Our History
Since our founding in 1975, Kuumbwa Jazz has grown from humble beginnings to presenting over 130 concerts each year, and serving over 1,000 students annually. Kuumbwa (pronounced koo-um-baa) is a Swahili word meaning “act of spontaneous creativity,” and in that spirit we envision a community where all people can experience the joy of music, and understand the value and legacy of jazz as an original American art form
April 1975
The “First Annual Santa Cruz Jazz Festival” concert features saxophonist Joe Henderson as well as the local groups Eddie Gale Super Energy Ensemble, Evidence and the Hy-Tones. By year’s end the budget has reached $4,942.
June 1976 - February 1977
Nonprofit status is secured and Kuumbwa presents over a dozen concerts. Highlights include Dexter Gordon (backed by the Martha Young Trio) and the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine. A grant campaign is launched to find the money to open the long-dreamed-about concert space: the Kuumbwa Jazz Center.
February 1977 - May 1977
A 3,000 square foot space is found in the old Parisian Bakery at 320 Cedar Street. Rent is $450 per month and the building had only three walls, no door and giant holes in the floor. With donated materials and labor, the space is transformed in three months. 
May 25, 1977
Kuumbwa Jazz Center officially opens with three days of concerts by the Hy-Tones, Smith Dobson, the Martha Young Trio, and many other local groups.
June 1977 - 1978
Kuumbwa starts to find its presenting and educational rhythm and establishes the Monday night concert tradition, booking artists who have played the weekend in San Francisco. Notable concerts from this era include Phil Woods, Dave Liebman, Zakir Hussain, and David Grisman.
1980 - 1986
Kuumbwa continues to present jazz and educational programs all while developing an international reputation for artistic excellence and establishing ourselves as a major arts institution in Santa Cruz County. 
Artists presented in this time-period include McCoy Tyner, Bobby Hutcherson, Betty Carter, Henry Threadgill and hundreds more. Funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, the Packard Foundaton, the newly formed Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County, and the Santa Cruz City Arts Commission.
1987
The first big venue remodel: space is taken from the building next door and the stage is shifted 45 degrees from the original stage right. Funding from the Packard Foundation helps us buy a new Yamaha C7 grand piano, sound equipment, and chairs, increasing our seating capacity from 150 to 200 seats. The Cedar Walton Trio is our opening concert in the re-vamped venue with Cecil Taylor soon to follow…giving that new piano a serious initiation into jazz. 
1999 - 2000
Kuumbwa presents Diana Krall as its first concert at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.
2005
Kuumbwa produces two major Civic Auditorium concerts for the organization’s 30th Anniversary: Directions in Music with Herbie Hancock and the Pat Metheny Group. In June, the first Jazz on Film series is presented at the Del Mar Theater, showcasing jazz-based films. 
2008
Two new education programs are initiated: Artists in the Schools and the Artist-in-Residence. The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis is presented at the Civic Auditorium. 