Jazz Notes: 7.29.26

The “Surfing” Theory

For as long as I can remember, I have encouraged folks to recognize the “surfing” theory of life and adapt accordingly. What is the “surfing” theory of life? Quite simply, it is the recognition that no trend or pattern or operation goes on forever. Just like every wave in the ocean winds up on land, the surfer will not be able to ride any particular wave forever. That recognition alone is worth understanding.

More importantly, once ashore, the surfer needs to find the energy, courage and ability to swim back out into the ocean and find the next wave. That is the hard part and that is the part that separates the good from the bad and the great from the good.

On Monday, it looked like one of my very favorite waves came ashore. Berks Arts Council announced that it was ceasing operations which meant that the Berk’s Jazz Fest was in jeopardy. Most of my affiliation with that event was under the guidance of John Ernesto who ably and smartly ran that festival for years. “Berks” was great for many reasons, but atop the list was the fact that they presented all the jazz genres that our cruises presented. In many respects, that festival was Signature Cruise Experiences land-based cousin.

Leave it to John to swim back into the ocean and find a wave to save the festival, even if Berks Arts Council is no longer in business. John has created a partnership with Boscov’s, a leading retailer in the area and its non-profit entity Our City Reading Inc. to create Berks Jazz Fest. Berks Jazz Fest will be an independent subsidiary of Our City Reading Inc. Sometime today they will announce the 36th annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest will be held April 1-11, 2027.

All Jazz Fans owe John for this one. Nice work.

Michael Lazaroff
Executive Director
Signature Cruise Experiences

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Cruise Updates

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27) is Fully Reserved and there are fewer than 50 staterooms remaining on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27). There is availability on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.3 (10.13.27 – 10.20.27), which sails from Quebec City along the St. Lawrence Seaway with calls on several Canadian ports and Portland (ME) before docking in Boston.

Chris Botti at Sea ’26

Only a few staterooms remain for Chris Botti at Sea ’26. Those staterooms, mainly Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms, are being offered at final Cruise Prices and guests have the option to Sail Now, Pay Later. We have never done that before, so we will see how this works on the few that are left. To learn more about the Cruise Prices and Payment Plans, click below. 

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George Benson Celebrates Nat King Cole

In the wide world of jazz, George Benson occupies a singular place. A prodigy who cut his teeth as a teenager playing guitar with the legendary organist Brother Jack McDuff, George received early acclaim for his formidable jazz chops.

He was just 21 when he released his first album as a leader, the appropriately named The New Boss Guitar of George Benson for the Blue Note label. Eventually, he moved to another iconic record label, CTI, for whom he recorded numerous groundbreaking and genre-busting albums featuring his virtuosity on the guitar backed by electric and often funky textures in keeping with the sounds of the early 70s.

After signing with Warner Brothers in 1976, George almost stumbled into his future when he sang “This Masquerade” on Breezin’, an otherwise all-instrumental album. Up to that point, he had rarely sung on his recordings. The song was a hit and the album went Platinum (the title cut’s success surely helped). The die was cast. Thereafter he would be known as a pop singer who also played guitar. 

So it was fitting that in 2013 George turned to the music of Nat King Cole, an artist who also combined virtuosity with commercial appeal. After all, Cole was a gifted instrumentalist (a jazz pianist in the style of Oscar Peterson) who fell into singing and became a pop star. Likewise, many music fans were unaware of Cole’s considerable talents as a jazz pianist with swinging chops.

This past week, George has re-released “Unforgettable” featuring Wynton Marsalis, a single from the reissue of his 2013 album Inspiration: A Tribute to Nat King Cole that will come out on Candid Records on September 11.  Reissued under the supervision of George and Candid Records executive John Burk, who is also the album’s original producer, Inspiration has been remastered, re-sequenced and expanded to include three additional songs from the sessions: “Almost Like Being In Love,” “That Sunday, That Summer” and “Ramblin’ Rose.” Co-produced by Randy Waldman, the album pairs George’s voice and guitar with vintage Nelson Riddle charts and new Waldman arrangements, backed by a crack rhythm section (Waldman, Tim May, Chuck Berghofer and Gregg Field) and the 42-piece Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra. 

George, who has performed on numerous sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise, truly represents the breadth of our jazz programs with his combination of instrumental virtuosity and vocal expressiveness. In short, he would fit perfectly into just about any of our other sailings from The Jazz Cruise to Journey of Jazz to Botti at Sea to The David Foster Cruise. Not many artists can live up to that standard.

– Lee Mergner
Jazz Consultant

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Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

SCE Sailings in ’27

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SCE Sailings in ’27

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

Why One Sailing Isn’t Enough

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The Jazz Cruise ’27

1.17.27 – 1.24.27

Still the Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea

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Journey of Jazz ’27

1.24.27 – 1.31.27

Now in Open Booking

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The Smooth Jazz Cruise

  ’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
  ’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)

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Botti at Sea IV (’27)

10.6.27 – 10.13.27

Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec

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The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27