Perhaps as long as 20 years ago, my mother called me in a frantic tone telling me that I needed to fly to New York to see the most amazing singer she had seen since Joe Williams. She had seen him perform in a small venue in Harlem and said he was unique and powerful. I asked her what his name was and she couldn’t remember, but she was certain that the venue was St. Nick’s Pub. My mother, Anita Berry, would never forget any reference to Christmas, so I believed her.
After a bit of digging, I realized that Mom had “found” Gregory Porter. Though she was prone to hyperbole, she was on the money when it came to Gregory. Five minutes into his first song, I knew that I was hearing a voice that was unique, but, more importantly, it was compelling and soothing at the same time. I could not take my eyes off his performance and I could not think of anything else when he was singing. To this day, I feel the same way.
Most of his show at that time was a presentation of his own music. Each song from the heart with a message that mattered. No frills. No gimmicks. Just beautiful music and meaningful lyrics. Given his size and the seriousness of his topics, he could have come across as imposing and distant, but his beautiful soul was always on display and his engaging smile made you feel comfortable and at peace.
There is a show biz adage that even a “B” singer can sound great with an “A” song. Recently, Gregory has added tunes from the Great American Songbook to his shows and his recordings. Doing so allows us to compare his voice to others. I knew I loved when he sang, but was I falling for the tune or the singer? Of course the answer is both, but, if he never wrote a song and his shows were replete with tunes we know, he would be just as wonderful and exciting as he is when singing his songs.
I have heard giants in the business say that Gregory Porter is their favorite male vocalist, regardless of genre. Not sure how many folks are on that team, but count me in.
Gregory is co-hosting our Journey of Jazz ’27 cruise in late January. That journey will take us to New Orleans. The thought of him singing on the way to and from New Orleans excites me. Though he is from Bakersfield, CA, he could easily persuade folks that The Big Easy was somewhere in his background. The richness of his voice. The effortlessness of his singing. But, mostly the spirit he presents has a mystical, supernatural feel that is so obvious in New Orleans. Gregory seems to be a person who has lived for decades and will continue to live forever. Spiritually present at all times.
I am sure that I would have located Gregory without the assistance of my mother, but her involvement makes for a better story. Honoring her today is also apt. Today would have been her 97th birthday. Never one for shunning the spotlight or missing a party, I bought her a cake….just in case.
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, Top Shelf Country Cruise and The Yacht Rock Cruise. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.
SFJAZZ Concerts
This fall, several of our artists are appearing at SFJAZZ as part of that organization’s 2026-2027 concert season.
Christian McBride will perform with both his Ray Brown Centennial Celebration project (September 10-11) and Ursa Major (September 12-13). Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves will celebrate John Coltrane with music from the seminal 1963 album John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman on September 17-19. The Ravi Coltrane Quartet will also celebrate Ravi’s late father with a concert on September 19 at UC-Berkeley. Finally, on September 24-26, Marcus Miller will perform music from the We Want Miles album, alongside classic Davis repertoire, joined by fellow Miles alumni Mike Stern, Bill Evans and Mino Cinelu.
SFJAZZ Concerts
Across the country in NYC, Jazz at Lincoln Center will be featuring numerous SCE artists, as it kicks off its concert season on September 17-19 with Marsalis & the Masters, featuring Wynton Marsalis, performing with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, who interprets the music of jazz masters Thelonious Monk, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Chick Corea and other giants.
On October 2-3, Catherine Russell & Friends (including guest Cyndi Lauper) will celebrate her 70th Birthday.
In the Appel Room on October 9-10, Wycliffe Gordon, an original member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, will present his musical autobiography, Welcome to Georgia Town, a journey through his life experiences and upbringing in Georgia, with an assist from the five-person chorus Damien Sneed and Friends.
Finally, another longtime SCE favorite, Chucho Valdés will be joined on October 16-17 by an all-star quintet featuring saxophonist Joe Lovano, bassist John Patitucci, trumpeter Terence Blanchard and drummer Marcus Gilmore, in a musical celebration of the Cuban pianist’s 85th birthday.
Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs
SCE Sailings in ’26
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3
9.11.26 – 9.18.26
Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles
34th Sailing of the Greatest Party at Sea
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.
Botti at Sea ’26
9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver
Josh Groban Performing on Botti at Sea ’26!
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!
David Foster at Sea
1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa
It’s Your Music!
The ’26 David Foster cruise was a runaway hit. From the first note to the last song, the brilliance of David Foster was evident in every show and event.
The star-studded lineup for David Foster at Sea 27 includes Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Leslie Odom Jr., Katharine McPhee, Erich Bergen and more.
The Jazz Cruise ’27
1.17.27 – 1.24.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Belize – Costa Maya – Tampa
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 it has sailed and The Jazz Cruise ’27 is near that goal again (over 88% Reserved).
Journey of Jazz ’27
1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa
Cruising to the Birthplace of Jazz
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, 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.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise
’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
Tampa – Ocho Rios – Grand Cayman – Tampa
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)
Tampa – Grand Cayman – Ocho Rios – Tampa
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 98% 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.
The Yacht Rock Cruise
9.12.27 – 9.18.27
Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles
In Open Booking! Reservations Going Fast!
The music. The lifestyle. The soundtrack to good times. The Yacht Rock Cruise is bringing it all to sea for the very first time, with an extraordinary lineup, immersive experiences and world-class production.
Our inaugural voyage features Kenny Loggins, Boz Scaggs, Little River Band, Yacht Rock Revue, Ray Parker, Jr. and Captain Adam, the voice of Yacht Rock Radio.
The Yacht Rock Cruise is in now in Open Booking, meaning anyone may reserve any available stateroom. As the headline suggests, reservations are going fast
Botti at Sea ’27
10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Boston – Portland – Saint John – Sydney – Charlottetown – Quebec City
Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Canada
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 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.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3
10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Quebec City – Charlottetown – Sydney – Saint John – Portland – Boston
The Smooth Jazz Cruise Heads to Canada in the Fall
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3 program will be an exciting combination of our customary great music, Fall colors and other special events. Marcus Miller, Boney James, Brian Culbertson, Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer and others will lead the team for another edition of this iconic program.
This cruise is currently in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.