and presented the recognition to the Kuumbwa Jazz Co-Founders: Sheba Burney, Tim Jackson, and Rich Wills, as well as formative staff member Peter Davenport.

It was also a joy to welcome former Executive Director Bobbi Todaro back to our stage to present the award to Tim.

A memorable and moving moment, acknowledging the passion and determination that shaped Kuumbwa’s formation and earliest years.

On to the next 50 years we go!

📷: Paul Schraub

🌃 All the way from the East Coast, @rachaelandv

🌃 All the way from the East Coast, @rachaelandvilray are headed 'West of Broadway' to Santa Cruz's @riotheatresantacruz on October 25!

🎶💓 Join us for a night of witty, off-beat tales of love and heartache featuring Lake Street Dive vocalist Rachael Price.

🎟️ Tickets available at the link in our bio!

#kuumbwajazz #riotheatre #rachaelandvilray #rachaelprice #vilray #santacruz #santacruzmusic

💫 Celebrating the innovative guitarist's 73rd y

💫 Celebrating the innovative guitarist's 73rd year, join John Scofield's (@oldmansco) Combo 73 – featuring @geraldclayton on piano, @vicentearcher on bass, and Bill Stewart on drums – for a night of new and swinging tunes!

🎟️ Tickets for both 7PM & 9PM shows at the link in our bio!

🌃 Our thanks to Joseph Denicola for sponsoring this evening.

#kuumbwajazz #johnscofield #geraldclayton #vicentearcher #billstewart #jazz #santacruz #santacruzmusic

"As a singer/songwriter working at the cusp of jaz

"As a singer/songwriter working at the cusp of jazz, Appalachian folk and indie rock, Becca Stevens has always drawn on a deep reservoir of emotion to fuel her music." - @mercnews

🌟 Don't miss @beccastevensbsb genre-defying West Coast tour, making a stop at Kuumbwa Jazz!

🎟️ Get your tickets to see her this Thursday, through the link in our bio!

#kuumbwajazz #livemusic #santacruz #santacruzmusic

You don’t want to miss rising star @jeonglimyang

You don’t want to miss rising star @jeonglimyangzzzz with her Zodiac Trio – celebrating Mary Lou Williams’ “Zodiac Suite” – coming October 15th to Kuumbwa!

Check out her feature in this week’s @goodtimessc’ Things To Do, and purchase your tickets via the links in our bio! ⭐️

#kuumbwajazz #livemusic #santacruz #santacruzmusic

🎉 Had the best time at our 50th anniversary gal

🎉 Had the best time at our 50th anniversary gala fundraiser last month, supporting Kuumbwa’s year-round music education and concert programming.

Huge thanks to @davidkinch for curating an amazing culinary experience, featuring Chefs from @thebywaterca, @manresabread, @mentoneca, @auberginecarmel, @blvdsf, @lapostarestaurantsc, @eathookandline, @mutarichocolate, as well as Café Kuumbwa’s own Cheryl Simons. Thank you so much, Chefs!

🍷 And we can’t forget the wines, courtesy of @minerfamilywinery and the private cellar of Erik and Judy Johnson.

🎶 Plus, live music from @jazzmafiamusic.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this special anniversary!

📷: Paul Schraub

📻 Who’s playing this month at Kuumbwa? Check

📻 Who’s playing this month at Kuumbwa? Check out our Spotify Playlist featuring Kuumbwa’s October Lineup! 🎶

Link in bio ✨

Track playing: Oriental Folk Song by @simonmoullier

Start your day on the right note with @rachaelandv

Start your day on the right note with @rachaelandvilray’s new live version of “Love Comes Around”...and grab your tickets for their October 25 show at the @riotheatresantacruz!

🎟️ link in bio

#kuumbwajazz #rachaelandvilray #riotheatre #livemusic #santacruz

Can’t wait to welcome the Molly Miller Trio back

Can’t wait to welcome the Molly Miller Trio back to Santa Cruz this Thursday…an encore performance following her blazing 2024 show!

Don’t miss this night of ‘Americana jazz’ tinged with folk and surf rock vibes.

Ticket link in bio 🎟️

📸: @r._r._jones_photography

#kuumbwajazz #mollymiller #jazz #americana #guitar #santacruz #santacruzmusic #livemusic #folk #surfrock

✨ What a joy to have experienced the Mike Clark

✨ What a joy to have experienced the Mike Clark Quintet, featuring @mikeclarkdrums , @patrice.rushen , @essiet.essiet , @craighandy and Eddie Henderson.

📸: Divya Lih Ramesh @_torchginger

“Madeleine Peyroux’s voice is one that transpo

“Madeleine Peyroux’s voice is one that transports” - Billboard

NOW ON SALE: @madeleinepeyroux at the @riotheatresantacruz | March 4, 2026

🎟️ link in bio

#kuumbwajazz #madeleinepeyroux #riotheatre #livemusic #santacruz

Tonight’s the night! Musical polymath and tech p

Tonight’s the night! Musical polymath and tech pioneer Jaron Lanier presents ‘Music & the Future of Humanity’ – a FREE Master Class featuring Free Waves, Harper Simon, Haruka Fujii, and members of the Santa Cruz Symphony.

Join us in-person or stream it! Link in bio for more info.

Our thanks to @ucscthi for co-sponsoring the evening.

@simonmoullier is a preeminent vibraphonist of his

@simonmoullier is a preeminent vibraphonist of his generation and will make his Kuumbwa debut on October 30. See you there!

🎟️ link in bio

#kuumbwajazz #simonmoullier #vibraphone #jazz #livemusic #santacruz

🎺🎻🪩 ¡Viva el Mariachi! @mariachiherenci

🎺🎻🪩 ¡Viva el Mariachi!

@mariachiherenciamex brought their heart and soul to @riotheatresantacruz!

📸: Divya Lih Ramesh @_torchginger

Guitarist @hristovitchev and pianist @jivko_petrov

Guitarist @hristovitchev and pianist @jivko_petrov are an innovative duo, weaving a multi-hued tapestry of musical influences.

Don’t miss their visit to the Kuumbwa stage on October 24.

🎟️ link in bio

#kuumbwajazz #hristovitchev #jivkopetrov #jazz #santacruz #livemusic

You may know him through NPR as one of America’s

You may know him through NPR as one of America’s most recognized and beloved storytellers…but did you also know that @arishapiro is a vocalist and song interpreter par excellence?

Join us on November 7 for ‘Thank You For Listening’ – a cabaret evening of songs and stories adapted from his best-selling memoir, ‘The Best Strangers in the World.’

🎟️ link in bio

#kuumbwajazz #arishapiro #cabaret #livemusic #santacruz

“Jeong Lim Yang makes the liminal space between

“Jeong Lim Yang makes the liminal space between avant jazz and chamber music her own” - The Wire

⭐ Rising star bassist @jeonglimyangzzzz and her Zodiac Trio celebrate Mary Lou Williams’ landmark ‘Zodiac Suite’ at Kuumbwa on October 15.

🎟️ link in bio

#kuumbwajazz #jeonglimyang #jazz #bass #marylouwilliams #santacruz #livemusic

🐉 NOW ON SALE: @josejamesmusic Presents 1978: R

🐉 NOW ON SALE: @josejamesmusic Presents 1978: Revenge of the Dragon | March 26, 2026

Join us for the latest project from this fearless, genre-defying musical shapeshifter.

Link in bio for 🎟️

#kuumbwajazz #josejames #santacruz #livemusic

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