April is Jazz Appreciation Month. The official start of summer is June 21, 2026, the summer solstice. But, for my money, summer jazz season starts on Memorial Day Weekend. From now through Labor Day, every weekend provides jazz events and festivals.
Memorial Day was never meant to be a joyous day. It is a Federal Holiday calling for us to mourn the loss of military personnel who died while serving. There is no “Happy Memorial Day” intended despite the plethora of “sales,” barbecues and celebrations. This is the day when flags are planted near every grave in military cemeteries around the country. My wife and I will visit her father’s resting place to honor his life in the U.S. Army.
In the past, I have used this space at this time to remember jazz musicians who served and those who took the time to entertain the troops throughout the world. For whatever reason, you do not hear much about that type of entertainment anymore. No one has grabbed the Bob Hope mantle, at least not in a significant way. Hope’s shows would feature at least one beautiful actress, a couple of vocalists and, of course, Phyllis Diller.
They were filmed on army bases, battleships, aircraft carriers and any other military site. While watching on TV, you could feel that joy and excitement for the servicemen, along with their homesickness and anxiety. A strong sense of gratitude for their service remains today, but opposition and criticism are also more prevalent, at least shared aloud more.
Famously, jazz was the soundtrack of servicemen in World War II. Glenn Miller led the Army Air Force Band and USO groups would always feature our music. The National World War II Museum has a complete history of Jazz musicians in WWI and WWII on its website. That museum is in New Orleans, and, for those sailing on Journey of Jazz ’27, we have arranged a special tour with an emphasis on the “jazz section” while we are there. We have a surprise host ready to go and we are very excited about this visit and learning more about how jazz and the military are tied together.
Jazz was a panacea during the hot war but served as a weapon in the Cold War as well. In 1956, our State Department supported a band of the top jazz musicians including Dizzy, Louis and Duke to promote American culture throughout the world. Though hypocritical due to the circumstances at home, The Jazz Ambassadors as they were called, were also meant to be a counter measure to Communist propaganda regarding racism in the US.
With the passage of the Voting Rights Act nearly a decade away, this group had their hands full proving racial harmony. Though mutual respect existed strongly within the jazz community, even the top musicians were victims of prejudice and segregation in terms of hotels, travel, restaurants and more.
Regardless of the original purpose, the Memorial Day holiday for many has become a celebration marking, the beginning of summer more than a tribute to fallen service men and women. As our world evolves, we lose track of how certain mores have come to be and what it took to make them happen.
There was a time when women could not vote, residential areas were off limits to certain minorities and you could not drink alcohol. Only white men could serve on the Supreme Court, play major league baseball or serve in certain military units. Hard to believe, but that was the case…and not long ago either.
I remember George Takei (Star Trek star) talking to me on one of our cruises about his time in a Japanese Internment Camp. The path that African Americans have had to trod has shameful elements that live on today. Almost every ethnic group or minority has had their share of oppression and prejudice at some time.
We are not perfect, not by a long shot. Prejudice and hatred are still a part of the American landscape. Yesterday’s targets become today’s haters and that process goes around and around. Hopefully, in a few years some of the ills of today will be removed and will become a part of history that we will try to forget. But it would be wrong to forget everything.
We should never forget how this country fought tyranny in World War II, rebuilt Europe and sent men to the moon. That soldiers died in defense of our country and how we have conquered diseases and maladies. And how we continue to pursue our democracy in the face of opposition both foreign and domestic.
To view this country in terms of Liberals and Conservatives or the Left and the Right is a futile exercise in that it never produces resolution and always causes rifts. There is only one test that counts…right and wrong. Not always a clear distinction, but I prefer to debate that test than some politically created binary choice.
You ask me why I cherish the world of jazz. For the most part, actually for nearly all of it, the only dividing lines are between musicians and audiences, good players and bad players and good music and bad music. The test is not who you are or where you came from, but what you can do on the bandstand and how you treat your fellow musicians. And that is the America that we celebrate this weekend as we remember the thousands and thousands of men and women who died for that ideal.
By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti 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 Music Does Not Stop on Labor Day
While Memorial Day is the launch date of the summer jazz season, the music does not stop on Labor Day!
There are several important and revered events in September and October, including our West Coast cruise programs: The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 and Chris Botti at Sea III. Last year, Journey of Jazz ’25 sailed from Vancouver to Los Angeles with a long layover in Victoria and an overnight stay in San Francisco. This was our first fall sailing in many years and the guests loved the gorgeous weather and our curated excursions to Napa, Sonoma and the major sites in those cities.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 (Fully Reserved) repeats the Vancouver – Los Angeles itinerary and the Chris Botti at Sea III heads back from Los Angeles to Vancouver, also stopping in San Francisco and Victoria. Our excursions are available again and we have added a few new ones. When in San Francisco, guests on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 will have the option of a special afternoon show at the amazing SFJAZZ venue featuring Brian Simpson and Grace Kelly. Chris Botti at Sea III guests can choose to see the Branford Marsalis Quartet when they are there.
With The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 being Fully Reserved, Chris Botti at Sea III is the final opportunity for guests to join us in ’26 for a cruise. To complete the manifest of that cruise, we will be initiating a MANIFEST CLOSEOUT SALE for remaining staterooms. Availability is limited, so, if you are interested in joining the one remaining available Signature Cruise Experiences’ program in ’26, you will need to act soon.
You will receive the MANIFEST CLOSEOUT SALE information on Tuesday, May 26 with the details, so keep your eyes on your in-box!
Holiday Hours
In observance of Memorial Day, Signature Cruise Experiences’ office will be closed on Monday, May 25th.
During this time, guests may still complete reservations online, check their account and submit questions to us at info@scecruises.com. We will reopen on Tuesday, May 26, at 10 AM ET.
Emmet Cohen Master Class
Emmet Cohen launched his new course Breaking Through™ last Tuesday and will be re-opening enrollment at a discount for a limited time! This live course runs every Tuesday at 12 PM ET and is perfect for anyone interested in learning more about the intersection of art, creativity and business.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
June Jazz Festivals in Canada
For many years, many of the major jazz festivals in Canada have been held during the same week in mid- or late-June, which given the great distance between the host cities has not had an adverse effect on attendance. This year is no exception as several festivals will be held during the last two weeks in June.
– Lee Mergner
Ottawa Jazz Festival
June 18-28
Ottawa, Ontario
Toronto Jazz Festival
June 19-28
Toronto, Ontario
TD Victoria International JazzFest
June 19-28
Victoria, British Columbia
Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (FIJM)
June 25-July 4
Montréal, Québec
Vancouver International Jazz Festival
June 25-July 5
Vancouver, British Columbia