Kurt Ribak 

(pronounced REE-bok, like the shoes)

gigs and other stuff

Kurt playing
                bass
photo by Lincoln Adler / Groove Tonic Media

site map page      press kit page  home page

Kurt Ribak Trio - debut CD cover Kurt Ribak Trio "more" CD cover Kurt Ribak Trio -
                "gone" CD cover I Got One More! cover"onward"
              record cover
RECORDINGS - We have five recordings. 
Our records are played on KCSM-FM, San Diego's Jazz 88, PRI's "Jazz After Hours" (syndicated on 70 stations), KPFA, KZFR, KKUP, KZSC, KRCB,  soulandjazz.com's "The Creative Source" and more.


The newest record, "onward" features Greg Sankovich, Ross Wilson, Lincoln Adler, Russ Gold, Alan Hall, Michaelle Goerlitz, Myles Boisen, and Kurt
It's our best record yet.  It was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley by Adam Muñoz and produced by Greg, Lincoln, and Kurt.


Purchase: You can buy Kurt Ribak's CDs, downloads, etc. online at, on iTunes and all the other usual online sources, at The Groove Yard in Oakland at 5555 Claremont in Oakland, at Bird & Beckett Books & Records, 653 Chenery St., San Francisco, at Down Home Music,
10341 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA.

Streaming: You can also stream us on Spotify, Qobuz and Pandora, as well as other sources.


Gigs

I think outdoor house concerts - and concerts presented or underwritten by nonprofits, such as Bay Area Jazzmobile and Jazz In the Neighborhood -  as well as Freight & Salvage and SFJAZZ are going to be the way forward for some time, especially for jazz and other music with limited commercial appeal. 

If you want to hire my band for a house concert - or are a nonprofit interested in presenting or underwriting jazz performances, please contact me.








My friend and colleague Randy Odell needs help.

Photo of Randy

I've played with Randy for over 30 years.  He's a favorite drummer of mine, and one of my favorite people. Here's what's happening, in Randy's own words:

I've had a very swollen knee and ever increasing pain for a couple of weeks, and now can barely walk with a cane.  I’m pretty much bedridden.  I made it to an urgent care clinic and it’s severe Osteoarthritis, bone on bone.  I'm exploring my options, which include knee replacement.  Yikes.
I've had to sub out all my gigs for now and don't really know when I'll be able to play drums again.  But I will.

Meanwhile, if of interest:

George Cole - The Great American Songbook and Originals in the Classic Vein
Tuesday, May 30
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Rendez Vous Cafe
http://www.rendezvouscafealbany.com
1111 Solano Ave, Albany, CA 94706
Rendez-Vous






                                                          Cafe Bistro
                                                          Albany
Before the pandemic, I played Tuesday nights with singer/guitarist/bandleader George Cole at the Rendez-Vous Cafe.  It's a French bistro, owned by chef Laurent.  The gig has been a great chance to keep the band sharp, have people sit in, etc.

Come on down!  It's a sweet little place, and this is our return to the Rendez-vous.  I'm so glad this place survived the pandemic.


Kurt Ribak Trio - Original Jazz
Sat., June 3  4 PM - 7 PM
Sailing Goat Restaurant

https://www.sailinggoatrestaurant.com
1900 Stenmark Drive, Richmond, CA 94801
All ages

Sailing Goat is a new restaurant where Black Star Pirate BBQ was, over by Point San Pablo Yacht Club.
If you haven't already been here, the location is pretty obscure - go here for directions.
Note, there are no reservations.  All dining is outdoors, so pay attention to the weather.  It's my first gig here, and I'll be here with saxophonist Lincoln Adler and guitarist Robin Lewis



George Cole - The Great American Songbook and Originals in the Classic Vein
Tuesday, June 13
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Rendez Vous Cafe
http://www.rendezvouscafealbany.com
1111 Solano Ave, Albany, CA 94706

Rendez-Vous





                                                          Cafe Bistro
                                                          Albany
Before the pandemic, I played Tuesday nights with singer/guitarist/bandleader George Cole at the Rendez-Vous Cafe.  It's a French bistro, owned by chef Laurent.  The gig has been a great chance to keep the band sharp, have people sit in, etc.

Come on down!  It's a sweet little place, and this is our return to the Rendez-vous.  I'm so glad this place survived the pandemic.


Kurt Ribak  - Original Jazz

Friday, June 16, 7 PM to 9 PM

Roxx on Main - California Cuisine - OUTDOOR SHOW
https://www.roxxonmain.com
627 Main Street, Martinez, CA 94553
all ages

Picture of Sign with "Kurt Ribak Trio" on it

My band returns to Roxx on Main in Martinez.  We'll be OUTDOOR for this show, as it's still cold in Martinez.   The restaurant was recently featured on the KQED-TV show "Check, Please."  The food, California Cuisine, is exceptional -   Go here for a YouTube link to the episode featuring Roxx - the episode features three worthy restaurants, but the segment about Roxx on Main starts at 14:27.

Executive Chef Lesley Stiles and Chef de Cuisine Tony Lauro consistently create outstanding food.  I've repeatedly come on my own time and dime to eat here and cheer on other bands.

The restaurant serves food until 9 PM and there is a full bar.  Make reservations OUTside - ask to be near the band - Roxx is a popular place.  This month, as with last month, the band will be me (Kurt) on bass and vocals, Lincoln Adler on sax, Carrie Jahde on drums, and Greg Sankovich on keyboards.

Downtown Martinez has become a center of live music, as this SFGATE story notes - https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/martinez-bay-area-live-music-concerts-16717883.php.  You may want to walk around and check out various other bands playing nearby - it's become quite the scene, with brewpubs, BBQ restaurants, etc.  

The town itself is worth exploring, dating back to Gold Rush days.  The downtown has many historic buildings, and the train station is worth checking out. 




Kurt Ribak Trio- jazz
Sunday, June 18, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Every Third Sunday
Chez Mansour
 - 
Mediterranean, Lebanese, Wine
Bar
1369 Solano Ave, Albany, CA 94706

Chez Mansour at night

Bassist Kurt Ribak leads a trio playing a mix of the Great American Songbook, my tunes, and maybe a little other stuff too.
Chez Mansour is a cozy family-run restaurant and wine bar with excellent Lebanese food. I played here for a couple of years with George Cole. You may also remember the location as the former site of Britt-Marie, if you've been in the area a while.

There is no cover and minors are welcome.




George Cole - The Great American Songbook and Originals in the Classic Vein
Tuesday, June 27
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Rendez Vous Cafe
http://www.rendezvouscafealbany.com
1111 Solano Ave, Albany, CA 94706

Rendez-Vous






                                                          Cafe Bistro
                                                          Albany
Before the pandemic, I played Tuesday nights with singer/guitarist/bandleader George Cole at the Rendez-Vous Cafe.  It's a French bistro, owned by chef Laurent.  The gig has been a great chance to keep the band sharp, have people sit in, etc.

Come on down!  It's a sweet little place, and this is our return to the Rendez-vous.  I'm so glad this place survived the pandemic.


videos - we have a YouTube Channel

Haven't seen us before and want to see if it's your thing?   Or revisit some of our shows?  Check out our YouTube channel, or watch the selected videos below.  The YouTube Channel features a bunch of performances from our Freight & Salvage shows and a Yoshi's show. 

        

Curious what you missed last time at The Freight & Salvage?  Check out our YouTube channel.  It features a bunch of performances from our Freight & Salvage shows.

interviews of Kurt Ribak
These video interviews were made by Lincoln Adler - www.LincolnAdler.com. Lincoln plays with us often and is the saxophonist of Times 4, the jazz-funk group Greg Sankovich also plays in.




Kurt's ability to take you on a journey from the deepest waters of the Caribbean to the funky alleys of the urban jungle in one listening makes him a truly gifted original in my book." - Chris Cortez, KCSM FM announcer


PRESS

Links to two articles about the Vallejo show back in January 2020:

Fairfield Daily Republic article

Vallejo Times-Herald Article


SFJAZZ
Some nice press about us from SFJAZZ:


“Joyous,” “grooving,” “bluesy,” “sophisticated,” and “masterful” could all be accurately used to describe bassist and composer Kurt Ribak’s music, but perhaps an assessment is best left to the man himself, who calls his rollicking mix of bebop sophistication and body-moving grooves “Charles Mingus meets The Meters.” Ribak brings his superb working quartet, performing music from their most recent album Onward. 


BLOG

You can see my blog post at SFJAZZ about my injury and recovery here - https://www.sfjazz.org/onthecorner/kurt-ribak-interview/


STREAMING AUDIO

Just want to hear some audio of us?  We are on Spotify, and you can also hear us here.


Gig Mailing List

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