There are times in the year when there is so much going on that you are overwhelmed with choices and the dreaded Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) takes control of your mind. The beginning of April is one of FOMO’s high seasons.
After taking time for work, family and staying healthy, most of us, particularly those who read this column weekly, spend their time (1) enjoying sports, (2) observing religion and, of course, (3) enjoying music. We take time to eat, learn and, relax, but mostly we are actively pursuing those three endeavors.
When April 1 comes around next week, Major League Baseball will have had its opening games, the NCAA Final Four (men and women) will be determined and we will be one week or so away from the Masters Tournament. Almost nothing says Spring more than those three events.
I said “almost,” for the hands down harbinger of Spring is Easter. Though solemn and significant, the universal images are families dressed in the colors of the season heading to church, visiting family, enjoying Easter egg hunts and the first bloom of flowers. For those who live in Florida, Arizona, California or any place that has fewer than four Seasons, I apologize for the Hallmark card edition of Easter. I grew up and live in the center of the country.
April 1 is the first day of Passover, a holiday that centers around family and the enjoyment of the Passover Seder, a ritual meal recounting the story of the exodus from slavery in Egypt. Also, solemn and significant, the holiday celebrates renewal, which is the main theme of most Spring holidays.
Though Easter and Passover do not always overlap in the calendar, they are connected in many ways. For example, The Last Supper was a Passover Seder.
At this point, I will stop discussing religion, as the depth of my knowledge has been fully displayed above. Nor will I discuss more about sports, where my knowledge is extensive, but not pertinent nor would be of interest to anyone.
Guess what we will spend the rest of The Weekender talking about? For those who chose Jazz Appreciation Month, you are correct. Anyone who selected another topic should seriously consider requesting to be deleted from our mailing list.
We have a lot of exciting elements to our month-long celebration. We will share some of them with you today, some later and some will be surprises along the way.
Are you ready to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month? We are!
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.
JAM Artist of the Day
Last time we looked, April had 30 days. We selected 30 of our jazz performers and asked them the following question: “What is the meaning of Jazz Appreciation to you?”
SCE Jazz Master Lee Mergner will be curating those responses and will present one each day on our Facebook and Instagram pages along with his commentary on their response.
You may recall that Lee was recently named the recipient of the Bruce Lundvall Visionary Award. The annual award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and vision in expanding the audience for jazz and has made a difference for artists, the music and audience.
Guests will be invited to respond to the answers as well. Hopefully, we can create a dialogue that will result in a shared understanding of the meaning of the celebration.
SCE Charity Goals for Jazz
One significant aspect of Jazz Appreciation Month is to learn more about the genre’s commitment to assisting jazz musicians in crisis and to providing jazz education and opportunities for young people to become involved. Over the years, SCE has supported many organizations that undertake those tasks. Some relationships have existed for more than 20 years.
With Lee Mergner’s help and assistance, SCE is embarking upon a new path to provide needed support to the jazz community. We will announce the formation of the Signature Cruise Experiences Foundation at the close of Jazz Appreciation Month.
Name Your Mt. Rushmore of Jazz
In 1941, in the Black Hills region of South Dakota, Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln, created a 60-ft.-high granite sculpture of the faces of U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Though the choice of these four presidents has been discussed in length, it is believed that they represent the founding, expansion, preservation and unification of our country.
Many of you would have chosen others to represent the nation, but what is done is done. What has not been determined is what four jazz greats (living and deceased) should be featured if a sculpture were created to honor the history of jazz.
In honor of Jazz Appreciation Month, we’re asking our readers to name the four jazz performers that you think should be enshrined in stone as the people who are the heart of the jazz world. In fairness, we are seeking two lists, one for performers still active and one for those who have passed.
Email your ballots to info@scecruises.com or click below to enter your submission. The results will be announced in the 5.2.26 edition of The Weekender.
Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala
With a theme of “Rhythms that Move the World,” the Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala will be held on April 15 at the Frederick Rose Hall in New York City.
Under the music direction of Carlos Henriquez, the Gala concert will feature performances by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, along with special guests Rubén Blades, Aymeé Nuviola, Shenel Johns, Ekep Nkwelle, Anthony Almonte, Herlin Riley, Jeremy Bosch and more.
The Gala will also honor Kathryn & Ken Chenault (Ed Bradley Award for Leadership in Jazz), Weedie Braimah (Award for Artistic Excellence) and Joan Chamorro (Global Citizen Award).
SFJAZZ Gala
On May 7, SFJAZZ presents its annual gala with the theme of “Milestones: Celebrating Miles & Trane at 100,” honoring the centennials of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. The SFJAZZ Gala will also honor guitar icon George Benson with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating his innovation and lasting influence on generations of musicians and fans.
The event features a reception, dinner, all-star concert and after party at the SFJAZZ Center and at City Hall. Appearing at the All-Star Gala Concert are Terence Blanchard, Benson, Christian McBride, Marcus Miller, Lakecia Benjamin, Keyon Harrold, Tia Fuller, Randy Waldman, Isaiah Sharkey, Richard Bona and the SFJAZZ Collective.
Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs
Sailing in the Next 12 Months
Botti at Sea III (’26)
9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Chris Botti hosts the Perfect Music Experience – At Sea & on Land!
Botti at Sea III (’26) is in Open Booking. Anyone may select any available stateroom and complete a reservation.
The lineup has been set for a few months. Joining Chris Botti will be Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle, Emmet Cohen, Veronica Swift, Candy Dulfer, John Splithoff, Morgan James, Benny Benack III, Kandace Springs, Harold Lopez-Nussa Trio ft. Gregoire Maret and more. The cruise will sail from Los Angeles to Vancouver, with calls in San Francisco and Victoria.
We recently had Chris Botti participate in a livestream for both booked guests and those interested in sailing. Members of our team detailed the events, shows and special excursions that this cruise offers in a 60+ minute video presentation which you can see below.
Botti at Sea III incorporates two experiences. First, is another edition of our famous cruise programs with nightly special shows, hours of additional music and intimate and insightful opportunities to learn more about our performers.
The second aspect of the programs is a robust offering of excursions and events when we dock in San Francisco (overnight) and in Victoria, BC (full day). You can visit wineries in Napa or Sonoma, tour Napa Valley on the Napa Valley Wine Train, dine at the finest restaurants, see special shows at SFJazz, and more. Each of these events are curated, produced and presented by us.
To learn more about the cruise and the amazing excursions, check out the Botti Cruise Livestream Video on-demand on our website and on YouTube.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise
’26.3 (9.11.26 – 9.18.26)
’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)
3 Sailings of “The Greatest Party at Sea”
Known as “The Greatest Party at Sea,” The Smooth Jazz Cruise has sailed over 30 times since 2004. Year after year, there is a waitlist for staterooms and the cruises hit Fully Reserved earlier and earlier.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 is fully reserved. Guests wishing to sail on the cruise should Join the Wait List now. Any cancellations by current guests will be filled by the Wait List.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.1 and ‘27.2 are both in Open Booking. ’27.1 is more than 85% reserved and ’27.2 is more than 95% reserved. Please note that the itineraries for both sailings have been updated.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1
Tampa – Cozumel – Grand Cayman – Tampa
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2
Tampa – Grand Cayman – Ocho Rios – Tampa
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise
Encore Sailing ’27
1.12.27 – 1.17.27
One Sailing is Never Enough!
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’26 (Foster ’26) was a runaway hit program. From the first note to the last song, the brilliance of David Foster was evident in every show and event. As you recall, David wanted to learn more about how the cruise programs unfold before he casted the lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Sailing ’27.
That moment has arrived. Last week, the lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Sailing ’27 was announced and includes Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Katharine McPhee, Erich Bergen and more.
Foster ’26 Guests are currently able to finalize rebooking of their staterooms through April 10, after which Pre-Sail Reservations holders will be eligible to select a stateroom and complete their reservation. There is still time to complete a Pre-Sail Reservation (no deposit or obligation required)—just click below.
The Jazz Cruise ’27
1.17.27 – 1.24.27
Still the Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea
The Jazz Cruise is the first program that Signature Cruise Experiences ever produced. Since its first sailing in 2001, The Jazz Cruise has been the world leader in presenting “straight ahead” jazz at sea.
The cruise is in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.
The Jazz Cruise reaches Fully Reserved every year and staterooms for The Jazz Cruise ’27 are being reserved faster and sooner than ever.
Journey of Jazz ’27
1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Now in Open Booking
Journey of Jazz ’27 will be an amazing cruise program featuring hosts Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter, a full lineup of great musicians and vocalists and a special two days in New Orleans which features Wynton Marsalis and a group of his hand-picked musicians.
In its second season, Journey of Jazz proudly combines the very best music with opportunities to live the jazz life and learn more about the history of jazz. As an example, Journey of Jazz ’27 will present Ledisi as a main show performer on the ship. In keeping with the theme of the cruise, Ledisi will perform her universally beloved Tribute to Dinah (Washington) program.
Details for the overnight stay in New Orleans are nearly complete. There will be special jazz shows in the city, dining at iconic New Orleans restaurants (Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, Arnaud’s and more), tours of the city on land and by ship and much more. Each event in New Orleans will be curated, produced and presented by Signature Cruise Experiences.
Journey of Jazz ’27 is in Open Booking. You may select and reserve any available stateroom at this time. This may be the jazz experience of the year.
Sailing in 18 Months
Botti at Sea IV (’27)
10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec
A Canadian itinerary in the Fall is one of the most popular cruise itineraries in the industry. Fall colors, beautiful scenery, hands on adventures in famous ports-of-call. If nothing else was taking place on the ship, a cruise with these features would be in high demand. So, when Chris Botti decided to take his amazing cruise program from Boston to Quebec City, with a full complement of the entertainers and performers that you have grown to love and expect, not only was he gilding the lily, but he was creating one of the top music cruise experiences ever offered.
Stay tuned for more programming and reservation procedure details. As is always the case on a Signature Cruise Experiences program, guests on Botti at Sea III (’26) (’26 Guests) will be able to rebook their current staterooms and those who are not ’26 Guests will be eligible to submit a Pre-Sail Reservation which will establish their stateroom selection priority after the ’26 Guests complete their rebooking procedure.
Look for most of this to happen around 8.15.26!
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3
10.13.27 – 10.20.27
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.3, which departs from Quebec City on 10.13.27 and sails through Canada terminating in Boston on 10.20.27, has been announced and will be an exciting combination of our customary great music, Fall colors and other special events.
From now through 3.31.26, guests sailing on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 (’26 Guests) have the exclusive opportunity to reserve their ’26 stateroom for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.3. Those who are not ’26 Guests may establish their priority for selecting a stateroom for that cruise by completing a Pre-Sail Reservation. Pre-Sail Reservations will be activated in mid-April.