The ’25 – ’26 NFL season is kicking off (literally) this weekend. Already off to a memorable start with Jerry Jones joining the Bill Belichick “What Was I Thinking?” club as the Micah Parsons-less Dallas Cowboys lost to the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. This is a perfect time to talk about the interaction of Jazz and the NFL.
Most of you are probably thinking, he is getting ready to sail on Journey of Jazz ’25 and he does not have the time to compose a serious Our Take, so he is manufacturing something silly so that he can slide by. I take great exception to that accusation. Under no circumstances was this silly Our Take “manufactured” in any way. It is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I will share my research with anyone and those wishing to “fact check” what we are about to discuss, feel free to do so.
As for the hope of sliding by with this subject, there may be a grain of truth there. Rarely do I have difficulty finding a good topic to discuss, but Journey of Jazz ’25 is our first West Coast cruise in many years and, by far, the most ambitious land-based excursion package that we have ever offered. Our focus has been on the “nuts and bolts” of that program, so the left-brain forces have been working overtime which has caused a power shortage in the right-brain activities. The level of power in both sides was low to begin with, so this latest surge has accelerated the path to a black out.
Back to Jazz and the NFL. Long before the halftime shows at the Super Bowl were populated by Rihanna and Usher, those shows featured a combination of jazz musicians and marching bands. The first two Super Bowls featured the Grambling State University Marching Band. They changed it up for the third game, featuring the Florida A & M University Marching Band instead. That the game was in Miami was likely the sole driving force for this “monumental” shift.
The 1970 game moved to New Orleans, ushering in the era of jazz musicians for the halftime shows. Over the next few years, Doc Severinsen, Lionel Hampton, Ella Fitzgerald, Woody Herman, Pete Fountain, and several appearances by Al Hirt, were the stars of the shows.
And, there were countless marching bands as well, including the Southeast Missouri State Marching Band. I live in Missouri and I have never heard of this band and cannot name the city where this band is located (Editor’s Note: Cape Girardeau).
As a counterbalance to jazz and marching bands, the most frequent performing group in the early days was Up with People. Remember them? To some, this group represented all that was good and right in America. To others, they seemed phony and lifeless. Often compared to the Sing Along with Mitch troupe, UWP was a cult-like phenomenon that eventually ended due more to its lack of relevancy than its other foibles. For the trivia buffs in the audience, Glenn Close was one of the original UWP cast members.
The 1991 Super Bowl is generally seen as the birth of the Super Bowl Halftime Extravaganza. New Kids on the Block were the performers and, from there, the icons of every music genre took turns performing including Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and Diana Ross. Michael’s sister, Janet Jackson, performing with Justin Timberlake, scored perhaps the most memorable performance and brought the term “wardrobe malfunction” into our vocabulary.
Interesting. Just as jazz grew up in America, Super Bowl Halftime Shows began with marching bands and jazz musicians. What could be more New Orleans?
Did we mention that the next sailing of Journey of Jazz (1.24.27 – 1.31.27) will be overnighting in the Crescent City? New Orleans, where else would our next Journey of Jazz visit?
By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, Christian McBride’s World 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.
Festival Season Continues
JazzFest White Plains
September 10-14
Downtown White Plains, NY
Featuring Kurt Elling, Kenny Barron, Wycliffe Gordon, Steve Turre and others
Montclair Jazz Festival Downtown Jubilee
September 13
Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair, NJ Featuring Christian McBride & Ursa Major, Jazzmeia Horn, Lakecia Benjamin & Phoenix and others
Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival
September 18-21
Pittsburgh, PA Featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jonathan Butler & Dan Wilson, Kandace Springs and others
Gulf Coast Jazz Festival
September 19-21
Sanders Beach – Corrine Jones Resource Center, Pensacola, FL
Featuring Mindi Abair, Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright, Peter White and others
Monterey Jazz Festival
September 26-28
Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey, CA
Featuring Christian McBride & Ursa Major, Gregory Porter, John & Gerald Clayton, Benny Green, Dianne Reeves and others
Signature Cruise Experiences Programs Stateroom Availability
JOURNEY OF JAZZ ’25
is Fully Reserved
Journey of Jazz is fully reserved. A few staterooms are available due to guests forced to cancel their reservations. Call the office for cancelled stateroom pricing and availability.
DAVID FOSTER: THE HITMAN CRUISE
is in Open Booking
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise will deliver five incredible days & nights of five-star entertainment, centered around the music of 16-time GRAMMY® winner David Foster, including Michael McDonald, Katharine McPhee, Babyface and other incredible talents.
Open Booking has begun and staterooms are moving fast! Act soon to reserve your stateroom using Promo Code: EOS25 for special End of Summer Pricing. Ends 9.22.25!
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE’S WORLD AT SEA
is in Open Booking
Join us on Christian McBride’s World at Sea to see Christian and amazing vocalists like Samara Joy, Ledisi, José James, Angélique Kidjo and more! We’ve heard your requests! End of Summer Pricing is available for ALL remaining staterooms at incredible savings through the End of Summer! Use Promo Code: EOS25 to book your stateroom about Christian McBride’s World at Sea at the lowest price seen! Offer good through September 22!
*New Reservations Only
THE JAZZ CRUISE ’26
is in Open Booking
The Jazz Cruise ’26 will be sold out before you know it. It’s happened every year since 2001. Book Now with Promo Code: EOS25 to secure the best pricing available and your place on the Greatest Jazz Festival in the World!
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.1 & 26.2
are Fully Reserved
Of course, you may join the Waitlist. Or, if you’d prefer to sail the West Coast this fall, consider joining us on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3.
THE TOP SHELF COUNTRY CRUISE
is in Open Booking
With premium talent like Keith Urban, Lee Brice, Scotty McCreery, Parmalee, LeAnn Rimes, Thelma & James and Kassi Ashton, Top Shelf Country Cruise earns its title as the First-Class Country Music Cruise! Reserve your stateroom today!
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.3
is in Open Booking
For the first time in many years, The Smooth Jazz Cruise will sail on the West Coast!
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3 is in Open Booking and staterooms are more than 85% reserved. Reserve your stateroom today!
BOTTI AT SEA’26
is in Open Booking
The full lineup of artists and excursions has been announced! Though the cruise is more than a year away, staterooms are going fast. Reserve your stateroom today to see Chris Botti, Boz Scaggs, Elvis Costello, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle and more!
JOURNEY OF JAZZ ’27
has been announced
Journey of Jazz ’27 will be announced no later than January 15, 2026. Sailing dates are 1.24.27 – 1.31.27 and will include special programming in New Orleans.
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘27.1 & ‘27.2
has been announced
Marcus Miller and Boney James announced headliners and itinerary for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.1 and ‘27.2 in a live Lineup Reveal last week. If you missed it, catch it HERE!