Jazz Notes: 3.25.26

Marcus Miller + Gregory Porter + Wynton Marsalis
…Special Port-of-Call:  New Orleans 

Many believe that last September’s sailing of Journey of Jazz ’25 was one of the very best programs produced by Signature Cruise Experiences (SCE) in its 26 year/100+ cruise history. That program combined SCE’s trademark onboard music programs with an exciting itinerary filled with special events and excursions curated by us.

The ’25 sailing explored the jazz life with stops in San Francisco and tours in Napa and Sonoma. Jazz shows at SFAZZ and a first-class culinary tour of San Francisco were also enjoyed. That was the Special Sauce.

For Journey of Jazz ’27, we have prepared another heaping portion of Special Sauce. To quote one of New Orleans more famous chefs, Emeril Lagasse, we are “taking it up a notch…maybe more than one notch!” Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter are back as the hosts of Journey of Jazz ’27, with Marcus reprising his famous “History of Jazz” show in which he tells the story of jazz…in music! And Gregory will bring his magical voice and grand presence to every aspect of the cruise!

Ready to add a notch or two? The ’27 sailing is going to the heart of jazz, its birthplace, New Orleans! Two full days and one exciting night. Did we mention that Wynton Marsalis will be our New Orleans host for the cruise!? While in New Orleans, guests will have the choice of fine dining, special jazz shows and excursions, all curated and operated by us.

Wynton’s shows on the ship will be spaced so that every guest who wishes to dine in New Orleans and enjoy his show will be able to do so. But, I am getting way ahead of myself here. Much of this information is on the website and we highlight some of the key elements in the other parts of this edition of Jazz Notes.

If I seem very excited about this program, trust me, I am. Marcus and Gregory with Wynton in New Orleans…very cool.

Michael Lazaroff
Executive Director
Signature Cruise Experiences

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Journey of Jazz ‘27 is Hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter

An iconic bassist and a generational singing voice. That is what you have when your cruise is hosted by Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter. In music, often you must choose between great musicianship and entertainment value. Both Marcus and Gregory are top musicians who can share their gifts and talents in a way that embraces the audience and creates joy.

Their secret? Both are comfortable in their own skin, know their talent and refuse to take the shortcuts in performing that “entertainers” often take. I believe the word for both men is “authentic.” Yes, they have won GRAMMY® Awards and countless other awards, but, though all were earned, none were sought.

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Wynton Marsalis: The Return of New Orleans’ Native Son

Although he’s lived many more years away from New Orleans than he’s lived there, Wynton Marsalis will always be associated with that storied and very musical city. Partially because his father, Ellis Marsalis, was a lifelong patriarch for jazz in the area, both as a pianist and educator. Partially because he received his first trumpet at the age of four from the local legend Al Hirt. Partially because he was the first of several younger jazz musicians to be signed by Columbia Records in the late ’70s and early ’80s – including his brother Branford, Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison and Harry Connick, Jr. Partially because Wynton would later become a champion of both Louis Armstrong and New Orleans jazz. But that came later.

In fact, despite being raised in a jazz household and surrounded by live jazz in the neighborhoods, Wynton initially resisted the lure of that music. He and Branford preferred playing in a funk band called the Creators around town. In an interview Wynton did with Marcus Miller on one of our cruises a few years ago, he explained that jazz came later. “My father wanted me to take lessons from a trumpeter named Teddy Riley who we called Buck,” Wynton explained. “He played Louis Armstrong’s cornet when Louis Armstrong passed away. But New Orleans music didn’t interest us then. We thought we were the Crusaders. My father said, ‘Have you called Buck yet?’ I said to him, ‘No, I didn’t call Buck.” And later, ‘Did you call Buck?’ Finally, he said, ‘Man, you need to call Buck so you can learn how to play.’ I said, ‘Man, Buck can’t even read.’ My father said, ‘Son, people can either play or they can’t play. Look at you. You can read.’”

Wynton was soon listening to artists like Clifford Brown, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. “I started to wonder if I could learn how to play jazz,” he said. “Then I got a gig with some college kids playing at a club. When I was 15, they called the house and one guy, a bass player named Alvin Young, called the house and asked me, ‘Are you Ellis’s son?’ I said, “Well, yea, there are five of us.’ He said, ‘No, are you the one who plays trumpet?’ I said, ‘Yes.” He said, ‘Can you play a gig with us at this place called Tyler’s Bear Gardens?” I said, ‘What are y’all playing?’ He said, ‘You know, tunes like Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock.’ I couldn’t really play on changes at that time and I told him that I’m gonna be real sad. He said, ‘It’s all right. We’re all sad to start. You’ll get better.’” Indeed, Wynton did get better.

Ironically, it was classical music that brought him to New York City and put him on a path to international acclaim. Wynton was barely a teenager when an older musician introduced him to the virtuoso playing of classical trumpet Maurice Andre. “I said to myself, I wonder if I could learn how to play like him,” Wynton explained. “So I start practicing to play classical music off the record.” He was just 14 years old when he won a competition and performed Haydn‘s trumpet concerto with the New Orleans Philharmonic. Wynton has not forgotten his first rehearsal with that group. “When they played that first chord of the Haydn concerto, and that unbelievable big E flat chord filled the room, I got goosebumps,” he recalled. “The sound of it with 60 or so people playing it was so deep and full. All the times I’ve played concertos and played with orchestras, I always would go back to that first sound I heard.”

For Wynton, classical music offered him the opportunity to leave New Orleans. He had seen his father struggle economically as a local musician and he had also experienced racism in that city. After being admitted to the prestigious summer program at Tanglewood Music Center, Wynton applied and got into the Juilliard School. But like Miles Davis before him and Christian McBride after him, he left Juilliard to play jazz with his heroes, in Wynton’s case with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. 

That apprenticeship would lead to a storied career as a bandleader and composer and eventually the founding of Jazz at Lincoln Center, which has become the premier jazz organization in the world. More on that in a later edition of Jazz Notes. But despite being exposed to the music of Louis Armstrong, Wynton would only come to appreciate his genius later. “I was 17 and had a tape of Armstrong’s music,” Wynton said. “My father said I had to learn (Armstrong’s 1938 classic) ‘Jubilee.’ At the time I was learning solos by Freddie Hubbard, complicated things. ‘Jubilee’ was simple — and I couldn’t play it. Learning to play it made me understand I really had to study his songs. So, I started learning Armstrong’s music and his style. Being from New Orleans, I was aware of his style when I was young, from marching band and all the experiences he had, but I certainly didn’t know this was something you needed to study. We didn’t know the history well enough so we felt like Lous Armstrong was old-fashioned. We had a preconceived notion of him that kept us from appreciating how significant he was then and is now.”

During the last few decades Wynton has become one of the most foremost champions not only of Armstrong but of New Orleans jazz. That’s why it’s exciting for us to present Wynton and his group in performances in his hometown during Journey of Jazz ’27.

Lee Mergner
Jazz Consultant

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Journey of Jazz ‘27 Presents Superstar Performers

When your headliners are Marcus Miller, Gregory Porter and Wynton Marsalis, the rest of the lineup can sometimes be overlooked. Not so on Journey of Jazz ’27.

GRAMMY® Winner Ledisi’s contribution to the Journey of Jazz concept will be her amazing tribute to Dinah Washington. She will perform many of the songs from her For Dinah tribute album along with the songs that have made Ledisi one of the top vocalists.

Winning GRAMMY® Awards has become routine to pianist Sullivan Fortner. Whether he is leading his own group or accompanying superstar vocalists, Sullivan has become one of the top names in jazz and a “go to” pianist for many.

Cyrille Aimee has been a star on many Signature Cruise Experiences’ programs over the years. Her French background will be the perfect tone and expression for our trip to New Orleans.

The list of instrumentalists reads like an all-star band: Sean Jones, Wycliffe Gordon, Edmar Castaneda, Herlin Riley, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Gregoire Maret, Taylor Eigsti, Harold Lopez–Nussa, Gerald Clayton and, our Music Director, Eric Marienthal. Each one an accomplished leader and band member.

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Journey of Jazz ‘27 Presents “Bucket List” Excursions:
The Very Best of New Orleans Will Be Available to YOU!

Journey of Jazz ‘27 will overnight in New Orleans, providing guests with two full days and one night to enjoy the wonders of the Birthplace of Jazz. We have curated a host of great excursions just for our guests, ranging from brunch at Brennan’s (we have secured the entire restaurant), to boat tours of the city, to fabulous jazz shows at local venues. 

The best way to check out the excursions the website: https://journeyofjazz.com/sce-excursions/, but here are a few of the highlights:

Sightseeing Tours

• Discover Magazine Street
• Natchez Steamboat Tour
• Mardi Gras World Tour
• Hidden Gems of New Orleans City Tour

Dining

• Antoine’s
• Arnaud’s
• Commander’s Palace
• Brennan’s (brunch)

Concerts

• New Orleans Jazz and Blues Market – Kermit Ruffins
• New Orleans Jazz and Blues Market – Donald Harrison

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Back-to-Back with The Jazz Cruise ’27 and The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1

Journey of Jazz ’27 was intentionally scheduled between The Jazz Cruise ’27 and The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1. Though each of those cruises has its own identity, there are sufficient similarities between Journey of Jazz ’27 in terms of lineup and musical styles with each of the other programs that guests could easily create a two-week special music cruise vacation.

Benefits and pricing for sailing back-to-back will be dependent upon the Sailing History of the guest. If interested in doing so, please contact us at the office for Cruise Prices and other information.  

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Great Time to Reserve a Stateroom

Journey of Jazz ’25 was fully reserved months before sailing, so we advise guests to select a stateroom and complete a reservation now.  

And, the sooner you finalize your reservation, the sooner you can reserve your spot on one of the amazing excursions in New Orleans. Stateroom selection and reservation may be completed online or by calling the office during regular business hours.

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Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

SCE Sailings in ’26

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SCE Sailings in ’27

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