First time here and I would recommend it. We saw Catherine Russell and hope to see her perform in NY one of these days. To be able to see this caliber of jazz singer in an intimate setting for the price of the ticket - a bonus. You just can't beat it. Yes Kuumbwa might need a little polishing but then they would no doubt have to raise ticket prices. There is no drink minimum either and the seating was open. I didn't know what to expect so had dinner some place else. Once I got there realized that dinner would have been do able. They have a few rows of seats up front with a place to have dinner. You place your order in the back. The staff comes by and picks up the plates when finished. Some of the dishes smelled good as they went by. They also have dessert if you don't want a full dinner. It looked good too but didn't try it. Everyone was nice. Ms. Russell 's performance was stellar. I would love to live in that neighborhood. "Kuumbwa" (pronounced koo-um-ba) means "act of spontaneous creation,"
Review Source:What a treat for Santa Cruz to have such a amazing Jazz Center. There are countless times I have seen Legends on stage in such a small intimate setting.
Please Please Please find another beer to have on tap since Seabright Brewery really is not good beer. There are many other fine quality breweries in Santa Cruz that you serve. Santa Cruz Mtn, Ale Works, Uncommon etc....
The Kuumbwa is a jazz club where the musicians themselves request to play.
This small (200 seat) club is a listening club set up like a tiny auditorium with not a bad seat in the house and perfect acoustics. Kuumbwa is a NON-PROFIT which makes it unique. It rely s on memberships, sponsors, and door charges, but the bottom end goal is not company profits, but membership benefits: Bringing nationally-known jazz acts to the small town of Santa Cruz for the lowest possible price. Their big name acts are usually booked on a Monday night so this little club can "tag" onto the San Francisco and Oakland large venues that the bands have played that previous weekend. Because the audience is there strictly for listening there is no chatter or brew-ha-has going on while the show is in force. The club does serve dinner prior to the show, and serves locally made beers and wines from the Santa Cruz Mountain Wine appellation.
Google-up the Kuumbwa Jazz Club for their schedule. It's like having the best known jazz acts in the country appear in your living room.
Paul Cummins
Santa Cruz, California
I have been only twice now but will return in the near future. This is a very intimate place to watch and listen to great musicians. I saw Tia Fuller do a fantastic show and then returned to see Arturo Sandoval. When I saw an online photo of the venue it looked pretty hokey but it is quite nice in person with an actual audience in attendance. It is very low key like everything in Santa Cruz and everyone there is quite friendly. I really should have gone here long ago but now I know what a great place this is. The sound is quite nice and you can meet the artists either before or after the show. My wife got Arturo's autograph. They serve pretty good food but, I go for the jazz. Love the jazz!!!! Lot's of wine drinkers in attendance but I had beer.
Review Source:This place was awesome! Got to see Over the Rhine here and had nice front row seats. The venue is small and intimate. Big people will - I'm not gonna lie - will NOT fit in the seats.
The sound was awesome. The art pieces on the walls made me envious - I want them!
I wouldn't hesitate to come back!!
As members, my husband and I adore escaping to the Kuumbwa on Monday nights for the best jazz in the Bay Area. We have had the privilege of being part of the audience here for 21 years. Get the always freshly made and delicious vegetarian chili with salad, cornbread, and chips. A deal at $10. Add a glass of local Santa Cruz Mountains wine or a pint of local brew, and you are in Heaven by the sea. The Kuumbwa Jazz Club has been in operation in Santa Cruz for 37 years, but feels like a well-kept secret and still going strong. It's a real treasure. Not one bad seat in the house, and the music is always world class.
Review Source:This place is tucked away and very unassuming, but I've been a few times and always have great experiences! The sound quality is really good and you get to sit super close to the stage, there's really not a bad seat in the house. Snacks and drinks are also available. There's some weird art on the walls that's kind of fun. Overall, the ambiance won't necessarily wow you, but there's some effort in creating atmosphere (dim, blue/black colors, etc.) Plus, if the show is good, that's worth a lot more. I'll keep coming back.
Review Source:This review is a little overdue, but I am the General Manager at Hoffman's downtown and listen to Jazz almost every night at our place. Â But, we came in late January for the Gretchen Parlato show and it was amazing. Â I know it had something to do with how amazing she is, but the sound quality was really amazing and we all had a really great time! Â Thank you so much! Can't wait to be back!
Review Source:Such a great little venue, tucked away in SC! Â I'm not a huge jazz aficionado, but I'm married to one, and it's incredible how many big names we've seen roll through here on a Monday night after a weekend gig up in the city. Â And the prices are incredible! Â My brother-in-law (who's a professional jazz pianist) just shakes his head when we tell him who we've seen and how cheap the tickets are! Â And the place is tiny, so even if you've got a "bad" seat, you're still within winking distance from the stage. Â Plus, if you show up early to get good seats, they also serve delicious food to keep you happy during your wait for the show. Â And, if you're a member, they'll reserve even better seats for you. Â And being a member? Â You're donating to a non-profit that supports music education in the local community. Â Pretty great, huh?
Review Source:Nice venue for music. Not too big or too small. The sound is great. I saw some excellent jazz here recently and the $15 was well spent! Be warned, though-- the bar is wine and beer only, and the food options for dinner seemed kind of limited. All in all, I would recommend searching out this hidden gem.
Review Source:************************** 522 ****************************
    Sorry Yelpers, I haven't been yelping much due to my doc advised and also I've been busy traveling, and met someone really cute! There's the truth came out!
     Came here with a hawt date and I checked in on Yelp with a quick tip. My stupid iPhone auto-correct was too fast for me; it said: a "hawthorn date", yup! Ok enough for the dating part. If I can even remember the jazz club name Kuumbwa is a small and intimate club. They have special guests all the times, according to my date.
    It was my first time here, so I was anxious to see what it's all about. The doorman with the handsome bright blue eyes, welcomed us in. We got "regular seats" as he mentioned (so my date must have taken many chic here before me HAHA). The vibe was awesome. The music was rocking. The drink was drinkable. The seat was OK, I wonder if you are bigger 200 bls how can you fit on this chair?
    Majority of people here were older and super friendly. Maybe too friendly especially at the unisex washroom line! Eekkkkkkkk! An older man came out & pointed a finger at me, talked to his friend in-line in front of me: "is it your new wife?" HAHA funny, I replied: "He can't afford me!" We laughed, hope he washed his hand! Because he tabbed on my shoulder to apologize in a friendly way!
     The gorgeous middle age singer sang some male-bashing or shall I say women empowerment songs! I loved it. I couldn't stop rocking my seat, but not as bad as other men in room, awkward! Wish I could get up and dance, but there was no dance floor!
    I love this jazz club and the vibe of it. I'm glad I got to check it out on a special night.
I recently headed to Santa Cruz from San Francisco with two friends to see our favorite jazz artist, Sony Holland, perform at Kuumbwa. Â It's always a beautiful drive along the coast so I was delighted to experience this venue for the first time. Â Granted, we had a little trouble finding it, hidden away a bit as it was but it's a gem. Â There isn't a bad seat in the house and the acoustics are incredible. Â Sony's husband, Jerry, accompanied her on the guitar and every note he played could be heard beautifully. Â It was just amazing. Â
There was an excellent wine selection and there were desserts offered for sale - I did have wine but nothing to eat. Â
My only complaint was that it got a little chilly inside. Â It was one of the coldest evenings of the year though the predicted snowfall never materialized!
Went here for a show in college (jazz appreciation class). It ended up being much more entertaining than I had expected. It was an Irish jazz and fiddle duo.
The venue is so intimate. The chairs are kind of uncomfortable because they are not movie theatre type chairs - you can't recline.
I wish I had more money when I lived down south, I totally would have gone here again!
It had been a little over fifteen years since I had been in Santa Cruz and never have I been to the Kuumbwa Jazz center. Â I made a special trip down to see my friends the Sony Holland duo perform. Â I was pleasantly surprised when I walked into the jazz center to find a very spacious yet intimate venue.
It was colorful, stylish and with great sound. Â The one man sound and lighting crew did a great job. Â
Since I was taking care of the CD table/sales for the duo, I sat in the very back of the room yet was still able to see the stage very well and even get some good photos. Â The seats are situated for optimum viewing.
It's a beer and wine only venue which was fine with me and everyone else who attended this concert. Â They also serve food though I had eaten beforehand.
Situated right in the heart of downtown Santa Cruz, it is close to anything and everything. Â I would rank it right up there with some of the top notch venues around the Bay Area.
I really enjoyed this spot and hope to go back again soon. Â Santa Cruz is such a laid back fun town that I look forward to any opportunity to go back there and enjoy some good music.
Great venue to see international and local jazz acts; its easily one of my favorite intimate venues. Â Where else can you chat up Stanley Clarke before a show or have Allan Holdsworth get lost and walk past you looking for the stage? Â The atmosphere is wonderful, the staff are great and the food is yummy. Â I only wish they had a better vegetarian offering, but c'est la Vie!
Review Source:this was really a great place um for a safe area it was a gem to have in sc . they have a open door policy for dj'ing and international workers put in lots of effort there. It used to be mostly L.A.. music but has since changed to Singapore rave rythems which is popular in Berkeley . Very difficult trans dj'ing to find.
Review Source:Feels a little like a small jazz club in New Orleans!
Drove up from LA to see my first show at Kuumbwa (to see New Orleans musician John Cleary) and I would definitely go back! Â The venue is very intimate and comfortable, and despite a very jazz-afficianado crowd, both the patrons and employees were very warm and inclusive. Â Acoustics were impeccable; I can't imagine that there's a bad seat in the house. Â (For those of you who've been, it's got a "Snug Harbor" feeling about it.)
Definitely looking forward to going back! (God, I wish there was something like this in LA...)
Went with a friend to a Planned Parenthood(R) Mar Monte benefit which included performances from a stand-up comic, multiple guitar+ vocals ensembles, a beatbox cello player, as well as a salsa dance troupe. The director of the local Planned Parenthood office also lent her musical talents. Most of the musical acts seemed to center around folk music, although one singer did perform totally within the gospel/Motown genre. She happened to be my favorite performer of the evening.
A very warm, intimate space, which seemed to have had good acoustical treatment, at least from my spot closer to the right front of the stage, i.e., no hot spots I could detect. They also had a bar in the back--concert goers were able to get glasses of wine or beers. Some of the rows of seats had little tables in front of them for a convenient place to stash libations.
So for a different night out, check out events at Kuumbwa. You might even grab some entertainment that could help out a local area organization.
This is definitely my favorite venue in Santa Cruz. I'm tired of the beer and piss smell at Catalyst. Kuumbwa is always clean and has a great stage. Seating is smaller than some but they always have great shows and you can always see from wherever you sit. So far all of the people that work there that I've met have been friendly and approachable.
They've got some great jazz shows here. When I worked at the Bagelry a couple years ago, I used to open up the doors (they share a wall and the bathrooms) and listen to jazz while I was cleaning. They had everything from rock to jazz to latin jazz and back. The most recent show I saw was a Beatles cover band which was fantastic.
The service is always great there. they have good beer on tap as well as plenty of bottles, I haven't tried the food but it looks tasty as well. All in all, it's a really solid joint to have a fun time at.
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. Â 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. Â 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.
Review Source:Very good vibes in this smallish Santa Cruz Jazz house. Â 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. Â Seating in front and standing in the back offers the best of both worlds. Â
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. Â 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. Â 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.
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!
Review Source: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. Â 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? Â 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. Â 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.
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.
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.
A great venue, a lot of really good bands come here. Â 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. Â Check out some local wine and beer if you are ever here. Â Also, there has lately been blow-your-mind incredible artwork for sale on the walls.
Review Source: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.
Review Source:
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