As we begin to produce a few programs that feature music and events other than jazz, we are learning the traits, interests and makeup of folks who love the various genres. Doing so also provides us with an outline for what makes someone a jazz fan. Not just their common traits, but how they found this music in the first place. How a jazz fan differs from fans of our other programs is fascinating.
How does one become a jazz fan? We have determined that there are three common paths to love jazz:
1. The Music You Grew Up With
By far, the most compelling is learning the music from childhood: The “that was the music that was playing in the house when I grew up” fan. If we have heard this once, we have heard it thousands of times. That link is not only musical, but it is spiritual and filled with love and respect. If the music reminds you of your parents, your home or your youth, you tend to romanticize the experience and attribute those good feelings to the music even more so than to the memories.
When I hear a saxophone emitting jazz, my Pavlov’s Dog reaction is to remember my father. Particularly when Stan Getz is playing. Dad has the same breathy sound to his music that made Getz so alluring. And if I hear someone with a big deep voice sing a song (like Johnny Hartman or Joe Williams), my thoughts are centered on my mother who loved them both. It was no accident that it was my mother who first told me about Gregory Porter.
2. The Accidental Road
The next most common route to being a jazz fan: the “accidental” fan. Typically, this person is a music lover. They like all kind of music, but are not familiar with jazz and are probably a bit put off by the perceived complicated nature of the music. Then, BOOM, one day they happen upon a jazz show (probably a live jazz show) and they are mesmerized by what they are seeing and hearing.
The bandstand is one place where “too many cooks spoil the broth” does not apply. If each participant respects the others and respects the tune, they are free to participate as they wish. When a community of musicians shares the bandstand, each of them offers something of their own to the tune.
3. Getting Dragged In
Finally, there is the “got dragged in” fan. I see this a lot on the cruises. A jazz fan brings a companion who, not only doesn’t know jazz, but professes to not liking it either. They might meet one of the musicians or hang with a group of people who are enjoying a particular player. Gradually, much to their surprise, they become a fan. Drawn in by the intimacy of the experience, the passion of both the musicians and the fans, and the depth of the music, a new fan is created.
For years, I have touted the importance of seeing and hearing jazz live. Granted, all music forms are better live, but the visual appeal of jazz is often overlooked. You can hear the call and response feature, but watching the musicians nod to each other, give subtle hand gestures or how they admire and absorb the sounds of the other players cannot be captured in a recording. Jazz is the ultimate team sport and, once you realize that, an entire world of understanding opens.
As any reader of this column knows, I am a huge baseball fan. When I go to a game, I can see what’s happening in multiple dimensions and can absorb all the nuances and games within the game. The richness of the experience cannot be overstated. On the other hand, I recently took my grandson to an MLS game. He is 6 and his knowledge of soccer far exceeded mine. I enjoyed the experience, but I am sure there were multiple subtleties that I simply missed.
Every time I attend a jazz concert or set, I learn more and more. As a (very) amateur player, I will watch the drummer in the most critical manner. When does the drummer hold the sticks in the traditional manner? When are the sticks held matching? Is the drummer playing music or keeping the beat? Is the drummer too loud, not loud enough or just right? My prejudices are simple. I like a drummer who plays clean and displays a fluid style of hitting the drums and the cymbals. Rock drummers are fun to watch, but nothing compares to a really great jazz drummer. He is making music by hitting a drum with sticks. Not an easy task.
My point here is a simple one. Regardless of how you became a jazz fan, enjoy the intricacies of the techniques and the simplicity of the pursuit. The goal is to be authentic, skilled and respectful of the others in the band. And that is the secret of why we love jazz…it is the perfect metaphor for a good life. To all the jazz fans in the world, I thank you for sharing your passion with us on our cruise programs. It is your passion that makes our hard work worthwhile.
By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, Christian McBride’s World at Sea, Journey of Jazz, David Foster: The Hitman Cruise and Top Shelf Country Cruise. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.
The Making of a Great Jazz Cruise: The SCE Formula
As discussed above, the making of a jazz fan has several components. The making of a great jazz cruise is similarly complex. If you compare the lineups, itineraries, hosts and other features of our cruise programs, you might think that our cruise development is somewhat random, but there is a method to our madness, something that we call the SCE Formula! Case in point, the recent sailing of Journey of Jazz ’25.
Most of our programs are driven by a musical concept. Journey of Jazz ’25 owes its origins to a hidden gem in the itineraries of Celebrity Cruises. During one of our seminars on a cruise, guests were asking about a West Coast itinerary. We had not thought about that since the Pandemic. As a lark, we looked first to see what Celebrity Cruises had to offer.
It was like ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, for what to our wondering eyes should appear, but a seven day program on a ship we love dear! Celebrity Summit, our ship of choice, ends its summer runs in Alaska and begins a trek down the West Coast, through the Panama Canal and into the Gulf of Mexico where it sets up shop for its winter season in the Caribbean, a season that includes FIVE amazing programs for us in ’26.
One of the 7-day segments of this journey began in Vancouver and ended in Los Angeles with stops in Victoria and San Francisco. Cruises that start in one port and end in another face challenges in attracting guests. Driving to the cruise is no longer a choice, so you are forced to fly at least to or from the cruise, which increases the cost to the guests. For us, this blip was more than overcome by our sense that we can create amazing excursions with this itinerary and do so in a manner consistent with the jazz experience.
Once we locked in on that concept, the musical theme was easy to select. For years we have wanted to take Marcus Miller’s History of Jazz program and expand the notion for an entire cruise program. This itinerary was the perfect inaugural program. There are some interesting jazz history elements in this area, but the ability to visit Napa and Sonoma, enjoy music at SFJAZZ, dine in the fine restaurants of San Francisco and take in the wonders of Victoria were “dead-on” activities for jazz fans.
The next step is to curate another amazing lineup, something that Signature Cruise Experiences loves to do and does better than anyone else. The recipe is simple. Start with dynamic hosts (Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter), add icons of the genre (Dee Dee Bridgewater/Chucho Valdes/Ron Carter), sprinkle in a celebrity or two (Diana Krall/Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, SFJAZZ Collective), players with star-studded lineages (Ravi Coltrane & Brubeck Brothers) and include a huge portion of the younger folks climbing the jazz ladder (Cècile McLorin Salvant/Sullivan Fortner/Emmet Cohen/Benny Benack III/Bria Skonberg).
All of this plus 7 days of great weather and ended up creating one of the most wonderful cruise experiences. That is the SCE Formula! Which comes first is not important, but there must be a perfect blend of talent, theme and non-music events. Our goal is always to take you on a journey and make you feel that you are a part of an experience that goes far beyond the amazing shows.
To learn more about Journey of Jazz ’25, you can check out the photo gallery. The next sailing of Journey of Jazz will be 1.24.27 – 1.31.27 and our jazz experience destination will be New Orleans. Rumor has it that there is some jazz music there!
The SCE Formula for ’26 Programs
’26 will be the most ambitious cruise season for Signature Cruise Experiences. We are “sea testing” just how far the SCE Formula can go!
We start with two brand new programs, David Foster: The Hitman Cruise and Christian McBride’s World at Sea. Already you see the SCE Formula in action. Not one, but two iconic musicians and musical forces each hosting a cruise! With 25 GRAMMY® Awards between them, their pedigree is firmly established.
David Foster has invited a superstar lineup to fill his 5-day cruise program: Michael McDonald, Babyface, Katharine McPhee, Take 6, Peter Cincotti, Pia Toscano, Emmet Cohen, Morgan James and more. It is 7 days’ worth of talent in a 5-day cruise! David is putting together a series of shows that will showcase these performers as only someone of his abilities can do. This is one cruise where the production elements will not be created by us, but will be driven by one of the greatest musical talents in the world.
Christian’s cruise is an homage to his career of leading top ensembles along with the adoration of some of the top vocalists in the genre. Most of the time, Christian’s ensembles take turns hitting the road (Inside Straight/Christian’s Trio/Christian’s Big Band/Remembering Ray Brown/Ursa Major). Fans have to wait for the time when their favorite ensemble is touring and then try to make one of those dates. This 7-day cruise has them all in one place! And, there is the most conspicuous embarrassment of vocals ever assembled for a cruise (Ledisi/Samara Joy/Cècile McLorin Salvant/Angèlique Kidjo/Melissa Walker/Josè James). The SCE Formula was working overtime.
Don Was’s Groove in the Face of Adversity
Don Was, who has sailed with us many times in the past, has been involved in hundreds of recordings in jazz and popular music, but, until now, the noted record producer and bassist has not released an album on his own as a leader.
His debut recording, Groove in the Face of Adversity, has just been released on Mack Avenue and it features the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, a large group that includes longtime collaborators saxophonist Dave McMurray and keyboardist Luis Resto, as well as vocalist Steffanie Christi’an.
“We have a great time playing together,” he said. “In times of confusion and chaos, just spreading a little joy and comfort to people is a noble undertaking.”
Johnathan Blake’s My Life Matters
Drummer Johnathan Blake has sailed on numerous SCE programs as a sideman, most notably with Dr. Lonnie Smith and Kenny Barron, and he’s been a first-call drummer for so many other jazz greats.
Johnathan recently released My Life Matters on Blue Note, his sixth album as a leader. The recording features a suite of 14 original compositions he wrote as a commission for The Jazz Gallery in New York City that serves as a take both on the importance of family values and the social imperative to stand up in the face of injustice. Co-produced by bassist Derrick Hodge, the album features saxophonist Dayna Stephens, pianist Fabian Almazan, vibraphonist Jalen Baker and bassist Dezron Douglas, plus special guests DJ Jahi Sundance and vocalist Bilal.
Signature Cruise Experiences Program Update
’26 Sailings
- David Foster: The Hitman Cruise (on sale)
- Sailing Dates: 1.15.26 – 1.20.26
- Remaining Inventory: Veranda/Ocean View/Inside Staterooms
- Cruises Prices: For Best Cruise Prices, call office or email us at BestPrices@scecruises.com
- Christian McBride’s World at Sea (on sale)
- Sailing Dates: 1.20.26 – 1.27.26
- Remaining Inventory: Concierge/Veranda/Ocean View/Inside Staterooms
- Cruises Prices: For Best Cruise Prices, call office or email us at BestPrices@scecruises.com
- The Jazz Cruise ’26 (on sale)
- Sailing Dates: 1.27.26 – 2.3.26
- 90%+ Reserved
- Remaining Inventory: Concierge/Veranda/Ocean View/Inside Staterooms
- Cruise Prices: As shown on website
- The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 (waitlist only)
- Sailing Dates: 2.3.26 – 2.10.26
- 100% Reserved
- Remaining Inventory: Waitlist Only (All Categories)
- Cruise Prices: Not applicable
- The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2 (waitlist only)
- Sailing Dates: 2.10.26 – 2.17.26
- 100% Reserved
- Remaining Inventory: Waitlist Only (All Categories)
- Cruise Prices: Not applicable
- Top Shelf Country Cruise (on sale)
- Sailing Dates: 2.27.26 – 3.6.26
- 75% Reserved
- Remaining Inventory: Concierge/Veranda/Ocean View Staterooms
- Cruise Prices: As shown on website
- The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 (on sale)
- Sailing Dates: 9.11.26 – 9.18.26
- 85% Reserved
- Remaining Inventory: Concierge/Veranda/Ocean View Staterooms
- Cruise Prices: As shown on website
- Botti at Sea III (’26) (on sale)
- Sailing Dates: 9.18.26 – 9.25.26
- 50% Reserved
- Remaining Inventory: Concierge/Veranda/Ocean View Staterooms
- Cruise Prices: As shown on website
’27 Sailings
- New Cruise TBA
- Sailing Dates: 1.12.27 – 1.17.27
- Announcement: 11.4.25
- The Jazz Cruise ‘27
- Sailing Dates: 1.17.27 – 1.24.27
- Announcement: 11.13.25
- Journey of Jazz ‘27 (on sale)
- Sailing Dates: 1.24.27 – 1.31.27
- Guests on Journey of Jazz ’25: Now through 11.26.25: Past Guests may Rebook Stateroom from Journey of Jazz ‘25
- Guests Not on Journey of Jazz ’25:
- Starting on 9.30.25: New Guests may complete a Pre-Sail Reservation
- Starting on 12.15.25: Guests with Pre-Sail Reservations may start to select Staterooms
- Open Booking Starts: 12.30.25
- Cruise Prices: As shown on website
- The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1 (on sale)
- Sailing Dates: 1.31.27 – 2.7.27
- Guests on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1: Now through 11.26.25: Past Guests may Rebook Stateroom from Journey of Jazz ‘25
- Guests Not on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1:
- NOW: New Guests may complete a Pre-Sail Reservation
- Starting on 12.4.25: Guests with Pre-Sail Reservations may start to select Staterooms
- Open Booking Starts: 12.29.25
- Cruise Prices: As shown on website
- The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2 (on sale)
- Sailing Dates: 2.7.27 – 2.14.27
- Guests on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2: Now through 11.26.25: Past Guests may Rebook Stateroom from Journey of Jazz ‘25
- Guests Not on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2:
- NOW: New Guests may complete a Pre-Sail Reservation
- Starting on 12.4.25: Guests with Pre-Sail Reservations may start to select Staterooms
- Open Booking Starts: 12.29.25
- Cruise Prices: As shown on website
- Top Shelf Country Cruise ’27
- 4.9.27 – 4.16.27
- Announcement: TBD
- Botti at Sea IV (’27)
- 10.6.27 – 10.13.27
- Announcement: TBD
- The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.3
- 10.13.27 – 10.20.27
- Announcement: TBD