With our first sailing (The Jazz Cruise ’25) not until January 28, 2025, we have more time this year, but we continued our tradition of this holiday, nonetheless. In part, because the break comes at a good time, as you will learn below, and, in part, because my first ever trip to Wimbledon, while heavily-insured, is too tempting to cancel. Yes, we believe in purchasing Travel Insurance as well as advising our guests to do so! To keep up appearances as a supporter of the art of jazz, we will be visiting Pizza Express and Ronnie Scott’s while in London.

Believe it or not, one of the artists we will be seeing is our very own Marcus Miller, who has a long set of shows at Ronnie Scott’s. For years, our UK friends have jumped the pond to spend time with us listening to jazz. Just the beginning of our theme for this note, “flipping the script.”  

I mentioned that this time of the year is a perfect “break” for us. Our year is divided into four parts, in terms of our focus — January and February we spend at sea mostly, presenting our programs. March through the end of June sees us in full launch mode for the sailings of the next year. Mostly, we are reserving staterooms, finalizing lineups and sharing that information with our guests.

The time after July 4th through Halloween is spent in two ways: We are either creating and finalizing the programming for the upcoming cruises or preparing lineups and other information for the launch of the next set of cruises. These activities are not linear. We flip back and forth all the time, dedicating certain days for Performance Schedules, Programming and Special Events and some time for new lineups, website improvements and guest correspondence. Once we hit Halloween, it is full go on the production of the upcoming sailings. When we are closer to those dates, we can share some stories with you.

By now, you have either forgotten or no longer care to learn about why this note is titled “Flipping the Script.” Sorry, but I cannot let you off that easily. In part, out of curiosity and, in part, to either confirm or deny our recent conclusions, rather than us telling you something, we are asking you to “tell us what you think.”

Specifically, share with us the 3 – 5 aspects, events or elements of one or more of our cruise programs that you enjoy the most and 3 – 5 of such items that you would prefer us to either delete or modify in some way. Please identify the cruise you are assessing somewhere in your note. We would hate to remove an item on Cruise #1 that was a sticking point on Cruise #2!

Bullet points are sufficient. No need to explain in detail why you like or dislike something, but, if you believe that a description would assist us, feel free to add one. Send your notes to us at info@scecruises.com. We may respond back to you asking for more information or posing questions for you to consider. Your participation would be greatly appreciated. Let’s shoot for all incoming guest emails be delivered to us by June 30. And all responses from us by July 31.

From the inception of our cruise programs, we made it clear that our goal is to present the type of cruise programs that our guests want to experience. Given the popularity of the programs, we sometimes lose sight of the fact that not everything we do is loved by all and that we may not realize what elements of the cruises are “gold” to our guests. We think we know these things, but it has been a while since we have asked you to share.

Granted, most of our guest information is gathered anecdotally and our guests, never known for their shyness, frequently share their thoughts with us via email or by phone. We do our very best to respond in a timely manner, but sometimes the volume of emails causes us to miss one or two or not respond as we would like to do. By this process, you sending us your comments by email, we will have the holiday time to carefully review each submission.  

St. Louis to London is a long plane ride. Reading your mail will make that trip go by very quickly.

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, and Journey of Jazz. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com

Ken Peplowski’s Live at Mezzrow

Clarinetist and saxophonist Ken Peplowski, a longtime regular of The Jazz Cruise, has just released his second album of the year. Live at Mezzrow was recorded at the intimate jazz club in NYC and features Ken with Ted Rosenthal, Martin Wind and Willie Jones III, performing several jazz classics as well as some lesser-known gems.

“This is my favorite way to record,” Ken explained. “I like to work on song material for a year or two, find some interesting tunes that are not so often played, revive some tunes that I haven’t played in years, and just go in with friends and record in a set up like a band on stage and play through the music, warts and all, and that’s exactly what we did.”

MidSummer Vacation July 4 – 14, 2024

As mentioned in the “Our Take,” the offices of Jazz Cruises will be closed starting at 2:00 PM ET on July 3 through July 14 for a Midsummer Vacation. We will reopen at the usual time (10 AM ET) on Monday, July 15, 2024. During this time, guests may complete reservations online, check their Jazz Cruises account and submit questions to us at info@scecruises.com. Responses may take a bit longer, but we will answer all questions submitted.

All of us at Jazz Cruises wish you and yours a happy, fun and safe July 4th holiday. Whether you spend it on the beach, at a pool, on the deck or just lounging, every holiday deserves a few hours of great jazz! Do not live without it!

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary
The Last 90 Staterooms…Act Now! 

The plans for the 25th Anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’25 are spectacular. The cruise is over 94% reserved and is currently in Open Booking, which means that anyone may reserve any available stateroom. The remaining inventory, totaling just over 80 staterooms, includes Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd Decade
Both Sailings Fully Reserved

With both sailings being fully reserved, guests wishing to sail on a ’25 sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise should JOIN WAITLIST now. Cancellations will be filled exclusively from the WAITLIST. WAITLIST guests qualify for special terms when reserving a stateroom on The Jazz Cruise ’25 or Botti at Sea II.

JOIN WAITLIST

Botti at Sea ’25
Every Night is a Night on the Town
New Performer – Diana Krall! 

Botti at Sea ’25 is over 65% reserved. Anyone may reserve an available stateroom by calling the office during regular business hours or doing so online. It was this time last year that there was a “run” on staterooms, so act now! Diana Krall has just been added to the lineup! 

BOOK NOW

Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 
Reserve Now – Land Events Menu Soon

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, is in Open Booking. Though not sailing for 15 months, the cruise is more than 65% reserved. Menu of land-based events in Victoria and San Francisco to be announced in late July! Reserve your stateroom now to be eligible for events at that time.

BOOK NOW

1-Day Tickets to STL Jazz Fest Are On Sale Now!

Mug Shots of the Week

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post OUR TAKE: Flipping the Script appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

New Music

Two artists who have sailed on several of our programs have just released new albums. We hope you will give them a listen.

Etienne Charles’ Creole Orchestra

With Creole Orchestra, his 10th album as a leader and first for a large ensemble, trumpeter/composer/arranger (and Trinidad native) Etienne Charles delivers a mix of creole flavors, channeling a cross section of energies from reggae and soca dancehalls to hip-hop and then back in time to the swinging days of the Savoy Ballroom. Showcased on the new album are the Haitian-American rhythm section tandem of drummer Obed Calvaire and bassist Jonathan Michel, as well as pianist Sullivan Fortner, trumpeter Giveton Gelin, saxophonist Godwin Louis, and cuatro maestro Jorge Glem. Vocalist Rene Marie makes a guest star appearance on three tracks, including two of her own compositions.

The history of big band influence in the Caribbean stems from the establishment of two U.S. naval bases on Trinidad during World War II. Along with the military bases came Trinidad’s first radio station, “and the music played was big band music, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington,” said Etienne. “You immediately started hearing mini-big band arrangements mimicking the Ellington and Miller styles on Trinidadian calypso recordings.” 

Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble

Also released this week was drummer/composer Matt Wilson’s latest album which celebrates the legacy of John Lewis. Standing on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama 55 years to the day after he was nearly killed while marching for Civil Rights, Congressman John Lewis urged the crowd to, “Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” Those words have inspired countless Americans in the last few years, Wilson among them.

“I tend to think about what we do as musicians as ‘good trouble,’” Wilson says. “We want to be provocative, we want to make statements, we want to open doors for people. Representative Lewis’ words inspire people to do what they can do from where they are. I’m not an elected official, but there are things we can do with just good deeds.” That mission drives the music on Good Trouble, which also debuts a new quintet, also christened Good Trouble, which features a blend of longtime collaborators and new acquaintances: alto saxophonist Tia Fuller, tenor saxophonist and clarinetist Jeff Lederer, pianist and vocalist Dawn Clement and bassist Ben Allison.

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary
The Last 90 Staterooms…Act Now!

The plans for the 25th Anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’25 are spectacular. The cruise is over 92% reserved and is currently in Open Booking, which means that anyone may reserve any available stateroom. The remaining inventory, totaling 90+ staterooms, includes Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd Decade
Both Sailings Fully Reserved

With both sailings being fully reserved, guests wishing to sail on a ’25 sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise should JOIN WAITLIST now. Cancellations will be filled exclusively from the WAITLIST. WAITLIST guests qualify for special terms when reserving a stateroom on The Jazz Cruise ’25 or Botti at Sea II.

JOIN WAITLIST

Botti at Sea ’25
Every Night is a Night on the Town
New Performer – Diana Krall!

Botti at Sea II is over 65% reserved. Anyone may reserve an available stateroom by calling the office during regular business hours or doing so online. It was this time last year that there was a “run” on staterooms, so act now! Diana Krall just added to the lineup! 

BOOK NOW

Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 
Reserve Now – Land Events Menu Soon 

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, is in Open Booking. Though not sailing for 15 months, the cruise is more than 65% reserved. Menu of land-based events in Victoria and San Francisco to be announced in late July! Reserve your stateroom now to be eligible for events at that time. 

BOOK NOW

Mug Shots of the Week

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post OUR TAKE: The Circle of Jazz appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

The addition of more vocalists on The Jazz Cruise and The Smooth Jazz Cruise over the years reflects several considerations. First, we have found that many vocalists are prepared to perform with one of our bands or a combination of their music director, most often a piano player, and our musicians. Second, adding vocals to our lineups has been well received by our guests. Listening to tunes they know being presented by top voices has enriched the cruise experience, broadened the audiences and enlivened the programming. Finding the “right” singers, however, remains a challenge, particularly for The Smooth Jazz Cruise.

Botti at Sea II is intended to offer the broadest array of talent and programming, so vocalists abound. With at least one more significant vocalist addition to be announced soon, this cruise boasts Katharine McPhee, Corinne Bailey Rae, esperanza spalding, Morgan James, Thana Alexa, Mindi Abair and Benny Benack III.

Journey of Jazz ’25 follows suit with Gregory Porter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Bria Skonberg and Benny Benack III.

The art of jazz remains dominated by instrumentalists sharing the bandstand. There is no plan or reason to believe that our cruises will depart from that foundation, nor should it. One way to look at our programming is to assess the volume of music. In reviewing the history of our cruises, the hours of vocals have not been added at the expense of instrumental presentation. Instead, vocals account for the expanse of our programming. The total number of instrumental music on The Jazz Cruise ’25 is no less (actually greater) than it was in ’01. The total number of hours of music, though, has increased dramatically, directly related to the addition of vocals and special shows.

That is our story, and we will sing (and play) it from the top of the mountain down to the sea. After all, Jazz Cruises is the Gold Standard of Music at Sea Since 2001.

STL Jazz Fest 1-Day Tickets Available Now!

1-Day tickets for STL Jazz Fest are now on sale!
For details about the festival and information on how to purchase tickets, see below: 

STL Jazz Fest
Produced by Jazz Cruises
The Factory – Chesterfield (St. Louis) Missouri

Friday, August 23, 2024
Eric Marienthal Quintet, featuring Niki Haris
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
GREGORY PORTER

Saturday, August 24, 2024
Mindi Abair with Eric Marienthal & Friends
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
BRIAN CULBERTSON

Doors 6 PM | Showtime 7 PM

Labor Day Weekend Jazz Festivals

Vail Jazz Party

Detroit Jazz Festival

This sprawling free event is held over the four-day weekend downtown in the city that claims some ownership of the labor movement. Originally founded in 1980, the 2024 edition of the Detroit Jazz Festival features many artists who have appeared on our Jazz Cruises programs, including Christian McBride, Monty Alexander, Warren Wolf, Chief Adjuah, Billy Childs with Sean Jones, Isaiah J. Thompson, Nate Smith and Marquis Hill. Drummer Brian Blade is the artist in residence and will perform multiple sets with his Fellowship band.

DC Jazz Festival

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this festival in our nation’s capital features a hybrid of free and paid concerts, with the main event being a series of outdoor concerts Aug. 31 and Sep. 1 at the Wharf, as well as some shows at the nearby Anthem venue. Headliners include several Jazz Cruises favorites such as Samara Joy, Dianne Reeves, Kenny Barron, James Morrison, Ron Carter Trio and the Emmet Cohen Trio with Houston Person. In addition, the festival hosts the DCJazzPrix International Band Competition, with the winning group receiving a $15,000 prize and a yearlong association with the DC Jazz Festival

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary

The plans for the 25th Anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’25 are spectacular. The cruise is over 90% reserved and is currently in Open Booking, which means that now anyone may reserve any available stateroom. Staterooms with Verandas remain in inventory along with Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd Decade

With both sailings being fully reserved, guests wishing to sail on a ’25 sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise should JOIN WAITLIST now. Cancellations will be filled exclusively from the WAITLIST. WAITLIST guests qualify for special terms when reserving a stateroom on The Jazz Cruise ’25 or Botti at Sea II.

JOIN WAITLIST

Botti at Sea ’25
Every Night is a Night on the Town

Botti at Sea ‘25 is in the Open Booking stage and is over 60% reserved. Anyone may reserve any available stateroom either by calling the office during regular business hours or doing so online. It was this time last year that there was a “run” on staterooms, so act now! 

BOOK NOW

Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 
West Coast Style 

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz ’25, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, has completed the Pre-Sale process and began Open Booking on April 30, 2024. Like a race care, this program as gone from 0 – 60(%) sold in the blink of an eye. 

BOOK NOW

Mug Shots of the Week

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post OUR TAKE: Let’s Talk Vocals appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Do numbers alone tell the story of a man? Not really, but sometimes the numbers are so astounding that you must take notice. Is Rafael Nadal the greatest clay court tennis player ever? He is 112 – 4 at Roland Garros. Frank Sinatra sold more than 95 million records! Amazing, until you hear that Elvis Presley sold 135 million records! Who knows how they measure sales today given the fractured record industry.

So, when I first heard that David Foster had been nominated for a GRAMMY® Award 47 times and won 16, I had to take a hard look at who else was so prolific and successful. 24 people have won more than David Foster, with Beyoncé leading the field with 32. In the producer/arranger/songwriter world, only Quincy Jones, John Williams and Henry Mancini have won more. As you might expect, the nomination rankings are very similar.

To me, the number of Foster’s GRAMMY® Awards, though very impressive, pales in comparison to the span of time that he was winning them. His first was in 1979. His last was in 2009 and he was nominated in 2010. Being on the hunt for glory in the music business for 30 years is astounding. Whether you count that time in years, records, pivots, or musicians, that is a serious achievement. Jack Nicklaus won his first major in 1962 and his last, famously, in 1986, making his run of excellence 24 years long. My limited knowledge of most things does not include greater spans of excellence, though the popularity of The Rolling Stones might qualify.

Foster’s span of excellence was not simply doing the same thing over and over. In his own words, he meted out his success in stages:

Again, using his own words, Foster began as a studio musician, arranger, and recording artist. That period saw some success, but it was the foundation for the full-on haymaker in his second round when he became one of the most successful songwriters and record producers in the genre. Known for an astounding array of charitable interests and contributions, David’s efforts are legendary. A good friend of mine sat on the board of Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf’s annual tennis tournament and charity in Las Vegas. He says that Foster provides his time, his ability to secure talent and his production efforts in a humble, understated and generous manner.

The Third Round is now and, thankfully for us, it includes performing with his wife, Katharine McPhee, a former runner-up on American Idol. Her run on that show was in 2006, back when I watched the show intently. That she would lose to someone who had no talent, has had no career, and has no following was a crisis of confidence back then and now. Think I am being harsh? When was the last time you played a Taylor Hicks song? I thought so!

For those who were not on Botti at Sea ’24, I have two questions and one comment. First question, why weren’t you on that amazing cruise? Second, have you heard about Katharine’s tour de force performance during which she jumped on the piano being played by David, danced among the seated guests, stood on one of the venue chairs and slid across the stage? For those who might say “So what?”, what you are missing is that the night of their performance was the bumpiest night of the entire four weeks we sailed in ’24! 

Ginger Rogers once offered that she did everything that Fred Astaire did, only she did it going backwards wearing heels. Yes, Katharine had a mean set of heels on that night as well. Our comment is a simple one. The Foster/McPhee show was one of the most memorable shows in the 25-year history of Jazz Cruises. Asking them to come back for Botti at Sea II was a no brainer. That they accepted is a great result.

We have been told that Foster/McPhee are working on a special show just for Botti at Sea II! That should not be a problem. All of their shows are special. Who knows, the show may wind up being a GRAMMY^® Award-winning album 

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, and Journey of Jazz. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com

Join Us For the First Botti 250

For the past several weeks, Chris Botti and his band have been traveling in Europe performing for great crowds of his International fans. June brings him back to the U.S. for several weeks of touring! While back, Chris will be putting the final touches on Chris Botti at Sea II (’25).
 
To learn more about the cruise, join our “Botti 250” webinar at 3 pm ET on June 4, 2024, as Chris shares the latest news about our lineup (one more star to be added), special programming and more! Despite his passion for fast cars and racing, Botti 250 is not the name of an automobile race. “250” refers to the number of days between then and the sailing date of Botti at Sea II (’25).

We are counting down the days….Jazz Cruises’ staff will be on the webinar as well, ready to answer your cruise questions in real time.

STL Jazz Fest One-Day Tickets
Available Now!

1-Day tickets for STL Jazz Fest are now on sale! For details about the festival
and information on how to purchase tickets, see below: 

STL JAZZ FEST
Produced by Jazz Cruises
The Factory – Chesterfield (St. Louis) Missouri

FRIDAY AUGUST 23, 2024
Eric Marienthal Quintet, featuring Niki Haris
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
GREGORY PORTER

SATURDAY AUGUST 24, 2024
Mindi Abair with Eric Marienthal & Friends
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
BRIAN CULBERTSON

Doors 6 PM / Showtime 7 PM

Why Jazz Cruises Sails on Celebrity Cruises Millennium Class Ships

In 2017, Jazz Cruises ended a 17-year association with Holland America Line and moved its jazz programs to Celebrity Cruises. The relocation was met with skepticism by many of our long-time guests. “Change” can be a dirty word among our faithful, but so too, is “trust.” Though the guests were not thrilled with many of the appointments in the staterooms, they did recognize that the Millennium class ships of Celebrity Cruises did offer amazing venues for our music.

The Theatre (main venue) is 100% tiered and has very few sight issues. The Sky Lounge is an inviting and well laid out room for presenting and listening to music. With a full span from port to starboard, the Rendezvous Lounge is the perfect venue for smaller shows, lectures and late-night events. But, the one venue that sets these ships apart is the way we can adapt the main dining room (Metropolitan/Cosmopolitan) to become a showroom during the day and a nightclub in the evening. With its panoramic two-deck window display as the background, and its balcony that hangs over the main floor allowing folks to view the show and the audience, shows in that venue are nothing short of spectacular.

Celebrity Cruises’ place in the cruise world is unique. A recent article in the blog known as CRUISE has presented the tone of Celebrity Cruises brilliantly:

There are four ships in the Millennium Class: Infinity, Summit, Constellation, and, of course, Millennium. Each ship has 1,109 staterooms and The Theatre can accommodate half of the guests at one time. Millennium and Summit have completed the Revolution upgrade during which every stateroom was reconfigured as well as most public areas. Remarkably, though our music venues were upgraded, their usefulness to Jazz Cruises was not compromised in any way.

Great Venues + Revolution Upgrades = Perfect Ship for Jazz Cruises.

Itinerary Change for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2

Due to the unrest in Haiti, Celebrity Cruises has removed Labadee from its list of ports-of-call for the near future. Though it is likely that Labadee will be available for future cruises, it will not be part of the itinerary for both The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1 & ’25.2.

Jazz Cruises staff has begun meeting with the Itinerary Team at Celebrity Cruises to select an alternative port-of-call. As soon as our choices are confirmed, we will let you know immediately. All other ports-of-call remain as scheduled.

Secure Your Passes for the 2nd Annual Clearwater Smooth Jazz Jam

New Album by Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin

Guitarist Lee Ritenour and keyboardist Dave Grusin, both of whom have sailed on The Smooth Jazz Cruise, have just released Brasil, a new album of contemporary Brazilian music featuring some of that country’s most notable young musicians. Recorded in São Paulo, the album includes five vocal tracks and four instrumental original compositions from Lee and Dave. Special guests include Swiss-born harmonica ace Grégoire Maret and legendary Brazilian vocalist and composer Ivan Lins, who collaborated with Lee and Dave on their GRAMMY® Award winning 1986 album Harlequin. Rounding out the talent are guitarist Celso Fonseca and vocalist Tatiana Parra. The core Brazilian contingent anchoring the rhythm section are drummer Edu Ribeiro, bassist Bruno Migotto, and percussionist Marcelo Costa. Lee announced tour dates stretching through the end of the summer. The tour kicked off on May 24 at the Jacksonville Jazz Fest and headed to the northeast before continuing on to Europe and then returning to the states in August. Dave will join Lee on select dates throughout the tour.

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary

The plans for the 25th Anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’25 are spectacular. The cruise is over 89% reserved and is currently in Open Booking, which means that now anyone may reserve any available stateroom. Staterooms with Verandas remain in inventory, along with Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd Decade

With both sailings being fully reserved, guests wishing to sail on a ’25 sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise should JOIN WAITLIST now. Cancellations will be filled exclusively from the WAITLIST. WAITLIST guests qualify for special terms when reserving a stateroom on The Jazz Cruise ’25 or Botti at Sea II.

JOIN WAITLIST

Botti at Sea II
Every Night is a Night on the Town

Botti at Sea II is in the Open Booking stage and is over 60% reserved. Anyone may reserve any available stateroom either by calling the office during regular business hours or doing so online. It was this time last year that there was a “run” on staterooms, so act now! 

BOOK NOW

Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz ’25, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, has completed the Pre-Sale process and began Open Booking on April 30, 2024. Like a race car, this program as gone from 0 – 60(%) sold in the blink of an eye. 

BOOK NOW

Mug Shots of the Week

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post OUR TAKE: David Foster appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

As shared before, I am a student of World War II. From my idolization of Winston Churchill to the stories of bravery and sacrifice of soldiers and civilians fighting to save democracy, dignity and decency, I am in awe of the massive scope of the conflict and what was at stake for the world. Though no war is entirely noble, WWII was as clear a case of good versus evil as we have ever seen.

Through documentaries, movies and television shows, the image of jazz musicians and singers performing for the troops during the war is indelible in our minds. “Swing” was king and dance was a way to put off the horror of the war and the fear that cloaked Europe and beyond. Glenn Miller, Tony Bennett, Clark Terry, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Artie Shaw, Bill Watrous and countless others went from the bandstand to the battlefield. Jazz became one of America’s most important contributions to the war effort.

By 1940, 80% of American households owned a radio, making music easier to listen to for all. Popular songs from the WWII era were accessible to civilians and soldiers and were used to build morale and create commonality among both Americans and our allies. As we discuss later, jazz and Swing tunes were enormously popular in the United Kingdom.

Popular singers of the era included Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, the Andrews Sisters (pictured above), and Bing Crosby. “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Shoo Shoo Baby,” “I’m Making Believe,” “I’ll Be Seeing You,” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” are a few of the tunes that dominated the airwaves.

My favorite Churchill biography, The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson, chronicles the underground late-night world of London during The Blitz, where young men and women would gather in the basements of substantial buildings to listen to jazz, dance, and drink, while the night air was filled with both conventional bombs and incendiary oil bombs (fire bombs) dropped by the Luftwaffe. The juxtaposition of revelry amidst tragedy accentuates the desperation of the times.

The night sky was ablaze with fire and the Underground (literally and figuratively) was where Londoners came to both save and savor life. Life is always precious, death is always frightening, particularly when the former seems threatened, and the latter seems imminent.

Only recently have I learned about the role of music in the concentration camps. Here, too, ironic and polar opposite uses were in play. As you might imagine, the prisoners used music as a divergence from the horrors of the camp and the recognition of imminent and certain death. Using whatever materials or items they could gather to create sounds and with the power of their own voices, they would gather and sing. 

The story of Sachsenhausen is most poignant. Located fewer than 40 miles from Berlin, this SS-run prisoner camp was first used to incarcerate, not exterminate, German political prisoners. Some were Jewish, but it was only later that the camp included large numbers of Jews. Gay men, handicapped men, priests and religious leaders were also sent there. Then, in 1939, over 1,200 Czech students, many of whom were artists and musicians were sent to Sachsenhausen due to their political opinions, especially their anti-fascist, anti-Nazi convictions.

As a form of humiliation and ridicule, the SS men made the prisoners of Sachsenhausen sing incessantly. They were forced to sing when working, when hauling wagons and before and after eating. Unlike the songs that the prisoners would sing on their own, which were the popular American or Czech songs of the day, they were compelled to sing German contemporary songs and Nazi hymns. If you sang too softly, you would be beaten. If you sang too loudly, you would be beaten.

As a counter measure, the prisoners would organize “sing songs” where they would perform the songs of their native lands and popular songs of the day. One particularly well-known and courageous group of Czech students was called the Sing Song Boys. Their leader was Karel Stancl who later recounted their efforts:

The Sing Song Boys created songbooks that survived the camp and the war. Beautifully written and illustrated, they are treasured remembrances of a horrific time and place.

None of us can possibly imagine what being in a concentration camp would be like. That level of degradation and inhumane treatment still exists today, but, for the most part, we see it only on television and it occurs in places that make “there but for the grace of God go I” concerns comfortably remote. For us, music, whether it is jazz or any other form of music, is a symbol of the good life, of joy and expression. 

But, for many, music has been a cathartic experience meant to provide a brief hiatus from the horrors of life and oppression by others. Whether we are talking about concentration camp prisoners, plantation slaves, genocidal wars or refugees seeking asylum, the story is similar. When our hearts are heavy and hope seems too far away, we sing, we play music, we dance.

On this Memorial Day weekend, I hope that you do all three. My one “ask” is that you realize and acknowledge how many men and women it took to give you the opportunity to sing, play and dance and how precious are our freedoms to do so. Yes, the Sing Song Boys left a musical heritage, and the music of the enslaved South would lead to our beloved jazz. In no way do these positive results mitigate or excuse the brutal savagery that preceded. Moving forward, we must find ways to create and sustain great music and a great life without having to endure the horrors of encampment and slavery or any other form of inhumane behavior.

Rainbows do follow storms. So what? How about trying to eliminate storms for a change? I would gladly forego the rainbows.

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, and Journey of Jazz. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com

Welcome Pattie Austin…Newest Member of The Summit Superband!

By now, you know that David Sanborn passed on May 12, 2024. That he will be missed is as vast an understatement as possible. There would be no point in attempting to replace him. Cannot be done. Music Director Eric Marienthal will perform the tunes that David would have played. Eric and David were close friends, colleagues and Eric has performed those tunes in David’s absence before. 

David’s passing did cause us to revisit the format of The Summit and we reached the conclusion that we needed to add a legendary vocalist to the mix. The unanimous choice by the musicians and the staff was the amazing Patti Austin. Graciously, she has accepted our invitation and will be flying from her home in Panama to join Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Marcus Miller and Dave Weckl as they make music history as The Summit, Jazz Cruises’ very own Superband.

Speaking through her longtime agent Barry Orms, Patti offered the following:

“She loves the idea of the cruise with this wild and crazy group! All great friends!  Plus, she will do a “Women Over 40” Class!”

Needless to say, Jazz Cruises is very excited, and deeply honored, that Patti Austin will be sailing with us on The Smooth Jazz Cruises in ’25!

Upcoming Season of NYC Jazz Performances

Some people say that the New York City area is the jazz capital of the world. Whether or not that’s true, it’s no secret that every night there is like a jazz festival or even like one of our jazz cruises. Three NYC area jazz organizations have announced their upcoming season of performances, many of which feature artists associated with Jazz Cruises.

92NY Jazz in July Festival

Now in its 39th year, the 92NY’s annual Jazz in July concert series is curated by the pianist Aaron Diehl, who is in his first year as artistic director, succeeding Bill Charlap. The prestigious series was founded in 1985 by the pianist Dick Hyman. The 2024 edition of the series consists of six concerts, often with a theme, held July 17-27 at either the Kaufmann Concert Hall or the recently renovated Buttenwieser Hall at the Arnhold Center. Among the headliners appearing in the series are Kenny Barron, Benny Green, Helen Sung, Marilyn Maye, Catherine Russell, Etienne Charles, Tyshawn Sorey, Warren Wolf and several others.

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2024/2025 Season

Wynton Marsalis and the folks at Jazz at Lincoln Center have announced their very full 2024/2025 concert season, which will feature several Jazz Cruises’ artists, including some special birthday celebration concerts, such as Monty Alexander’s 80th (Jan. 24-25), Anat Cohen’s 50th (Mar. 14-15), and Paquito D’Rivera’s 70th (Apr. 18-19). Dianne Reeves returns for her annual Valentine’s Day performances (Feb. 14-15) and Christian McBride and Friends will honor Ray Brown, with Benny Green and Gregory Hutchinson (May 2-3).  Among the many events in the season, Wynton and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will perform 10 unique concerts.

NJPAC’S 2024/2025 Season

The 2024/2025 jazz season at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), based in Newark, N.J., kicks off on Sep. 29 with a performance by Herbie Hancock. Among the other performances in the series are Meshell Ndegeocello (Nov. 6), the Tyshawn Sorey Trio (Nov. 15), Madeleine Peyroux (Nov. 16), Christian McBride Big Band with guest vocalists Philip Bailey, Lisa Fischer and Dianne Reeves (Nov. 21), John Pizzarelli & Catherine Russell (Nov. 22), Regina Carter (Mar. 8) and many more.

STL Jazz Fest Two-Day Tickets Available Now Thru 5.30!
Individual Tickets Go On Sale 5.31!

An invitation from Alonzo Bodden

2-Day Tickets are now available on Ticketmaster for STL JAZZ FEST. 1-Day Tickets will go on sale Friday, May 31. For details about the festival and how to purchase tickets, see below:

STL JAZZ FEST
Produced by Jazz Cruises
The Factory – Chesterfield (St. Louis) Missouri

FRIDAY AUGUST 23, 2024
Eric Marienthal Quintet, featuring Niki Haris
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
GREGORY PORTER

SATURDAY AUGUST 24, 2024
Mindi Abair with Eric Marienthal & Friends
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
BRIAN CULBERTSON
  Doors 6 pm / Showtime 7 pm

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary

The plans for the 25th Anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’25 are spectacular. The cruise is over 87% reserved and is currently in Open Booking, which means that now anyone may reserve any available stateroom. Staterooms with Verandas remain in inventory along with Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd Decade

With both sailings being fully reserved, guests wishing to sail on a ’25 sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise should JOIN WAITLIST now. Cancellations will be filled exclusively from the WAITLIST. WAITLIST guests qualify for special terms when reserving a stateroom on The Jazz Cruise ’25 or Botti at Sea II.

JOIN WAITLIST

Botti at Sea ’25
Every Night is a Night on the Town

Botti at Sea II is in the Open Booking stage and is over 60% reserved. Anyone may reserve any available stateroom either by calling the office during regular business hours or doing so online. It was this time last year that there was a “run” on staterooms, so act now! 

BOOK NOW

Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 
West Coast Style 

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz ’25, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, has completed the Pre-Sale process and began Open Booking on April 30, 2024. Like a race care, this program as gone from 0 – 60(%) sold in the blink of an eye. 

BOOK NOW

Mug Shots of the Week

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post OUR TAKE: From The Andrews Sisters to the Sing Song Boys – A Memorial Day Tribute appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Kenny Barron’s Beyond This Place

In his 80th year, Kenny Barron — NEA Jazz Master, 13-time Grammy nominee, and veteran of The Jazz Cruise — is one of the greatest jazz pianists currently at work and a still-thriving link to jazz’s midcentury golden age. His latest album, Beyond This Place, features his longtime working trio of bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Johnathan Blake, along with vibraphonist Steve Nelson and saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins. The program includes original works from throughout Kenny’s storied career, plus Monk and more.

Kirk Whalum’s Epic Cool

Kirk Whalum, who has sailed on The Smooth Jazz Cruise numerous times, as well as turns on The Jazz Cruise and other programs, has just released Epic Cool, his 28th album as a leader. Teaming up with producer Greg Manning, Whalum focuses on his songwriting to craft an album that’s passionate and spirited, but with his trademark soul. The album is very much a family affair, thanks to the presence of son Kyle on bass and nephews Kameron on trombone and Kenneth III on tenor. “I’m still on this path trying to do something important,” Whalum said. “At 65, I still feel very young. I feel like I have a mandate to be the very best version of myself and to push down some more doors.”

“Few musicians have had a greater positive impact on our programs than Kirk Whalum,” offers Jazz Cruises’ Executive Director Michael Lazaroff. “He is that rare talent that can be a major contributor to any of our themes and cruises. And, he is respected by musicians from every pocket of the jazz world.”

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Butler, Whalum and Bodden at the 2nd Annual Desert Jazz Festival!

Enjoy 4 days and 3 nights of relaxation at the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa in the beautiful Coachella Valley October 3-6.

Dive into a realm where you’re not just a guest; you’re a VIP. With no more than 400 other jazz music lovers, it’s one of the most intimate settings to enjoy music, comedy, food, and friends.
  
Arrive early or extend your stay using our Smooth Jazz Cruise exclusive code SJCDJF100 to receive a $100 discount per person by providing proof of your 2024 sailing or your current booking for 2025.

The star-studded lineup includes Ray Parker Jr., Jonathan Butler, Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright, Jessy J, Lindsey Webster, Marcus Anderson and the comedic talents of Alonzo Bodden

Reserve your space now by going to www.desertjazzfestival.com or by calling 800.248.7471. 

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

STL Jazz Fest Two-Day Tickets Available! Individual Tickets Go On Sale 5.31!

2-Day Tickets are now available on Ticketmaster for STL JAZZ FEST. 1-Day Tickets will go on sale Friday, May 31. For details about the festival and how to purchase tickets, see below:

STL JAZZ FEST
Produced by Jazz Cruises
The Factory – Chesterfield (St. Louis) Missouri

FRIDAY AUGUST 23, 2024
Eric Marienthal Quintet, featuring Niki Haris
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
GREGORY PORTER

SATURDAY AUGUST 24, 2024
Mindi Abair with Eric Marienthal & Friends
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
BRIAN CULBERTSON
  Doors 6 pm / Showtime 7 pm

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary

The plans for the 25th Anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’25 are spectacular. The cruise is over 87% reserved and is currently in Open Booking, which means that now anyone may reserve any available stateroom. Staterooms with Verandas remain in inventory along with Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd Decade

With both sailings being fully reserved, guests wishing to sail on a ’25 sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise should JOIN WAITLIST now. Cancellations will be filled exclusively from the WAITLIST. WAITLIST guests qualify for special terms when reserving a stateroom on The Jazz Cruise ’25 or Botti at Sea II.

JOIN WAITLIST

Botti at Sea ’25
Every Night is a Night on the Town

Botti at Sea ’25 is in the Open Booking stage and is over 60% reserved. Anyone may reserve any available stateroom either by calling the office during regular business hours or doing so online. It was this time last year that there was a “run” on staterooms, so act now! 

BOOK NOW

Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 
West Coast Style 

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz ’25, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, has completed the Pre-Sale process and began Open Booking on April 30, 2024. Like a race care, this program as gone from 0 – 60(%) sold in the blink of an eye. 

BOOK NOW

Mug Shots of the Week

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post OUR TAKE: Sanborn appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

When I think of Kamasi and his music, two words come to mind, “big” and “joyous.” As to “big,” Kamasi is physically imposing. You can see strength in his eyes, his choice of clothing, and the confident way he speaks. His music is even larger. Surrounded by a healthy number of top musicians, his sound is large as well. When attending his show, the sheer magnitude of presence and sound commands you to listen, pay attention, and remain riveted to each note.

Do not think that the sound is overwhelming, overblown, or overdone. Amidst that large sound are beautiful melodies and chords. His music juxtaposed on the colorful majesty of his presence on stage is “joyous.” The spiritual nature of the presentation is undeniable. Partly regal, partly divine, Kamasi controls the bandstand, the stage, the venue, and, most importantly, the audience.

For those wondering what configuration Kamasi is bringing when he sails on Botti at Sea II, we have opted for the whole thing, the large ensemble! That may not have been the most cost-effective way to present Kamasi, but it will be the most exciting. Jazz Cruises walks the line between fiscal responsibility and artistic glory all the time. Glory won this conflict…by at least two touchdowns.

While we are in Dallas, we will be meeting with Curtis King, founder and president of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Inc. (TBAAL) regarding the upcoming Riverfront Jazz Festival TBAAL is producing this Labor Day weekend. As you may know, Jazz Cruises has been circling the world of land-based events for years. Besides being a sponsor of the Vail Jazz Party, The Sarasota Jazz Festival, and Montclair Jazz Festival, we have produced our own shows in St. Louis, Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Dallas, and Los Angeles. 

Our land-based events and sponsorships are not direct business opportunities. In the tax world, it would be more apt to describe them as part hobby/part tax planning. Those terms are euphemisms for breaking even and losing money. Indirectly, of course, these events allow us to continue to interact with our guests, the world of jazz, and support artists and organizations in jazz.

TBAAL’s event is intriguing to us as Dallas is becoming one of the top five locales of folks cruising on our programs. Supporting the communities that support us is important, plus helping to bring music to areas of the country that appreciate and attend our music shows makes great sense. College fraternity brother and Hall of Fame Broadcaster for the Texas Rangers, Eric Nadel, is the go-between for this encounter.

Did I mention that our second night in Dallas will be highlighted by the 12^th Annual Eric Nadel Birthday Benefit? Each year Eric takes over The Kessler, an iconic Dallas venue, and presents a music show with the proceeds going to various mental health organizations in Dallas through the Grant Halliburton Foundation. I would urge you to join us, but the event, as always, is sold out!

Rarely do I write about a trip we are taking before we go, but this trip to Dallas sounds like fun and it blocked out all other thoughts I may have had for my weekly Our Take. I will let you know how it all turned out.

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, and Journey of Jazz. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.

Jersey City Jazz Festival

The revived town of Jersey City across the Hudson River from New York City plays host to a jazz festival with an impressive lineup of mainstream and Latin jazz acts performing at the Exchange Place waterfront. Appearing at the Jersey City Jazz Festival June 1-2 are George Coleman, Orrin Evans, David Kikoski, Champian Fulton, Lezlie Harrison, the Curtis Brothers, Winard Harper and Brianna Thomas.

Clearwater Smooth Jazz Jam

Several artists from The Smooth Jazz Cruise will reunite in Florida for the 2^nd Annual Clearwater Smooth Jazz Jam at Ruth Ekerd Hall in Clearwater. Jeffrey Osborne, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot and Peter White perform there on June 14. And Brian Culbertson, Sheila E & the E-Train and Gerald Albright take the stage on June 15.

LEARN MORE

Blue Note Jazz Festival

Held throughout the month of June, the Blue Note Jazz Festival features shows at five venues in New York City: Sony Hall, SummerStage in Central Park, Town Hall, Brooklyn Bowl and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Among the performers are several familiar to Jazz Cruises audiences, including Wynton Marsalis, Eliane Elias, Lisa Fischer, the Brecker Brothers Reunion Band, Chief Adjuah and Derrick Hodge.

LEARN MORE

STL Jazz Fest Two-Day Tickets Available! Individual Tickets Go On Sale 5.31!

2-Day Tickets are now available on Ticketmaster for STL JAZZ FEST. 1-Day Tickets will go on sale Friday, May 31. For details about the festival and how to purchase tickets, see below:

STL Jazz Fest
Produced by Jazz Cruises
The Factory – Chesterfield (St. Louis) Missouri

Friday, August 23, 2024
Eric Marienthal Quintet, featuring Niki Haris
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
GREGORY PORTER

Saturday, August 24, 2024
Mindi Abair with Eric Marienthal & Friends
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
BRIAN CULBERTSON

  Doors 6 pm / Showtime 7 pm

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary

The plans for the 25th Anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’25 are spectacular. The cruise is over 86% reserved and is currently in Open Booking, which means that now anyone may reserve any available stateroom. Staterooms with Verandas remain in inventory along with Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd Decade

With both sailings being fully reserved, guests wishing to sail on a ’25 sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise should JOIN WAITLIST now. Cancellations will be filled exclusively from the WAITLIST. WAITLIST guests qualify for special terms when reserving a stateroom on The Jazz Cruise ’25 or Botti at Sea II.

JOIN WAITLIST

Botti at Sea ’25
Every Night is a Night on the Town

Botti at Sea II is in the Open Booking stage and is over 60% reserved. Anyone may reserve any available stateroom either by calling the office during regular business hours or doing so online. It was this time last year that there was a “run” on staterooms, so act now! 

BOOK NOW

Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz ’25, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, has completed the Pre-Sales process and began Open Booking on April 30, 2024. Like a race care, this program as gone from 0 – 60(%) sold in the blink of an eye. 

BOOK NOW

Mug Shots of the Week

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post OUR TAKE: Kamasi Does Dallas: Dallas Does Jazz appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Houston was nursing a slightly queasy stomach, so he was very careful about his food choices. Evidently, Houston dined on local BBQ the day before and was feeling the ill effects from what was described to me as “HOTANGY” sauce. Spurning the chicken, pork, and brisket choices we offered, he dove into the creamed corn and macaroni and cheese. He was hungry and asked for “take home” portions of both items. We were only too glad to oblige.  

That night and the night thereafter, Houston hit the bandstand with local St. Louis musicians. Their close proximity was no gauge of their talent. It was an All-Star group (Adaron “Pops” Jackson on piano, Eric Slaughter on guitar, Jahmal Nichols on bass and Emanuel Harrold on drums). Pops runs the education program at JazzSTL and Emanuel Harrold has been Gregory Porter’s drummer for a long time as well as when Jahmal Nichols serving the same leader on bass. The smiles on the faces of the band when Houston performed were amazing. They were proud to be on the same bandstand as the master and thrilled to hear him play, particularly after his layoff due to exhaustion.

During the day, Houston shared with us his philosophy on performing. “Play the melodies as they were meant to be played!” No need to mess around with the melodies. You can do your thing during the other parts of the tune, but make sure that your audience hears the tune the way the composer meant it to be heard. Not sure if that is, or ever will be again, the method of the younger players.  

I read an article about the transition taking place in the NBA. Durant, James and others are the Old Guard, players who grew up in a certain era of basketball that was tied more closely to the early history of the game. The new stars, Edwards, Gilgeous-Alexander and others are more brash, less worried about adhering to the traditions of the NBA. Some might call this a sad development. As someone who grew up watching the St. Louis Hawks in the 8 team NBA, today’s guys are just another iteration of change. (Challenge: Without resorting to Google, name the 8 NBA teams of say, 1960.)

Granted, there are many young jazz musicians who are dedicated to the traditions. Samara Joy has ridden that horse to Grammy®s and fame. Still, jazz has always been a genre that encouraged change, challenged convention, and provided young musicians with a forum for their expression.  

My time with Houston Person last weekend was a reminder of an era of jazz when the melody was king and the razzle dazzle was the only crown prince. And, that alone, in the words of another giant, Nat King Cole, made those days Unforgettable!

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, and Journey of Jazz. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.

Nicki Parrott’s Feelin’ Groovy

Bassist Nicki Parrott, a frequent All-Star on The Jazz Cruise, has just released Feelin’ Groovy, a new album that celebrates the iconic sounds of the 60s. The recording draws inspiration from the lifestyle of her new home in Byronshire, Australia and features an all-Australian ensemble of Steve Russell (piano), Dave Sanders (drums), Todd Hardy (trumpet and flugelhorn), Martha Baartz (sax and flute) and Shane Hannah (trombone). Among the notable songwriters covered on the album are Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Lennon/McCartney, Carole King and Bacharach/David. “I wanted to capture the essence of the ’60s and the spirit of the Northern Rivers in this album,” Nicki says. “Working with these incredible musicians has allowed me to reinterpret these classics in a way that is both respectful of the original music and true to my own style.”

Kamasi Washington’s Album
Fearless Movement  

Kamasi Washington, who has sailed with us before on Blue Note at Sea, returns to perform on Botti at Sea II in 2025. The charismatic and powerful saxophonist has just released a new album, Fearless Movement, which he calls his dance album. “It’s not literal,” Washington says. “Dance is movement and expression, and in a way it’s the same thing as music – expressing your spirit through your body. That’s what this album is pushing.” Unlike previous recordings, Fearless Movement focuses on the everyday, an exploration of life on earth. This change in scope is due in large part to the birth of Washington’s first child a few years ago. “Being a father means the horizon of your life all of a sudden shows up,” says Washington. “My mortality became more apparent to me, but also my immortality – realizing that my daughter is going to live on and see things that I’m never going to see. I had to become comfortable with this, and that affected the music that I was making.”

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary

The Jazz Cruise ’25 is 82% reserved and is currently in “Open Booking,” where anyone may reserve any available stateroom. You may view current stateroom availability and start your reservation on the website now.

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd Decade

With both sailings being fully reserved, guests wishing to sail on a ’25 sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise should JOIN WAITLIST now. Cancellations will be filled exclusively from the WAITLIST.

JOIN WAITLIST

Botti at Sea ’25

Botti at Sea II began “Open Booking” on March 5, 2024 and is over 50% reserved. Anyone may reserve any available stateroom either by calling the office during regular business hours or doing so online.

BOOK NOW

Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 
West Coast Style 

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz ’25, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter is currently in the stateroom Selection Process for Pre-Sale Reservation holders. “Open Booking” will begin on April 30, 2024.

For more information about the cruise, the lineup of musicians (as of today), full itinerary, pricing and reservation process, go to www.journeyofjazz.com.

LEARN MORE

Mug Shots of the Week

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post OUR TAKE: A Weekend With Houston appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival

Hosted by Jazz Cruises regular Dee Dee Bridgewater, the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival will be held May 10-11 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The two-day event honors the legacy of the gifted pianist, as well as the contributions of jazz women of today. Among the headliners are two artists who have sailed on The Jazz Cruise numerous times—Eliane Elias and Ingrid Jensen—as well as two emerging artists: Bassist Endea Owens and vocalist Julia Keefe who leads her Indigenous Big Band.

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Charles McPherson’s Reverance

We’re excited to welcome Charles McPherson back to The Jazz Cruise in 2025. The legendary saxophonist has just released an album Reverence that was recorded live at Smoke Jazz Club in NYC. The album is dedicated to the late pianist and educator Barry Harris, a longtime mentor and teacher of Charles. “I owe a lot to him,” Charles explained. “He always told me that there was more to this music than just playing the horn – you actually have to know how to think to be able to do this well.” Performing with Charles is a usual stellar band of Terell Stafford, Jeb Patton, David Wong and Billy Drummond

LEARN MORE

Jazz Cruises’ Conversation Podcast

In the last few weeks, we’ve posted two new episodes of the Jazz Cruises Conversations podcast, which features interviews, panels and talks from sailings of our cruises. The first one was recorded during the initial sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise and features an interview with the dynamic saxophonist (and wine curator) Mindi Abair. Amongst other topics, Mindi shares with our host Talaya how she broke into the music business in LA with a big assist from keyboardist Bobby Lyle. The second episode came from Botti at Sea during which I hosted a Jazz on Film series. For the session featuring clips from Nat King Cole’s spectacular but short-lived network TV show, we asked Gregory Porter to talk about Nat’s legacy. After all, Gregory’s affinity for Nat King Cole is both personal and professional, as you can hear in our conversation. Gregory even sings two tunes to prove it.

You can listen to these interviews on the Jazz Cruises Conversations pages on Spotify or iTunes or wherever you access your podcasts. Subscribe to the podcast or check out any of the more than 80 previous episodes featuring interviews from our sailings over the years.

STL Jazz Fest Two-Day Tickets Available! Individual Tickets On Sale 5.31!

2-Day Tickets are now available on Ticketmaster for STL JAZZ FEST. 1-Day Tickets will go on sale Friday, May 31. For details about the festival and how to purchase tickets, see below:

STL JAZZ FEST
Produced by Jazz Cruises
The Factory – Chesterfield (St. Louis) Missouri

FRIDAY AUGUST 23, 2024
Eric Marienthal Quintet, featuring Niki Haris
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
GREGORY PORTER

SATURDAY AUGUST 24, 2024
Mindi Abair with Eric Marienthal & Friends
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
BRIAN CULBERTSON

  Doors 6 pm / Showtime 7 pm

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary

The Jazz Cruise ’25 is 82% reserved and is currently in “Open Booking,” where anyone may reserve any available stateroom. You may view current stateroom availability and start your reservation on the website now.

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd Decade

With both sailings being fully reserved, guests wishing to sail on a ’25 sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise should JOIN WAITLIST now. Cancellations will be filled exclusively from the WAITLIST.

JOIN WAITLIST

Botti at Sea ’25
Every Night is a Night on the Town

Botti at Sea ’25 is in the Open Booking stage and is over 60% reserved. Anyone may reserve any available stateroom either by calling the office during regular business hours or doing so online. It was this time last year that there was a “run” on staterooms, so act now! 

BOOK NOW

Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz ’25, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, has completed the Pre-Sale process and began Open Booking on April 30, 2024. Like a race care, this program as gone from 0 – 60(%) sold in the blink of an eye. 

BOOK NOW

Mug Shots of the Week

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post OUR TAKE: Jazz is a Good Bet…Actually, it is a “Sure Thing” appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Jazz Appreciation Month on Watercolors

Botti at Sea’25
The Botti Vibe

One of our long time guests who sailed with us on the inaugural sailing of Botti at Sea ’24 also joined us last week for the McDonald – LaBelle Cruise. Commenting on how delightfully different both cruises were in terms of atmosphere and tone, she said that the three day cruise featuring Michael McDonald and Patti LaBelle was like a sprint to the finish line. One explosion of energy at levels that would burn brightly for the time allotted and then stop. Very exciting and very stimulating.

She then took up our definition of Botti at Sea and moved it forward. Internally, we call the cruise the “Botti Vibe.” She offered that the Botti Vibe must be enjoyed over a 7 day period. Like a fine wine and a great dinner, Botti at Sea is meant to be savored. Every day is another adventure in paradise and every night is a night on the town featuring the finest performers in the world. With Chris Botti being the ultimate Master of Ceremonies, that sailing was a “dream vacation” for her. As she said, the Botti Vibe is the ultimate live entertainment experience at sea. So much to enjoy. So much to experience.

Botti at Sea II (’25) is in Open Booking now. Anyone may select and reserve any available stateroom.

Ken Peplowski’s Unheard Bird

Ken Peplowski, one of our longtime headliners and hosts on The Jazz Cruise, has just released a new album Unheard Bird, that features a collection of arrangements that the legendary Charlie “Bird” Parker commissioned for strings but never got a chance to record. Parker released the classic Bird with Strings album in 1950 and it was one of his most popular recordings. Ken performs a different set of arrangements in this album that also features Terell Stafford (trumpet), Glenn Zaleski (piano), Peter Washington (bass) and Willie Jones III (drums), backed by an orchestra conducted by Loren Schoenberg. Among the 14 songs they recorded are classic standards such as “Yesterdays,” “I Cover the Waterfront,” “You Go to My Head,” “Stardust,” and “Summertime.”

Oscar Peterson’s The Africa Suite

On June 12, SFJAZZ is presenting the U.S. premiere of Oscar Peterson’s “The Africa Suite” which was composed in 1979 but was never recorded or performed in its entirety during his lifetime. The concert, which will also include a full performance of Oscar’s 1964 “Canadiana Suite,” will be anchored by a core quartet featuring Benny Green, Russell Malone, Jeff Hamilton and John Clayton, as well as special guests Kenny Barron, Gerald Clayton, Tamir Hendelman and Robert Hurst. John, who arranged the suite, will conduct the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. “When I met Oscar he was composing ‘The Africa Suite’ and spoke of it in concert when he played ‘Nigerian Marketplace’ or ‘Peace,’” explained Kelly Peterson, Oscar’s wife and executor of his estate. “One of the goals I set for myself after Oscar’s passing was to present the full suite in concert, the completion of a work he had never been able to perform in its entirety. Add John Clayton’s vision and gorgeous arrangement, and it is exhilarating to hear, and feels like our gift to Oscar. This is truly the fulfillment of a dream.”

LEARN MORE

STL Jazz Fest 2-Day Tickets Available! Individual Tickets On Sale 5.31!

2-Day Tickets are now available on Ticketmaster for STL JAZZ FEST. 1-Day Tickets will go on sale Friday, May 31. For details about the festival and how to purchase tickets, see below:

STL JAZZ FEST
Produced by Jazz Cruises
The Factory – Chesterfield (St. Louis) Missouri

FRIDAY AUGUST 23, 2024
Eric Marienthal Quintet, featuring Niki Haris
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
GREGORY PORTER

SATURDAY AUGUST 24, 2024
Mindi Abair with Eric Marienthal & Friends
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
BRIAN CULBERTSON

  Doors 6 pm / Showtime 7 pm

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary

The plans for the 25th Anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’25 are spectacular. The cruise is over 86% reserved and is currently in Open Booking, which means that now anyone may reserve any available stateroom. Staterooms with Verandas remain in inventory along with Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd Decade

With both sailings being fully reserved, guests wishing to sail on a ’25 sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise should JOIN WAITLIST now. Cancellations will be filled exclusively from the WAITLIST. WAITLIST guests qualify for special terms when reserving a stateroom on The Jazz Cruise ’25 or Botti at Sea II.

JOIN WAITLIST

Botti at Sea ’25
Every Night is a Night on the Town

Botti at Sea II began “Open Booking” on March 5, 2024 and is over 60% reserved. Anyone may reserve any available stateroom either by calling the office during regular business hours or doing so online.

BOOK NOW

Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz ’25, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, has completed the Pre-Sale process and began Open Booking on April 30, 2024. Like a race care, this program as gone from 0 – 60(%) sold in the blink of an eye. 

BOOK NOW

Mug Shots of the Week

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post OUR TAKE: Jazz Appreciation Month appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.