Get Your September Edition of DownBeat Here!
The was a time, believe it or not, when you would purchase your newspaper from stands on street corners. Sellers would walk into the street and shove the paper into your car through an open window, and you paid them on the spot. Kids had paper routes which were eventually gobbled up by older guys who drove through your neighborhood and tried to hit your front door or porch with the daily news.
The Newsies who occupied the street corners would yell out “Get Your Paper Here!” Those days are long gone, but, through the generosity of DownBeat magazine, the current “go to” chronicle for what is going on in the jazz world, Jazz Notes can digitally cry out “Get Your Jazz Mag Here” and magically the September edition of DownBeat will appear.
Why is the September edition being singled out? Simple. The edition includes Frank Alkyer’s article about Signature Cruise Experiences and the magazine was kind enough to allow us to share a copy with our Jazz Notes followers. The magazine also includes an offer that invites our readers to enjoy a free 6-month digital subscription to DownBeat.
We urge you to take advantage of this offer and learn more about DownBeat. The more you know about jazz, the more you will want to know. Expanding the world of informed jazz fans is important to us.
Michael Lazaroff
Signature Cruise Experiences
The Results Are In!
In a recent edition of Jazz Notes, we reflected on the results of the DownBeat Critics Poll, which was tilted far away from the mainstream and smooth jazz genres, toward more left-of-center and less accessible artists. So we thought it would be fun to do our poll of our guests about their favorites in the same categories, with artists on the ballot all having performed on one or more of our cruises
The results are in and, although they reflect the popularity of The Smooth Jazz Cruise and The Jazz Cruise within our portfolio of jazz (and jazz-adjacent) programs, the musicianship and artistic excellence are prevalent throughout. One thing for sure – the winners (listed in bold) and runner-ups comprise one hell of a band.
Lee Mergner
Jazz Consultant
Rick Braun
Chris Botti
Patches Stewart
Wynton Marsalis
Wycliffe Gordon
Brian Culbertson
Delfeayo Marsalis
Boney James
Richard Elliot
Houston Person
Eric Marienthal
Paquito D’Rivera
Mindy Abair
Emmet Cohen
Sullivan Fortner
Herbie Hancock
Brian Culbertson
Sullivan Fortner
Herbie Hancock
John Pizzarelli
Peter White
Jonathan Butler
Pat Metheny
Christian McBride
Ron Carter
John Clayton
Marcus Miller
Christian McBride
Nate Phillips
Jeff Hamilton
Sheila E.
Joe Farnsworth
Samara Joy
Cecile McLorin Salvant
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Dianne Reeves
Gregory Porter
Kurt Elling
Jeffrey Osborne
Jonathan Butler
There’s Still Time to Sail on
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3 & Botti at Sea ’26
From 9.11.26 – 9.18.26, The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 will sail from Vancouver to Los Angeles. The cruise features the very best “smooth jazz” musicians and bands in the world.
This sailing has been Fully Reserved for months, but last-minute cancellations have freed up a few staterooms. If you are interested, click the button below or visit www.thesmoothjazzcruise.com for more information.
The same ship will turn around and sail from Los Angeles back to Vancouver from 9.18.26 – 9.25.26. Hosted by Chris Botti, Botti at Sea III features Josh Groban, Elvis Costello, Melody Gardot, Boz Scaggs and more. Staterooms remain in several categories and special cruise prices are available for Ocean View, Inside and selected Veranda staterooms. Click below or visit www.bottiatsea.com for more information.
In both cases, stateroom quantities are very limited and all staterooms are available on a first come first serve basis.
Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs
SCE Sailings in ’27
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3
9.11.26 – 9.18.26
34th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”
Known as “The Greatest Party at Sea,” The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3, which departs from Vancouver on 9.11.26 and sails to Victoria, BC and San Francisco, before terminating in Los Angeles on 9.18.26, is fully reserved. If you wish to try to join the cruise, go to the website and JOIN WAITLIST for any stateroom category you wish. All cancellations for this cruise will be filled from the waitlist.
Botti at Sea III (’26)
9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Sail Now, Pay Later!
When The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 docks in Los Angeles, we will turn around and head back to Vancouver (via San Francisco and Victoria, BC) under the guidance of superstar Chris Botti. Chris Botti at Sea III will be the perfect combination of a topflight music cruise and exciting excursions.
In addition to the recently announced Josh Groban, joining Chris on the cruise are several music icons: Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs and Melody Gardot, and many others. When in San Francisco, guests may take winery tours in Napa and Sonoma, spend the day on the Napa Valley Wine Train, sample the finest cuisine in San Francisco and much more. Another menu of excursions awaits guests when the cruise docks in Victoria, BC. Trust us, this is the perfect music experience!
SCE Sailings in ’27
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27
1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Why One Sailing Isn’t 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.
The lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Sailing ’27 includes Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Leslie Odom Jr., Katharine McPhee, Erich Bergen and more.
This cruise is now in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.
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 Jazz Cruise has reached Fully Reserved every year and The Jazz Cruise ’27 is near that goal again (over 87% Reserved).
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, as well as a special two days in New Orleans featuring 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 who will perform her universally beloved Tribute to Dinah (Washington) program. Recently announced, John Pizzarelli will do tributes to both Nat King Cole and Duke Ellington.
Journey of Jazz ’27 is the best kind of learning experience…no tests, just recess!
The Smooth Jazz Cruise
’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)
The Greatest Party at Sea presents its customary back to back weeklong programs in the Caribbean. Tampa is the port of embarkation and disembarkation for the first time and both sailings will call on Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.
The star studded lineup is led by hosts Marcus Miller and Boney James and features Brian Culbertson, Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer, Kirk Whalum, Peter White and more.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.1 is in Open Booking and more than 97% reserved at this time.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2 is Fully Reserved, but, for those who have been pining for the Penthouse Suite on this sailing, one became available last week. To paraphrase a Seals & Crofts tune, “(This) May Never Pass This Way Again”! Go to the website to claim the Penthouse Suite or click JOIN WAITLIST for any other stateroom category you wish.
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 around Labor Day for more programming and reservation procedure details. As always on a Signature Cruise Experiences program, guests on Botti at Sea III (’26) (’26 Guests) will be able to rebook their current staterooms. 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.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3
10.13.27 – 10.20.27
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3 program will be an exciting combination of our customary great music, Fall colors and other special events.
This cruise is currently in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.