July 19, 2025
Our Take: Polls
In this week’s edition of Jazz Notes, our jazz guru, Lee Mergner, analyzed the recent DownBeat Critics’ Poll which ranked jazz musicians, vocalists, bands, festivals and more. Highly subjective and…
July 12, 2025
Our Take: The Jazz Vocalist
While each of us can name our favorite jazz vocalists, and there would be significant agreement on many of them, I doubt that we could articulate, and certainly not agree…
June 28, 2025
Our Take: Is it a June Swoon or Just a Nice Break?
The end of June is upon us, which means that 2025 is half over or time to begin preparing for its second half. Which description you choose will go far…
June 14, 2025
Our Take: Talent Seeking
As our portfolio of cruises grows, the hunt for talent has become more arduous. Maintaining relationships with the core performers on each program is at a premium, as is looking…
May 31, 2025
Our Take: The Last Day of May…Bigger than You Might Think
Today is the last day of May. In and of itself, that is not a big deal or even worth noting, unless your birthday is today. Yes, we are about…
May 24, 2025
Our Take: Memorial Day Weekend
Happy Memorial Day Weekend! I am not sure that you can say “happy” when referring to a somber holiday, but, from a purely secular perspective, the weekend is one of…
May 17, 2025
Our Take: The Jazz Cruise ’26 – Bigger & Better Than Ever
Last Sunday was Mother’s Day. I went to the cemetery to visit the gravesite of my mother. For those who do not know, my mother, Anita E. Berry, was the…
May 10, 2025
Our Take: Peabo is Back!
Peabo Bryson is a 2x GRAMMY® Winner known best for his ballads, duets with female vocalists and his participation in several Disney animated feature films as the lead male singer…
May 3, 2025
Our Take: And They’re Off!
In a few hours, the 2025 Kentucky Derby will be run. They call it the most exciting two minutes in sports, which is fascinating since only one horse, Secretariat, the…
April 26, 2025
Our Take: Music in the Car
We have been celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month in The Weekender and Jazz Notes for the past few weeks. Our tribute ends next Wednesday with a special edition of Jazz Notes…