Labor Day Weekend Edition
For years, Labor Day Weekend for Signature Cruise Experiences meant a trip to Vail Colorado for the Vail Jazz Festival. Great music. Beautiful scenery. Hanging with jazz fans, mainly our guests from The Jazz Cruise and spending time with one of the first couples of jazz, Howard and Cathy Stone.
We would depart Vail early on Labor Day. The drive down the mountain, which began in the dark, then lit by dawn and gloriously ending in full sunlight was always a reflective time. We knew that once we landed home that our focus would be 100% on the upcoming cruises. The Vail Jazz Festival provided the inspiration for our upcoming operations.
Then, another Labor Day festival grabbed our attention, Melissa Walker and Christian McBride’s Montclair Jazz Festival which supports and honors JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, their everyday contribution to the music education and development of young men and women. Talk about a first couple of jazz! The event this year is a few days after Labor Day (September 13), but the feel is the same. That time of the year where the days may seem like late Summer, but the nights feel like early Fall.
Lee Mergner has more to say about these great festivals later in this edition of Jazz Notes. Not to bury the lead, but due to Journey of Jazz ’25 sailing on September 12 – 19, my wife and I will have to miss both events. That is sad, as I consider Vail Jazz Festival and Montclair Jazz Festival to be part of the Signature Cruise Experiences’ family.
Michael Lazaroff
Executive Director
Signature Cruise Experiences
michael@scecruises.com
In This Edition of Jazz Notes
In this edition of Jazz Notes, Executive Director, Michael Lazaroff, provides updates for our ’26 Cruise Programs, including some Labor Day Cruise Price Specials and shares some information about our ’27 Cruise Programs. Our jazz guru, Lee Mergner, reminds us of how Morgan James has become a star and previews the upcoming Montclair Jazz Festival. Michael wraps up this edition with his notes about Howard Stone and the Vail Jazz Festival.
Signature Cruise News:
Journey of Jazz ’25 / Journey of Jazz ’27
The inaugural sailing of Journey of Jazz ’25 sets sail from Vancouver on 9.12.25. Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter host this program that features Diana Krall, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Chucho Valdès, The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Cècile McLorin Salvant and many more of the world’s top jazz artists. JOJ ’25 calls on Victoria and San Francisco where special excursions and shows will be available. Winding up in Los Angeles on 9.19.25, the cruise will not only traverse the West Coast of Canada and the United States, but it will provide a deep dive into the history of jazz.
Journey of Jazz ’25 was fully reserved, but a few staterooms are available due to guests forced to cancel their reservations. The list of available staterooms varies daily and the Cruise Prices for those staterooms are based upon individual cruise histories. If you are interested, please call the office (888.852.9987) and a representative can assist you.
The next sailing of Journey of Jazz will be 1.24.27 – 1.31.27. More information will be available soon, but the cruise will visit New Orleans, our next stop on Signature Cruise Experiences’ journeys of jazz.
January/February ’26 Sailings
As discussed below, Signature Cruise Experiences is beginning to launch our ’27 Cruise Programs. The cruise dates are set as are most of the itineraries. Lineups are about 90% confirmed, but there is still some work to do.
Just as auto dealers clear out inventory just before the new cars are available, we have some housekeeping to do on the three programs above. To finalize our manifests for these programs, we have initiated a limited time Cruise Price program. Here is how it works:
End of Summer Cruise Prices
- From now through 9.22.25, the last day of Summer, guests may reserve any available stateroom on David Foster: The Hitman Cruise and Christian McBride’s World at Sea at End of Summer Cruise Prices (EOS25).
- EOS25 Cruise Prices are also available for Ocean View and Inside Staterooms on The Jazz Cruise ’26.
- Finally, we have a TWOFER program for those guests who wish to sail on two or more of these Winter ’26 programs. Whether you have completed a reservation already on one of the programs and wish to add another or wish to reserve two or more now, TWOFER Cruise Prices are also based upon the individual SCE Cruise History of the guest. Due to the various scenarios that this program encompasses, you will need to call the office to learn what prices and terms apply to you.
- To learn what your EOS25 Cruise Price will be for the stateroom of your choice, simply go to the cruise website, click BOOK NOW and follow the prompts. Use Promo Code EOS25.
- Then, you may proceed to complete or abandon your reservation. There is no cost to start the process or obligation if you choose to abandon.
Emmet Cohen & Friends Talk About The Jazz Cruise ‘26
The famous jazz players camaraderie was in full bloom this week as Emmet Cohen, Eric Marienthal, Wycliffe Gordon and Ken Peplowski shared a Zoom call with hundreds of fans of The Jazz Cruise. For those who wonder why the spirit of that cruise is so special and why our musicians revere each other, as well as the cruise, check out the video below.
No doubt, there are close knit bonds among musicians in other genres, but the spirit of our jazz musicians is special. Remember, they need each other to perform. Rarely does a performing group remain together for long periods of time and, even in the cases where they do, the bonds are not exclusive.
The adage “to get along you need to get along” clearly applies. But it is more than that. Jazz is shared among the musicians. No one controls it or even dominates it. This breeds respect, humility and community.
For those who have not experienced The Jazz Cruise, another adage, actually an advertisement, applies…”try it, you’ll like it!”
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.1 & ‘27.2
Rather than roll out all the plans for ’27, we will take them in sequence of going “on sale.” First out of the box, as always, will be the two Winter sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1 is scheduled for 1.31.27 – 2.7.27. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2 sails the next week (2.7.27 – 2.14.27). Our departure and return port for both sailings will be Tampa, for the first time, and we are finalizing the rest of the itinerary.
Marcus Miller and Boney James return as the hosts of both sailings and our lineup features the deepest list of “smooth jazz” A-Listers ever!
The key date for the Reservation Process is 9.5.25. On that date, guests sailing on either The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 or ’26.2 can begin to Rebook their current stateroom for ’27. Those who are not sailing in ’26 may complete a Pre-Sail Reservation which establishes their priority for selecting a stateroom after the conclusion of the current guests Rebooking period.
Guests sailing on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 will be provided an opportunity to reserve a stateroom on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1 or ’27.2, while retaining their right to rebook their current stateroom on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.3.
More information will be provided as the process unfolds. Believe us, the procedure is easier than it sounds!
LIVE: The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27 Lineup Announcement
Big news is on the horizon! Join us live on Thursday, September 4 at 3:00 PM ET for an exclusive Lineup Reveal for The Smooth Jazz Cruise!
Your cruise co-hosts, Marcus Miller and Boney James, will reveal which of your favorite smooth jazz musicians will be performing on the ’27 sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise. Don’t miss this first look at the incredible artists who will be bringing the music to the Greatest Party at Sea.
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise
The Long and Triumphant Journey of Morgan James
If our jazz guests aren’t immediately familiar with the name Morgan James, we understand because, for many years, Morgan toiled, albeit quite successfully, in the world of Broadway shows, having appeared in everything from The Addams Family to Motown: The Musical. With her firm grounding in soul, R&B and jazz, she always had the vocal chops to come to the front of the stage, but it wasn’t until about a dozen years ago, when she started out on her own personal journey as a solo artist, that those talents were fully realized.
She was born in Boise, Idaho but moved around a lot until the family settled in Modesto, CA, where she went to high school. Her dream was to attend The Juilliard School in New York City and, after auditioning, she was waitlisted and eventually rejected. However, she was later admitted. “I guess I had something a little different that they saw in me,” she said. After studying opera and getting her BA in music and voice, James set her sights on Broadway, eventually landing a part in The Addams Family in 2010 with Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth.
She went on to appear in several more Broadway productions, but all the while dipping her toes (and voice) into a role as a solo artist performing covers and originals at clubs (include Birdland) around NYC. It was while she was appearing in Motown: The Musical in 2013 that she met the legendary producer Berry Gordy Jr., who became a mentor.
“I was a star in his eyes,” Morgan said. “Mr. Gordy is the one that encouraged me to write, to go deeper and find my sound, to stay true to my sound, no matter what anybody else thought or anybody else said.” That mentorship led to her first studio album Hunter, for Epic Records, produced by guitarist Doug Wamble, whom she would later marry.
Her first solo album was recorded live at Dizzy’s, featuring the music of Nina Simone. In the ensuing years, she would record two more cover albums – Joni Mitchell’s Blue and The Beatles’ The White Album – as well as albums featuring her own original material. “Every artist that I admire has covered other artists,” she said about her cover projects. “Even before I started writing music, I was an interpreter of songs. I make an original album pretty much every other year. And on the off years, I like to do a creative project.”
She’s released more than a dozen recordings, many of which are in collaboration with Wamble. Her most recent album is Soul Remains the Same, which reinterprets tracks from the likes of hard rockers like AC/DC, Stone Temple Pilots and Pearl Jam. “Something I’ve always loved, and I’ve done throughout my career, is sing songs that are not just written by men, but especially made for men,” she said. “And make them my own.”
Morgan made her SCE cruise debut on Botti at Sea earlier this year and her soulful and expressive sound was a hit with our guests. It’s been a long journey for her, but she has certainly done it her way. “I’ve known, from day one of my journey, that I would have to fight every step of the way,” Morgan said. “But that is the part of my story – it’s not something I want to erase. It’s something I celebrate.”
We’re excited to have Morgan back with us, this time on the David Foster Hitman Cruise in January.
– Lee Mergner
FESTIVAL PREVIEW
Christian McBride’s World at Sea
Montclair Jazz Festival’s Downtown Jubilee
One jazz festival that started small in 2010 as a student concert for a few hundred people, but has evolved into one of the largest jazz festivals in the Northeast is the Montclair Jazz Festival, organized by Melissa Walker and her team at the Jazz House. Curated by that organization’s artistic director, Christian McBride, the festival includes a summer-long concert series called Soundcheck held outside the The Wellmont Theater. The capping event of the free festival is the Downtown Jubilee, held on the historic Lackawanna Station property in Montclair. That large scale event, this year held on Saturday, September 13, truly takes over that entire NJ town for the day, with dozens of vendors and exhibitors swarming the downtown area. Last year’s Jubilee was attended by more than 26,000 people.
Headliners on the main stage, sponsored by Signature Cruise Experiences, include Lakecia Benjamin & Phoenix, Jazzmeia Horn, Luisito Quintero & 3rd Element, Alphonso Horne & the Gotham Kings, JAZZ HOUSE Collective (paying tribute to James Moody) and Christian’s Ursa Major. Christian closes the festival himself with a block party hosted by his alias, DJ Brother Mister, along with DJ Prince Hakim.
In addition to the main stage, there is more music on the Emerging Musicians Stage, where more than 50 young artists from the JAZZ HOUSE KiDS program ages 14 to 25 will be featured, including the debut of this year’s alumni JAZZ HOUSE All-Stars, a group of accomplished musicians who will set sail in January 2026 on McBride’s World at Sea.
“This year’s Montclair Jazz Fest lineup is a thrilling showcase of jazz’s boundless creativity,” Christian said. “World-class artists and up-and-coming musicians bring their bold voices and magic to the stage, reflecting the heartbeat of this culturally rich community full of fans that have supported this festival for more than 15 years. It’s not just a celebration of world-class talent but of the joyful, unifying spirit of jazz that continues to bring us all together.”
– Lee Mergner
FESTIVAL PREVIEW
Vail Jazz Festival: The Festival that Howard Created
(And Cathy Saved)
I have written about Vail Jazz and Howard and Cathy Stone on several occasions. One more cannot hurt. You see, being a producer of jazz events, it is impossible not to spend time analyzing how the great ones did their magic.
George Wein, the founder of the Newport Jazz Festival and the person credited with creating the idea of a music festival, was an ardent musician. Whether he was a good musician is subject to great debate. On the side of “he was great” was George and a few colleagues. On the side of “just okay” was the rest of the world.
George was a master of creating shows, seeing talent and knowing what the audiences wanted. He ruled his festivals with an iron hand and a tight fist. As I have shared in the past, George would chide me for paying musicians too much money. I told him that a cruise gig was different from a festival gig. Musicians get paid for more than their music when sailing.
Now, George loved the music, but I never saw true joy in his eyes. Howard was a fan, a true jazz junkie. Not only did Howard love the music, but he also loved the musicians. He loved being with them, entertaining them and just hanging with them. Since Vail Jazz was a not-for-profit, Howard’s goal was to put on the best possible show and not have to pay much out of his own pocket.
The music was a business for George. He was charitable and participated in benevolent acts of kindness, but the festivals were intended to be profitable.
If you ever saw Howard addressing the audience, all decked out in outrageously loud shirts and equally spectacular shoes, you could tell that he was having the time of his life. His business career had been very successful, so now it was time for him to be significant.
Every move that Howard made was under the watchful eye of Cathy, his wife. Weighing no more than 100 pounds, provided she was carrying her purse, the beautiful lady could pack a wallop while smiling and laughing. I am not sure if Howard was afraid of her. Petrified is more apt.
After Howard’s passing, Vail Jazz stumbled for a bit as anyone might expect, but Cathy rode a white horse into the event and has put it back on its proper balance.
They were among the most loving couples I have ever known. Okay, Christmas means Santa Claus, July 4th means Uncle Sam and Labor Day will forever mean Howard Stone to me.
– Michael Lazaroff
Signature Cruise Experiences’ Programs
DAVID FOSTER: THE HITMAN CRUISE is in Open Booking
Anyone may reserve any available stateroom at this time. Guests reserving Concierge Staterooms are entitled to Reserved Seating for the Nightly Main Shows.
Use Promo Code: EOS25
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE’S WORLD AT SEA is in Open Booking
Anyone may reserve any available stateroom at this time. From now through September 22, 2025, guests may reserve staterooms at the Best Prices Available through our End of Summer promotion. Use Promo Code: EOS25
THE JAZZ CRUISE ’26 is in Open Booking
Anyone may reserve any available stateroom now. Many staterooms are already JOIN WAITLIST, so book now. Use Promo Code: EOS25 for special End of Summer Cruise Prices for Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.1 & 26.2 are Fully Reserved
If you wish to sail on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 or ‘26.2, please click JOIN WAITLIST below and follow the prompts. Or check out The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3!
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.3 is in Open Booking
Anyone may reserve any available stateroom at this time. The final lineup has been announced and, shortly, guests may begin to reserve excursions.
BOTTI AT SEA’26 is in Open Booking
Anyone may reserve any available stateroom at this time. The final lineup for this sailing has been announced and guests are now able to reserve excursions.
The Jazz Cruise ’27 will be announced on November 13, 2025. Sailing dates are 1.17.27 – 1.24.27.
Journey of Jazz ’27 will be announced by 1.15.26. Sailing dates are 1.24.27 – 1.31.27 with special New Orlean’s programming.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1 headliners and itinerary will be announced September 4, 2025. Sailing dates are 1.31.27 – 2.7.27. ’26
SCE ’27 Jazz Programs
The Jazz Cruise ’27 will be announced on November 13, 2025. Sailing dates are 1.17.27 – 1.24.27.
Journey of Jazz ’27 will be announced by 1.15.26. Sailing dates are 1.24.27 – 1.31.27 with special New Orlean’s programming.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1 headliners and itinerary will be announced September 4, 2025. Sailing dates are 1.31.27 – 2.7.27. ’26
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2 headliners and itinerary will be announced September 4, 2025. Sailing dates are 2.7.27 – 2.14.27. ’26 Guests have until November 30, 2025 to rebook their current stateroom.
Botti at Sea ’27 will be announced no later than 8.4.26. Sailing dates are 10.6.27 – 10.13.27 and will include special itinerary that starts in Boston and ends in Quebec City with various calls on US and Canadian ports.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.3 will be announced no later than 5.31.26. Sailing dates are 10.13.27 – 10.20.27, starting in Quebec City and ends in Boston with various calls on Canadian and US ports.