Kurt Ribak 

(pronounced REE-bok, like the shoes)

gigs and other stuff

Kurt playing bass
photo by Lincoln Adler / Groove Tonic Media

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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.



Kurt Ribak returns to SFJAZZ, January 2024!
Sunday, January 28.  Two shows, 6 PM and 7:30 PM
SFJAZZ logo


SFJAZZ - Jazz Concert Venue
http://www.sfjazz.org
Joe Henderson Lab
 201 Franklin St., San Francisco, CA

Kurt leads a band featuring championship fiddler Katie Glassman, guitarist/vocalist/fiddler Tony Marcus, and guitarist/lap steeler Myles Boisen
in a show featuring the overlap between Jazz and Country Music and its musicians.

What's Katie Glassman's playing like?  Check it out here: https://youtu.be/WI6SVcZ53hk?si=c5nHMnT2vFAjJvz-

Tickets available here: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/23-24/kurt-ribak-jazz-country



Wednesday, November 8, 4 PM to 7 PM - Note Early Hours
Mike Lipskin - Stride Piano
with Kamrin Ortiz, woodwinds and
Kurt Ribak, bass
Pier 23 Cafe
https://www.pier23cafe.com
Pier 23 on the Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA

This Wednesday I play with stride piano expert Mike Lipskin.  Stride piano is the style of piano developed by Fats Waller, Willie the Lion Smith, and James P. Johnson.  Mike actually learned directly from these pioneers.  Kamrin Ortiz is a rising young saxophonist and clarinetist.  I've played with him many times in Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums.  We'll be playing lots of classic jazz tunes.  Pier 23 is a fun place - it's right on the water and is an unpretentious place - come if you can, it should be a good time.


Final show at this venue
George Cole - The Great American Songbook, Originals in the Classic Vein, and Roma (Gypsy) Jazz
Tuesday, November 14
Final show at this venue
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
NOTE:  The Rendez-Vous has been SOLD.  I have heard the original chef has bought it.  I do not know what the future holds as far as whether our music - will continue to be there.  With the change of ownership, though, I expect the gig is over.  I *think* they will continue to serve French bistro food.

I wish chef/owner Laurent the best, as he has been great to deal with both as a musician and as a patron.  He plans to retire to France.

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.  I'll be on bass and Lincoln Adler will be on sax


Kurt Ribak - Original Jazz
Friday, November 17, 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 INDOORS for this show, as it's now cold out at night. 
I'll be on bass and vocals, Greg Sankovich is on keys, Lincoln Adler on sax.

The restaurant was 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 and ask to be near the band - Roxx is a popular place. 

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. 


Saturday, November 18, 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM
Jinx Jones Jazzabilly All-Stars - surf, country, rockabilly, and jazz
http://www.jinxjones.com
Speisekammer - German Restaurant
https://www.speisekammer.com
2424 Lincoln Ave., Alameda, CA
510-522-1300

Guitarslinger Jinx Jones plays and sings. I'll be thumping on Blondie, my upright Kay bass and contributing some harmonies.  Robin Roth is on drums.    We'll play a mix of surf, country, rockabilly, and jazz.  There is a great selection of beer, wine and spirits and German food.


Myles Boisen  - jazz
November 19, 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Chez Mansour - Mediterranean, Lebanese, Wine Bar
1369 Solano Ave, Albany, CA 94706
all ages

Chez Mansour at night

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.

I will NOT be there this month. Myles Boisen (Tom Waits, Fred Frith, John Zorn, Club Foot Orchestra) will be on guitar.  John Ettinger will be tearing it up on violin.

There is no cover and minors are welcome.





Farida Nelson - Kurt Ribak Jazz Duo
Thursday, November 30, 6 PM to 8 PM
Roxx on Main - California Cuisine - OUTDOOR SHOW
https://www.roxxonmain.com
627 Main Street, Martinez, CA 94553
all ages
Farida Nelson Kurt Ribak Roxx poster
This is my first time playing with Farida, a talented multi-instrumentalist.  It should be a good show!




Kurt Ribak returns to SFJAZZ, January 2024!
Sunday, January 28, 2024.  Two shows, 6 PM and 7:30 PM
SFJAZZ logo


SFJAZZ - Jazz Concert Venue
http://www.sfjazz.org
Joe Henderson Lab
201 Franklin St., San Francisco, CA

Kurt leads a band featuring championship fiddler Katie Glassman, guitarist/vocalist/fiddler Tony Marcus, and guitarist/lap steeler Myles Boisen
in a show featuring the overlap between Jazz and Country Music and its musicians.
Tickets available here: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/23-24/kurt-ribak-jazz-country


 


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.


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