Kuumbwa Jazz Center

 

41

249

Jen W.

CA

I love this venue, very small, great acoustics, love the audience.  I drive from Alameda to see people perform here.

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Elite '08

20

119

Patricia D.

San Francisco, CA

Immediate props to any place where the person working the door lets me pay $5 for a show that started two-hours prior and was actually $25.  I rolled up to Kuumbwa around 9pm for the Ignacio Berroa Quartet show and caught about a half-hour's worth of latin-infused jazz before the musicians fairly called it a night.  I'd agree that intimate is the best descriptor for the space, although I can't speak for the drinks or pretty much anything else because of my rather slapdash experience here.

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Elite '08

39

241

Melissa S.

San Francisco, CA

Very good vibes in this smallish Santa Cruz Jazz house.  The food and drink selection is good and almost every seat in the house is a great seat - unless you've opted to stand at the back and dance.  Seating in front and standing in the back offers the best of both worlds.  

I opted to see a show here that was coming to SF the night after because Santa Cruz is fun and I don't get down there often enough.  However, for jazz in particular, I think the musicians must prefer to come up to the Fillmore area in SF because it's historically more significant for the genre.  I had a great time, but I felt like just a lil bit o' sizzle was missing that we might have had in the city.

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Elite '08

282

134

Justin C.

San Francisco, CA

I really wanted to give this place five stars, but I couldn't do it.

I really wanted to equate Kuumbwa to my favorite jazz clubs around the world, but I just couldn't.

Brian H.'s review reflects my experience, although I would argue that its "funky independent Santa Cruz spirit" is one of it's weaknesses.

When you have great Bay Area jazz venues like Yoshi's and Jazz at Pearl's in more diverse cosmopolitan areas, what's the point of driving down the coast to Santa Cruz?

Around the world, jazz venues like Ronnie Scott's (London), Duc des Lombards and Le Petit Journal (Paris), and The Blue Note (New York City) deserve five stars.

Kuumbwa is great by Santa Cruz standards, but in comparison with the truly great jazz venues, it falls short in terms of decor, service, sound, and patronage.

All that being said, if you can focus on the music and distract yourself from the mediocre granola-crunchy Santa-Cruzy food, the far-too-laid-back service, and the slightly-above-average sound system, then you can definitely have a good time at Kuumbwa.

The club does get some A-list talent from time to time, usually preceding or following the talented artists' show dates at Yoshi's.

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Elite '08

12

130

mike b.

Newcastle, WA

Key point to remember--this is Santa Cruz, not the City!!
So yeah, the vibe is gonna be a little bare-bones, laid-back, and granola.
The focus here is on the perfomers, not the decor.
All in all, Kuumbwa does a nice job of fitting alot into a very small space.  Yeah, the seating is a bit tight, but you can always get up and stand by the bar in the back and you're still what, a whole 20 feet from the stage?  I really can't imagine a more intimate space to see jazz greats, and many of them do make it thru here.
Agreed, if I lived in SF, why drive down to SC to see a show, but if you live on the Bay, this is the spot for jazz.  Combine your night with a nearby restaurant and/or have a drink afterwards at the Poet, and life is good.
Show up early for dinner if you like and to ensure good seating.
The second show is usually a little less crowded.
If you see the 1st show and the 2nd show is not sold out, they'll ususually let you back in to see the 2nd show for free (you have to wait outside though).
Membership (sponsor) brings nice rewards of free tickets and priority tickets.

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Elite '08

21

69

Lisa Ann P.

Santa Cruz, CA

My son and I had the chance to see Charlie Hunter a short while back at the Kuumbwa, what an incredible talent he is! The Kuumbwa offers a small setting that makes every seat in the house a great vantage point to enjoy a live performance.  They offer drinks and menu items as well.  It is a bit cramped for space but there is standing room in the back, and I think  to be able to be that close to the stage is a rare treat. You just can't  beat seeing someone perform live!  The parking is hit and miss as parking downtown is always at a premium to find a close spot. We had to park pretty far up the street and when it was over had the misfortune to be parked where upon our departure lo and behold a fire truck was doing a rescue at a near by restaurant (unfortunate for whoever was in distress, I am sure they were glad the paramedics etc... were there) and it chose to park blocking my car, much to my bladders distress! I should  have had one less drink!  But for a small intimate venue for some great live Jazz this is the place to go!

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1

47

sara p.

Berkeley, CA

I saw Utah Phillips and Rosalie Sorrels here!

And I vowed to come back and see more music thereafter, and never got a chance to.

What a fabulous setting for music.  Cozy, convivial, and everyone's drinking their coffee and noshing on edibles...

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Elite '08

34

152

Brian H.

San Francisco, CA

What's not to love about this place? They consistently book top jazz artists, the sound is great, the space is nice and intimate, the food is good (if a little inconsistent), the beer and wine selection is exceptional, and the staff is friendly. Great place to see amazing music in a cozy atmosphere, imbued with funky independent Santa Cruz spirit.

As noted, the food is somewhat inconsistent depending on who's cooking. I've always found it decent but unexceptional. I would generally prefer to eat elsewhere before the show, but if you want to get there early to secure a good seat (as is advisable if a big name act is playing here), the food here is a fine option.

Only real drawbacks here are long lines for the two toilets and lack of a dance floor.

The Poet and Patriot off of the same parking lot is a great place to grab a beer and play some darts before or after a show.

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2

34

Jen A.

Santa Cruz, CA

There isn't much to not love about The Kuumbwa.  I would always go here for a show.  The only thing I miss is when they have a danceable act they provide no dance floor.  Maybe that is just the shows I've been to but I don't know.  Still gets 5 stars.

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8

22

Steph C.

Oakland, CA

Really intimate venue that books awesome performers. I saw the Brad Mehldau Trio here and fell in love.

And it's right next to the Poet and the Patriot. So convenient.

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0

30

D G.

Santa Cruz, CA

Four stars for the consistent quality and variety of artists ranging from Matthew Shipp to Smog and Sir Richard Bishop.  The acoustics are a little bit slushy but generally ok.  Decent wine selection and the usual beers, they also serve food (have not tried it, though).  Ticket price seems to be 15-20usd for most shows.

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Elite '08

12

145

Greycella L.

Brattleboro, VT

I'm glad Santa Cruz has a proper jazz venue downtown, but the shows I've seen here have been a little lackluster. I feel like I can make a decent comparison because I've seen the same acts elsewhere, and there is something a little too formal about the set up here that seems to keep the artists noticeably reserved. Definite older crowd whenever I've gone, all staying in the seats and definitely no dancing. For such a small space it doesn't do anything to convey the warmth and coziness and intimacy that makes the great jazz halls and clubs truly shine. Too much like an school auditorium.

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159

702

Mysterious Q.

San Francisco, CA

The best jazz club outside of NYC, they only have room for about 200 persons, including standing room!  The crowd here is open to anything and musicians tend to take things further out than they do when they play larger venues like Yoshi's.  The space is odd: there are a couple of rows of chairs with cabaret tables up front, but all the other seats are crammed together, which is why I find standing at the little bar in the back is sometimes the best.  The atmosphere is a club crossed with a recital hall.  Because it is so packed and there is no air conditioning besides some ceiling fans, things can get pretty hot in here--wear layers and a short-sleeve shirt.

Don't be afraid to scream and yell if the spirit moves you...this is Santa Cruz, so leave your jaded, urbane, been-there-done-that attitude in the big city.  The Kuumbwa is the only jazz club where I've actually seen the performer (Pharoah Sanders) yell back at the crowd.

You can buy a booklet of four Jazztix at Logos Books for a discounted price--the best live music bargain on the planet.

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9

12

jeff r.

Santa Cruz, CA

A great venue, a lot of really good bands come here.  I've seen some great shows here like Charlie Hunter (always gets too packed), Bill Frisell (come back Bill), and Fully Loaded (all star band with Will Bernard and Scofield). The food can be a wait if its crowded, but the chili is the best I've had in the county; fresh and hearty, just the right amount of sizzling spiciness, and subtle undertones of a multitude of flavors. The other dishes I've tried have been mediocre and expensive.  Check out some local wine and beer if you are ever here.  Also, there has lately been blow-your-mind incredible artwork for sale on the walls.

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19

107

Becca R.

Felton, CA

Awesome place to go see Jazz!! Small and intimate.

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