Here they are, nine necessary know-abouts for the week ahead. It\u2019s the please-no-more-stuffing-and-mashed-potatoes B9:<\/p>\n \u27a4 Let no one claim that the Kuumbwa Jazz Center<\/strong> does not know how to celebrate its amazing heritage. The Kuumbwa has been marking its 50th year as one of California\u2019s greatest jazz spots all year long, and it\u2019s all set to culminate Saturday<\/a> evening with two huge back-to-back shows. Set to help Kuumbwa blow out its 50 candles will be many of the club\u2019s greatest friends over the years, including pianists Gerald Clayton<\/strong> and Billy<\/strong> Childs<\/strong>, sax man Joshua Redman<\/strong>, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire<\/strong>, flute player Elena<\/strong> Pinderhughes<\/strong>, bassist Reuben Rogers<\/strong> and drummer Gregory Hutchinson<\/strong>. You could call it the Kuumbwa dream team, some of the finest musicians alive coming together to mark what\u2019s been a remarkable journey for what started as a modest little jazz society back in the 1970s. Kuumbwa\u2019s story<\/a> has always been about the pursuit of the finest in jazz<\/a> for its audiences. And once the hubbub has died down from Saturday\u2019s celebration, and Kuumbwa goes dark for its annual end-of-year break, the club will pick up again in early 2026, poised for another storybook 50 years<\/a>. Consider this my standing-o for one of Santa Cruz\u2019s finest cultural treasures. Long may she wave.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/lookout.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/50th-Anniversary-Celebration.jpg?resize=780%2C388&ssl=1\")
![\"YouTube](\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/zZhFVdW7YJY\/hqdefault.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n