Recently, I had the opportunity to see and hear Kenny G perform for the first time. Not sure why that has not happened before, but I have routinely played and purchased his recordings. Just never had the opportunity to catch a show.
His music has always been wonderful and the proof of his skills are confirmed by his stature as the #1 selling instrumentalist in the world. With few exceptions, #1 in the world for anything is cool, but when you consider all the instrumental music that has ever been recorded, to be the top of the food chain in terms of sales is very cool.
The impetus for seeing him live, of course, was his pending appearance on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 & ’26.2. In terms of special guests, Joe Sample may have been the only one who I had not seen live before they played on the ship. For those familiar with the infamous incident involving Joe on the cruise, you will know why I make sure to see all performers live before they sail.
During his show on The Smooth azz Cruise one year, Joe stopped the music and admonished his band openly and loudly. He then raised his hand in the air and exclaimed that each member of the band should follow that hand for directions, rather than wait for a vocalist to start. “This hand is your singer!” he offered.
Later that night, David Sanborn, among the most cerebral and clever of our jazz musicians, had the opportunity to hoist Joe on his own petard by telling Joe that when David was the leader, the other musicians, including Joe, need to follow David’s saxophone! More on this episode in later editions.
My word association reminder for making sure that I adhere to this rule is very simple. I insist that I have a SAMPLE of each performer in advance. To be clear, Joe Sample was one of my all-time favorite performers and guests on the cruise. He was a character for sure, but he was also an amazing talent.
Joe was one of the founding members of The Jazz Crusaders and one of the pioneers of the electric keyboard. From 1960 – 1991, The Crusaders (dropping the name “jazz”) were one of the most popular and heralded bands of the genre. “Street Life”, both the song and the album, is probably the high water mark of their popularity in 1979. After the band broke up, Sample continued his high end studio work performing on recordings by Joni Mitchell, Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis, Randy Crawford, George Benson and more. One of his collaborations was with Ray Brown (bass) and Shelly Manne (drums). Now that is some serious “straight ahead” jazz.
While Joe built a career as a member of bands and performing with others, Kenny G took another approach. After graduating from the University of Washington, earning both Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude honors, instead of pursuing a business career, he plunged into the local Seattle music scene. Though he gained prominence first as part of Jeff Lorber Fusion, the famous impresario Clive Davis saw his talent and signed him up with Arista Records as a solo performer.
His solo career has spanned decades now, and though he has been the target of the jazz police for years, Kenny G has prospered, even embracing the criticism as a badge of honor. Please know that he does not claim to be a jazz musician, citing the difference between being an instrumentalist and being a jazz musician. Miles Davis once wrote to Kenny G telling him to disregard the haters as that being successful and earning that level of criticism were the ultimate compliments.
The desire to perform solo may be the impetus of his two main non-music activities, golf and being a pilot. Both activities are individual pursuits and can provide endless hours of solace and solitude. Kenny G excels at both, being one of the very best musician golfers in the world and earning honors as a pilot.
Kenny G will be performing on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 & ’26.2, his first shows on our cruises. I promise no debate about whether “smooth jazz” is jazz and whether Kenny G is a jazz musician. Once again, we will follow the teachings of Miles…both are successful, both are loved and both make us happy. No response required.
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.
SFJAZZ Collective’s Collective Imagery
Many guests on Journey of Jazz in September were treated to a performance by the 2024-2025 edition of the SFJAZZ Collective on their home turf of the beautiful SFJAZZ Center. That same all-star ensemble has just released Collective Imagery, the end result of a project undertaken in collaboration with San Francisco’s de Young Museum, which in May 2024 invited saxophonists Chris Potter and David Sánchez, trumpeter Mike Rodriguez, vibraphonist Warren Wolf, pianist Edward Simon, bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Kendrick Scott, to view a collection of pieces by contemporary Bay Area artists.
They were able to choose a work to serve as a springboard from which to compose. “It’s very rewarding to hear a group of extremely strong, individualistic musicians find a common language,” said Potter, the Collective’s current music director. “Each person’s choice and the music they came up with was extremely personal.”
LA Jazz Society Tribute Concert & Awards
On November 1, the LA Jazz Society will honor Christian McBride, Patrice Rushen, Gretchen Parlato and others at their 2025 Jazz Tribute Concert & Awards event held at the Montalban in Los Angeles.
Christian is the Jazz Tribute Honoree, while Patrice will receive the Jazz Composer/Arranger Award and Gretchen will receive the Jazz Vocalist Award. Other award recipients include: Lois Saffian for a Lifetime Achievement Award; Edythe Bronston for the David J. Bell “Angel” Award; and Tom Whaley of Santa Monica High School for the Jazz Educator Award.
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