Signature Cruise Experiences

Our Take: It’s the 13th. Are You Superstitious?

Kim Kelley — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 06:45:00 +0000

Performers, actors and athletes are famously superstitious. The benign description is to call quirky personal traits part of a “routine.” When a golfer plumb bobs, checks out the line, takes practice strokes and then putts, that is a routine. If at any time during those events he kisses his putter, it becomes a superstition.

Is there superstition in jazz? You bet. After all, jazz came from the same parts of America where voodoo and ancient rituals were performed for years. These beliefs were carried by enslaved Africans to the Caribbean and then to various parts of the American south.

Jazz became synonymous with this type of belief and practice hence the believe that Jazz is the “Devil’s Music.” If that were true, then there is at least one reason to like the Devil. The rest of his act is a bit sketchy, but having good taste in music goes a long way with me.

Recently, I stumbled upon a list of Duke Ellington’s bizarre list of superstitions. John Pizzarelli is doing a tribute to Duke on next year’s Journey of Jazz ’27, so I was boning up on my knowledge of Duke only to find these gems.

Duke Ellington Superstitions

He refused to allow anyone to eat peanuts or whistle in his dressing room, fearing it would bring disaster.
Ellington would never give or receive shoes as a gift, believing it meant the recipient would walk out of his life forever.
He refused to wear yellow.
Every button on a suit had to be firmly sewn.

Though clearly quirky, these habits were pretty harmless. He had one peccadillo that was not so simple. In fact, it was mean spirited and probably very expensive. He did not like firing someone from the band. Instead, he would hire someone who was better on the same instrument, sit them in the band right next to the target of this plan and hope that the beleaguered musician would take the hint.

Again, I am not sure that was a superstition or just the worst HR plan ever concocted.

Jazz historian and musician John Chilton claims that even the great Ella Fitzgerald had superstitions. Suffering from stage fright, Ella would go through a series of scripted body movements just off stage before singing. She claimed that she was chasing the evil spirits away, the ones that would cause her to sing poorly.

Then there was David Sanborn. Before examining the litany of Sanbornisms, please know that I, along with millions of jazz fans, miss him dearly, cherish his music and his memory and hold him up as one of the most respected and beloved musicians ever.

With that disclaimer, I must also share with you that David was one of the most superstitious and quirky performers I have ever met. From his diet to his reed selection ritual to his extreme concern that he was not playing well, I cannot remember a performance of his that was not wrought with drama and anxiety.

David Sanborn’s Anxieties

Though there was no direct medical requirement to do so, David ate salmon, steamed vegetables and papaya for each meal.
The food could not be cooked in any oil or have any seasoning.
In selecting a reed for a show, he would layout nearly 100 reeds on a table, examine them and then select one. It was if there was a vetting process in his head or he was waiting for one of the reeds to volunteer to be used.
David would insist that no one was going to attend his show. He would second guess the ticket count and fear that the marketing team had not been successful, and insist he would be playing to empty seats.
His onstage outfits were identical: jeans, white shirt and blazer.
His hotel room and on ship stateroom had to have an open-air capability.
He insisted that his stateroom be on the sunny side of the ship.

In respect of his passing and my personal fondness for David, I will let you, the readers, allow that last one to wash over you for a while.

Time’s up. Yes, he insisted on that request for every cruise. Rather than walk the slippery slope of telling him how “off” that was, we assured him that we would do as he requested. At the end of each cruise, well almost each cruise, he would thank us for his stateroom location.

Never been to heaven nor expect to be there, but I believe that David is on the sunny side of heaven now. I am sure his “Rider” for entering heaven had that request. If he is not basking in the glow, then someone up there must not like jazz. We know the Devil does.

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 and Top Shelf Country Cruise. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.

Josh Groban & Chris Botti:
Live Entertainment Coming to You!

As we anticipated, our Botti at Sea fans are beyond excited that Josh Groban will be performing on the cruise in September. The profile of a Chris Botti fan and a Groban fan are, not surprisingly, strikingly similar.

Both are first class artist with impeccable credentials and reputations, both are devoted to their craft and present as consummate performers and talents. Their music is inspiring and refined, strong and sophisticated and, most of all, able to be enjoyed by a wide audience.

Both men also share the world of touring. Chris tours the world on a regular basis, presenting his amazing ensemble to adoring audiences. And Josh is embarking on an extensive country-wide tour that will mostly likely take him to a theater near you.

We are proud of the intimate nature of our presentations at sea and we know that our guests will enjoy their time with both Chris and Josh as they light up The Theatre on Celebrity Summit. Signature Cruise Experiences supports live music regardless of its venue or locale. Even when you’re unable to sail with them (and us), these stars proved can’t-miss performances when they come to your area. Join your community and take in their shows.

Live entertainment is the best way to enjoy great music. Nothing compares.

JOSH GROBAN TOUR SCHEDULE

CHRIS BOTTI TOUR SCHEDULE

Emmet Cohen’s Universal Truth

Emmet Cohen, host of The Jazz Cruise, recently released his sixth album as a leader, Universal Truth, on Mack Avenue.

Featuring Joe Farnsworth, Yasushi Nakamura, Jeremy Pelt, Tivon Pennicott and guests Ron Carter and George Coleman, the recording pays tribute to Miles Davis and John Coltrane (both being celebrated in their centennial year), pairing timeless classics like “Well You Needn’t,” “My Funny Valentine” and “Blue Train” along with new originals that honor jazz’s royalty while boldly carrying their tradition forward.

“The more I travel, teach, and share music with people around the world, the more I’m convinced that we’re all searching for many of the same things: meaning, belonging, love, purpose,” Emmet told us. “Universal Truth is my attempt to explore those ideas through music. Inspired by the contrasting paths of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, the album asks what happens when we look both outward toward humanity and inward toward the spirit.”

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John Clayton’s Two-o Duo

John Clayton, leader of Anita’s Big Band on The Jazz Cruise, has just released a unique album featuring spontaneous collaborations with singer-songwriter Rene Marie and his son, pianist Gerald Clayton.

John’s 8th album on Artist Share, the recording Two-o Duo presents 11 songs largely in a duo format, spotlighting a range of material through different cultural eras, plus lyrical and compositional contributions from both Marie and the Claytons.

“Some really magical things happened,” John says. “If you’re close with somebody and you’re in the room with them, both of you feel the closeness that you share. There’s no word for it. It’s intangible. But it’s very real.”

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Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

VIEW ALL UPCOMING SCE SAILINGS

SCE Sailings in ’26

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3

9.11.26 – 9.18.26
Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles

Known as “The Greatest Party at Sea,” The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 is Fully Reserved.

If you wish 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 ’26

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver

JUST ANNOUNCED: Josh Groban Performing on Botti at Sea!
STATEROOM CLOSEOUT SALE IN EFFECT

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!

SPECIAL NOTE: Chris Botti at Sea III is the only Signature Cruise Experiences’ program that has staterooms available in ’26. A limited number of Veranda Plus, Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms may be reserved at CloseOut Cruise Prices for both Past Guests and New Guests. A payment plan that allows for the final payment to be made after the cruise is also available. Act now!

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore

1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’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 star-studded lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore 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 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 hear that goal again (over 85% Reserved)

Journey of Jazz ’27

1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa

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.

Both sailings are in Open Booking and both are 95% reserved at this time.

Botti at Sea ’27

10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Boston – Portland – Saint John – Sydney –
Charlottetown – Quebec City

Stay tuned (8.15.26) for more programming and reservation procedure details.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Quebec City – Charlottetown – Sydney –
Saint John – Portland – Boston

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.

The post Our Take: It’s the 13th. Are You Superstitious? appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Jazz Notes: 6.10.26

Kim Kelley — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:15:08 +0000

Josh Groban is Performing on Botti at Sea III!

Instantly recognizable after just a few notes, Josh Groban is one of the most popular and talented vocalists of his generation. His extraordinary range includes opera, Broadway, pop and more. So does his career: Tony® winner, Emmy® winner, multiple GRAMMY® nominee and one of music’s most respected singer-songwriter-actor-philanthropists. He is truly a Renaissance man.

Cruise Host Chris Botti and Josh Groban are frequent, high-profile collaborators known for their lush pop, jazz and classical performances. Their rendition of “Broken Vow,” which was featured in the PBS special and album Chris Botti in Boston stands as one of the most well-known examples of their musical partnership.

“Josh is a longtime friend and colleague.
I love his music and admire the range of projects that he embraces,
each one more amazing than the next one.
It will be fun seeing him on the cruise.”

– Chris Botti

Signature Cruise Experiences is proud to present Chris Botti at Sea III. Few artists do what Chris does aboard this ship: bringing together world-class performers from across genres and weaving them into a great cruise. His own shows have the same attributes: class artistry and variety.

After a year of touring the world, this cruise is where Chris slows down and connects, with the music, his fellow performers and the guests. He loves this cruise.

SPECIAL NOTE: Chris Botti at Sea III is the only Signature Cruise Experiences’ program that has staterooms available in ’26. A limited number of Veranda Plus, Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms may be reserved at CloseOut Cruise Prices for both Past Guests and New Guests. A payment plan that allows for the final payment to be made after the cruise is also available. Act now!

Groban Fans

If you are unable to join us on Chris Botti at Sea, Josh Groban is currently touring around the country. Check out his tour schedule to find the show near you. No such thing as too much Josh Groban.

The Branford Marsalis Quartet – A Band for These Ages

Branford Marsalis first came into public notice when he, along with his brother Wynton, enrolled in the noted School of Art Blakey, as a member of the drummer’s longstanding band, the Jazz Messengers, in 1981. He was just 20 years old and fresh out of the Berklee School of Music. After an apprenticeship of a few years, the two left to form their own bands. Of course, Branford would go on to have a long and illustrious career as a bandleader, with stints as a member of Sting’s first post-Police group and as the music director for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He’s also scored numerous films and even appeared in a few.

However, perhaps his most impressive accomplishment is as the leader of currently the longest running quartet in contemporary jazz. Branford founded the group in 1986, initially featuring pianist Kenny Kirkland, bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts. The personnel evolved over the years, but for the last few decades, the group has been comprised by pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis and drummer Justin Faulkner. Their most recent album is Belonging, featuring the music of another jazz quartet – one led by pianist Keith Jarrett in the ’70s.

“Instrumental music to me is kind of like a play,” Branford told DownBeat’s Phillip Lutz. “Nobody’s going to a play because the words are good or because the actors can read well. You have to convince an audience that these words you’re saying are the character’s words, not the writer’s words. In music, when you play someone else’s song, you have to interpret the song so that you become a character in a play. You have to make that melody believable. That’s what great singers do. They know how to control the room with sound.”

Branford told Lutz that his group is comparable to a string quartet: “The musicians are in contact through their eyes and ears – constant, subtle cues about who has the melody here, who has the melody there. That’s kind of how we operate in the group.”

“I love the band, as people and musicians,” Branford said. “If this band ceased to exist, I don’t see myself trying to get a new one.”

The Branford Marsalis Quartet will perform for guests of Botti at Sea III in a show at SFJAZZ on September 21.

LEARN MORE

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

VIEW ALL UPCOMING SCE SAILINGS

SCE Sailings in ’26

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
Just Announced: Josh Groban

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!

SPECIAL NOTE: Chris Botti at Sea III is the only Signature Cruise Experiences’ program that has staterooms available in ’26. A limited number of Veranda Plus, Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms may be reserved at CloseOut Cruise Prices for both Past Guests and New Guests. A payment plan that allows for the final payment to be made after the cruise is also available. Act now!

SCE Sailings in ’27

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

Stay Tuned for the Lineup and Detail

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 85% 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.

Both sailings are in Open Booking and both are 95% reserved at this time.

Botti at Sea IV (’27)

10.6.27 – 10.13.27

Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec

Stay tuned 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.

Look for most of this to happen around 8.15.26!

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3 program will feature an exciting combination of our customary great music, vibrant Fall colors and other special events.

This cruise is currently in Open Booking, during which anyone may reserve any available stateroom.

The post Jazz Notes: 6.10.26 appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Our Take: What’s Your Music When Not Listening to Jazz?

Kim Kelley — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:52:59 +0000

For various reasons, we are taking inventory of our cruise programs to find common threads both in terms of “good stuff” and “bad stuff.” Those inquiries quickly lead into a deep dive, defining who our guests are in general, and who they are specifically for each cruise. I am not sure that we found anything surprising other than confirmation that even our most ardent jazz fans like other music as well.

The age curve for every music cruise skews to the upper end with income and time availability being the main factors. Our programs reflect that demographic in terms of music selection, manner of presentation, non-music events and ship selection. Even the choice of mealtimes, menu, pillow gifts, Artist Hosted Events, showtimes and more are driven by the nature of our guests.

This should not be surprising as the cruises we present are 100% guest-oriented. The programs are for the guests, based upon their interests and requests. Keeping up with the nuances and propensities of our guests is a full-time job, one that we intend to augment in the upcoming year. We want to know what you are thinking.

Let’s talk about our findings. More and more, guests from The Jazz Cruise, our most “in the pocket” jazz program, are adding other cruises to their Sailing Histories. Granted, adding Journey of Jazz is not a huge leap of faith, but those guests are also drawn to Botti at Sea and David Foster: The Hitman Cruise. When asked why, guests call out specific performers and, in the case of Botti at Sea, the spectacular itinerary and excursions being offered.

Which artists stoke the moves? Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs and Melody Gardot are mentioned frequently when folks are taking in the Botti cruise. And Michael McDonald, Leslie Odom, Jr. and Dianne Reeves have jazz fans reserving staterooms on the Foster cruise. Do you see the pattern? It is the Hunt for Mature Music that moves the needle.

Journey of Jazz has its own set of stalwarts (Marcus Miller, Gregory Porter, Wynton Marsalis, Ledisi), but those artists are much closer to the core of our guests than the others mentioned above.

At this point, we need to point out that Top Shelf Country Cruise, while presenting superstar Keith Urban last cruise and meteorically rising Riley Green on the next cruise, is outside of our revolving door of cruise programs. Of the 2,500 guests on Top Shelf Country Cruise ’26, only three guests had sailed on other Signature Cruise Experiences programs. It may be time to either jazz up the country cruise or country up the jazz cruises. Guitarist Bruce Forman performed a cowboy jazz set on The Jazz Cruise many years ago.

For those still trying to guess who the new guest on the Botti cruise is, they fit right in the middle of this illustrious grouping of performers. I love a good riddle, particularly when I know that the answer will elicit a “Wow!”

Basically, our jazz fans, when not listening to jazz, seem to favor Adult Contemporary (AC) music. A wide range of AC music to be sure, but their tastes are not Pop or gimmicky. They enjoy great vocalists who present with substance and style. Musicians who separate themselves by the significance of their playing.

In short, our jazz fans are music snobs – in a good way. As we have heard so many times over the years, there are only two kinds of music: good and bad. When we ask our guests, “when you are not listening to Jazz, what is your music?” the answer is an easy one.

They listen to good music.

Journey of Jazz Welcomes John Pizzarelli

Journey of Jazz ’27 is a cruise that entertains, excites and educates. We’ve already spent time sharing the entertainment and excitement portions of the cruise, so let’s explore the educational aspects.

It begins the very first night, when Marcus Miller takes you on a musical journey sharing the history of jazz from all angles. Not only does he share rare insights on the musicians that have paved the way for jazz, but he examines how the music itself was born, raised and matured. To quote the tagline from Marcus’ Real Jazz Marcus Time show, his History of Jazz cruise show is the “full 360 degrees.”

Gregory Porter and Ledisi will have their own tribute shows and, of course, Wynton Marsalis will be the conductor of History of Jazz – New Orleans style. There will be several other shows of this type, including our most recent addition: the great John Pizzarelli. Longtime member of the core of The Jazz Cruise, John will be bringing his Nat King Cole and Duke Ellington tribute shows to Journey of Jazz ’27.

Jazz’ #1 raconteur is also one of the most talented musicians in the genre who takes pride in his dedication to the music and his knowledge of our history is as deep as his affection for it.

Peabo Bryson on Watercolors

In the wake of Peabo Bryson‘s untimely passing, it is a balm to so many of us that his legacy lives on in our memories and in the music he left behind.

In the spirit of his memory living on, it means a great deal to us that Sirius XM’s Watercolors with Talaya will be rebroadcasting Peabo’s 2016 performance from The Smooth Jazz Cruise. Remember him in music this Saturday, June 6 at 4 PM ET

LISTEN HERE 6.6.26 4PM ET

Last Chance to Sail in ’26: Chris Botti at Sea III

Since January, Signature Cruise Experiences has produced six sailings, serving well over 13,000 guests. The last two sailings are in September, The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 (SJC ’26.3) and Chris Botti at Sea III. SJC ’26.3 is fully reserved. You may join the Waitlist for the sailing, but there are nearly 1,000 entrants at this time.

Your last chance to sail with us in ’26 is Chris Botti at Sea III and that sailing has a limited number of staterooms remaining. Due to the significant planning required to set up the Signature Cruise Experiences’ excursions that are being offered in San Francisco and Victoria, BC, the guest manifest for Chris Botti at Sea III will need to be finalized sooner than normal.

To make all this happen, remaining Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms will be sold at CloseOut Cruise Prices. This offer is first come, first served.

For more information about Chris Botti at Sea III, CloseOut Cruise Prices or to learn more about the excursions available, visit www.bottiatsea.com

STATEROOM CLOSEOUT CRUISE PRICES

SAN FRANCISCO AND VICTORIA, BC EXCURSIONS

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

Known as “The Greatest Party at Sea,” The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 is Fully Reserved.

If you wish 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 ’26

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver

STATEROOM CLOSEOUT SALE IN EFFECT
For more information, see above.

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore

1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa

Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for
Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’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 star-studded lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore 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

Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for
Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

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 on its way to reaching that goal again.

Journey of Jazz ’27

1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa

Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for
Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

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 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.

Both sailings are in Open Booking and both are nearly 95% reserved at this time.

Botti at Sea ’27

10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Boston – Portland – Saint John – Sydney –
Charlottetown – Quebec City

Stay tuned (8.15.26) 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

This cruise is currently in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.

The post Our Take: What’s Your Music When Not Listening to Jazz? appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Jazz Notes 6.3.26

Kim Kelley — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:43:17 +0000

Peabo Bryson News

By now, many of you may have heard the heartbreaking news. Peabo Bryson passed away and the loss is felt deeply throughout the music community and across our entire SCE family.

Peabo sailed with us many times over the years. His performances are among the most beloved in our history. Rooms full of people who knew every word, every swell, every aching note. A Peabo show was full of smiles, tears and great memories and there will never be another quite like it.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family and to all who loved him and his music. He will be profoundly missed.

Signature Cruise Experiences will be adding to the lineup for Chris Botti at Sea III and will announce the changes as soon as we have confirmed offers.

The Perfect Cruise Experience

“One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be!”

From “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere”
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Such was the cry of Paul Revere, at least it was so in the mind of Longfellow as he wrote his famous poem. There would be one course of action if the British came by land and another if it were by sea.

Typically, that is how music presentations are aligned. You can present an event on land or one at sea. You must choose. Until now!

Signature Cruise Experiences has created two West Coast programs that combine the best of land and sea together with amazing events on land. Neither is shorted. Both are filled with great music and once in a lifetime excursions and programs.

Both programs are well established cruise events known for at least 200 hours of first-class musical entertainment. Typically, they sail in the Caribbean and when docked in various ports of call, passengers are free to experience these locales either on their own or by excursions created and curated by the cruise line.

This fall, both programs will be sailing on the West Coast. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 begins in Vancouver and ends in Los Angeles. Immediately upon docking in Los Angeles, Botti at Sea III (’26) begins a journey back to Vancouver. During that time at sea, both sailings will provide all day and all night programming in the manner that Signature Cruise Experiences has produced since 2001.

But, in the middle of each 7-day journey, these programs will dock for a full day in Victoria, BC and an overnight stay in San Francisco. Here is where the “land” events will be held. And not just any land events. These are excursions, shows and visits created by us just for our cruise guests.

Trips to wineries in Napa
Trips to wineries in Sonoma
Day trips on Napa Valley Wine Train
Culinary tours of San Francisco
Sightseeing tours of San Francisco
Private Shows at SFJAZZ (Brian Simpson/Grace Kelly for SJC & the Branford Marsalis Quartet for Botti)
Whale Watching in Victoria
Butchart Gardens
And more

To learn more about these excursions and others, please visit the links below.

VIEW ALL BOTTI AT SEA III EXCURSIONS

VIEW THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.3 EXCURSIONS

Currently, The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 is fully reserved. You may sign up for the Waitlist, however, that list is extensive. Staterooms remain available in certain Stateroom Categories for Botti at Sea III (’26). So that the manifest for Botti at Sea III (’26) may be finalized, some of the remaining Stateroom Categories are being offered at CloseOut Prices. A payment plan that extends past the cruise is also available if you complete a reservation soon.

For more information about sailing on Botti at Sea III (’26) and the CloseOut Prices, visit the link below.

SAIL ON BOTTI AT SEA III ’26

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

VIEW ALL UPCOMING SCE SAILINGS

SCE Sailings in ’26

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3

9.11.26 – 9.18.26
Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles

Known as “The Greatest Party at Sea,” The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 is Fully Reserved.

If you wish 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 ’26

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver

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.

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!

SPECIAL NOTE: Chris Botti at Sea III is the only Signature Cruise Experiences’ program that has staterooms in ’26 and those are in limited supply. Act now!

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore

1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’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 star-studded lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore 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 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 on its way to reaching that goal again.

Journey of Jazz ’27

1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa

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 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.

Both sailings are in Open Booking and both are nearly 95% reserved at this time.

Botti at Sea ’27

10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Boston – Portland – Saint John – Sydney –
Charlottetown – Quebec City

Stay tuned (8.15.26) for more programming and reservation procedure details.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Quebec City – Charlottetown – Sydney –
Saint John – Portland – Boston

This cruise is currently in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.

The post Jazz Notes 6.3.26 appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Our Take: Miles at 100, Marcus at 23

Kim Kelley — Sat, 30 May 2026 04:07:00 +0000

Sonny Rollins died on Memorial Day. His legendary accomplishments and place in the history of jazz are shared by Lee Mergner in an article below.

Normally, we burst directly into June after Memorial Day, but this year we’ve had almost an entire week of May to enjoy before turning the calendar over. The traditional four-day week that follows Memorial Day was not disturbed. That schedule has always caused uncertainty in my mind.

Even our office building was confused. Not realizing that Monday was a holiday, the automatic lock system had the building wide open all day, despite there being only very few of us inside. The confusion continued, as almost everything that I did not need that day was available and the few items I would have liked to have had were not.

And most of us spent Tuesday thinking it was Monday.

The saving grace was that SXM’s Real Jazz channel dedicated the entire holiday to Miles Davis in honor of his Centennial Birthday. It was not all Miles, but you could hear him play in just about every configuration known to music. Solo. Trio. Quartet. Big Band. I heard tunes from Miles for the first time. Songs I never knew he recorded. That was fun.

One song caught my attention more than the others, “Star on Cicely,” Miles’ tribute to the most important woman in his life, Cicely Tyson. Their relationship began in the ‘60’s and was famously an up and down affair until 1981 when they married. “Star on Cicely” was recorded in 1982, likely at the height of their relationship.

They divorced a few years later, but maintained a relationship for the rest of their lives and beyond. Their resting places are near each other in Woodlawn Cemetery, where so many jazz icons are, including our good friend Ken Peplowski. When I attended the service recently for Ken, I sheepishly asked our guide to direct me to Miles’ resting place. He pointed it out and we could see it from afar.

But the song “Star on Cicely” evoked another emotion in me altogether. I have learned since that the band on the song was called Miles’ Comeback Band. It included Mike Stern (guitar), Al Foster (drums), Bill Evans (reeds) and Mino Cinelu (percussion). Miles played trumpet and synthesizer.

No one needed to tell me who played electric bass. That sound could be produced by no one else but Marcus Miller. Confirming my intuition by Google made me smile. That would be the end of the story except it dawned on me that this tune was recorded 44 years ago. Marcus had just turned 23! (Note: Mark your calendar for June 14…an early Happy Birthday for Marcus and June 13, for his, and our, good friend Alonzo Bodden‘s birthday.)

I shared this moment with Marcus, and he offered his own memories on the Miles/Cicely relationship.

“I was in the band when they reunited in ’81. At that time, Miles’ health was beginning to fail. He was pretty weak moving pretty slowly. It was so beautiful to see the regal/legendary larger-than-life Cicely Tyson (of Roots fame!) lovingly attend to Miles Davis in the role of being a loving/supportive wife. She literally nurtured him back to life.

I left Miles’ band in ’83 to develop my composing/producing skills. When I came back to do “Tutu” in ’85, I walked in the door on our first day working together and couldn’t believe how great Miles looked. He was a totally new, vibrant artist and he looked fantastic. I knew it was all due to Cicely. He was full of energy and humor and ready to dive into the music I had written. I’m not sure we would have had a “Tutu” or an “Amandla” if Cicely had not been there by his side. The world got another 10 years from Miles for sure because of Cicely!”

Marcus has reunited the band, with Russell Gunn assuming the Miles Davis role, and is touring this summer in honor of Miles’ Centennial. I have not seen the show yet, but I hope that “Star on Cicely” is performed. The tune is not your everyday jazz tune. It requires some thought and concentration for sure. I have four plays under my belt and I hear something different and more intense with each playing.

Readers of this note know that Marcus resides at the top of the music food chain at Signature Cruise Experiences. His talent, intellect, dedication and respect for music are models for everyone. Never a wasted word. Never a wasted note. When he speaks or plays, pay attention. If not, you will miss something important. There is no trivial when regarding Marcus Miller.

Marcus once referred to me as someone who believed in what he was doing and will ardently pursue those beliefs. That meant the world to me, even though the street interpretation of those lovely words would be “he is a stubborn ass and you cannot tell him anything.”

Either view is accurate. But, when the time comes to write my epitaph, I would ask that Marcus be consulted before they start inscribing in stone.

Our First ’27 Sailing Isn’t For 230 Days!
Do You Want to Wait THAT Long?

As of today, over 13,000 guests have sailed on a Signature Cruise Experiences program in ’26. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 (9.11.26) is fully reserved upping the guest total to 15,000. The lone remaining sailing in ’26 is Chris Botti at Sea III:

Botti at Sea III (’26)

Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver
9.18.26 – 9.25.26

Nearly fully reserved as well, the good news is that staterooms are available in select Stateroom Categories, and the great news is that planning this cruise, with a full schedule of both onboard events and on land excursions, requires us to close the manifest sooner than usual.

What that means to you is that some of the remaining inventories (Veranda/Ocean View/Inside Staterooms) are available at CloseOut Cruise Prices.

So the question becomes…would you rather spend a week this Fall sailing the stunning West Coast with Chris Botti and friends, enjoying performances by Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle and more, exploring Napa and Sonoma wine country, riding the Napa Valley Wine Train, enjoying the cuisine and culture of San Francisco, attending a Branford Marsalis Quartet show at SFJAZZ, whale watching in Victoria and strolling through the Butchart Gardens…or….wait more than 230 days until the first Signature Cruise Experience sailing of ’27 departs in mid-January?

Opportunities like this rarely happen. Our CloseOut Sale is your invitation to join one one of the most unique and intimate music travel experiences anywhere. We would love to welcome you aboard. Reserve your stateroom today before remaining inventory is gone.

CLOUSEOUT SALE

R.I.P. Tenor Titan Sonny Rollins

Sonny Rollins with Dizzy, John Abbott’s dog / Photo by John Abbott Photo

Earlier this week, on Monday, May 25, Sonny Rollins passed away in his home in Woodstock, NY. The iconic and influential saxophonist was 95 years old and had been suffering from various pulmonary and respiratory ailments. He hadn’t performed or recorded in many years, but was still widely acclaimed as our greatest living jazz musician. Who could argue that point?

We will not provide you with a proper obituary here, given that every major media outlet from The New York Times to NPR has provided in-depth coverage of his life and music. If you had to read just one, I’d recommend the Washington Post obituary by Matt Schudel which is both comprehensive and engaging.

Even better, we recommend without reservation Aidan Levy’s remarkable biography of Sonny, the aptly titled Saxophone Colossus. Indeed, that title would define Sonny going back to his emergence on the jazz scene in the ’50s, when he burst out of the shadow of Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins and Charlie Parker to spearhead a new modernist form of bebop.

Sonny was in fact a large figure, whose height merely reinforced his powerful sound and presence. During one of his famous hiatuses from public appearances, he retreated to the upper reaches of the Williamsburg Bridge where he not only practiced without bothering his wife or neighbors, but also worked out, doing pull-ups on the bars amidst the guardrails. There is a movement to rename the bridge in Sonny’s name. With his passing, that honor could become a reality.

We were never able to get Sonny to sail with us, either as a performer or even as a guest. He had a standing invitation to join us in the latter role, but eschewed traveling in his later years. Nonetheless, he had an outsized influence on so many of the musicians who have sailed with us over the years, including Melissa Aldana, Tivon Pennicott and Ravi Coltrane, whose father was a close friend and colleague of Sonny’s, though John Coltrane was often misperceived as a rival, thanks to their seminal recording together Tenor Madness. Bringing things full circle, Ravi performed material from that album with Tivon in a tribute to Sonny during Journey of Jazz this past September.

During his long and prolific career, Sonny recorded more than 60 albums as a leader, many of which are considered vital additions to the jazz canon. But it was his electric live performances that made him a singular figure in jazz during the 20th century. His often long solos would quote popular songs, calypsos from his family’s Virgin Islands and even nursery rhymes, all delivered with power and expression unmatched by any saxophonist, or any instrumentalist, for that matter.

“Play every concert as if it is your last time,” Sonny told JazzTimes in 2016. “That’s what I have learned. Do everything as if it is your last time.” Words to live by.

– Lee Mergner

The Sonny Rollins Bridge?

A petition is now circulating to rename the Williamsburg Bridge in Sonny Rollins’ honor, a tribute to the legendary saxophonist who famously spent months practicing alone on the bridge in the early ’60s while living on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Supporters say the bridge symbolizes Rollins’ discipline, resilience, and enduring connection to New York City. If you wish to join the petition, click below.

SIGN THE SONNY ROLLINS BRIDGE PETITION

Signature Cruise Experiences Congratulates Brian Culbertson

For as long as we can remember, Brian Culbertson has been a major part of the magic of The Smooth Jazz Cruise. Each year, Brian puts together a unique show that includes the very best musicians, high production value and, most of all, HIM! The amazingly talented first-class showman.

That level of creativity, attention to detail and raw talent is evident every year at his Napa Valley Jazz Getaway. The proof is that this is the 13th Annual event and, trust us, success over time is no fluke. It takes talent and work.

Be sure to sign up today for one of the various event options. We cannot think of any better place to be from June 10–13 than in Napa Valley listening to great music, enjoying great wine and hanging with Brian Culbertson and friends. Join a special show on Thursday night with Brian, Marcus Miller and Jonathan Butler.

When purchasing tickets for Thursday and/or Friday Nights, use the Promo Code: SJC27 for a 20% discount.

You do not want to miss these shows!

LEARN MORE

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

VIEW ALL UPCOMING SCE SAILINGS

SCE Sailings in ’26

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3

9.11.26 – 9.18.26
Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles

Known as “The Greatest Party at Sea,” The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 is Fully Reserved.

If you wish 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 ’26

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver

STATEROOM CLOSEOUT SALE IN EFFECT
For more information, see above.

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore

1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’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 star-studded lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore 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 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 on its way to reaching that goal again.

Journey of Jazz ’27

1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa

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 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.

Both sailings are in Open Booking and both are nearly 95% reserved at this time.

Botti at Sea ’27

10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Boston – Portland – Saint John – Sydney –
Charlottetown – Quebec City

Stay tuned (8.15.26) for more programming and reservation procedure details.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Quebec City – Charlottetown – Sydney –
Saint John – Portland – Boston

This cruise is currently in Open Booking, where anyone may reserve any available stateroom.

The post Our Take: Miles at 100, Marcus at 23 appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Our Take: Memorial Day Weekend

Kim Kelley — Sat, 23 May 2026 05:58:00 +0000

April is Jazz Appreciation Month. The official start of summer is June 21, 2026, the summer solstice. But, for my money, summer jazz season starts on Memorial Day Weekend. From now through Labor Day, every weekend provides jazz events and festivals.

Memorial Day was never meant to be a joyous day. It is a Federal Holiday calling for us to mourn the loss of military personnel who died while serving. There is no “Happy Memorial Day” intended despite the plethora of “sales,” barbecues and celebrations. This is the day when flags are planted near every grave in military cemeteries around the country. My wife and I will visit her father’s resting place to honor his life in the U.S. Army.

In the past, I have used this space at this time to remember jazz musicians who served and those who took the time to entertain the troops throughout the world. For whatever reason, you do not hear much about that type of entertainment anymore. No one has grabbed the Bob Hope mantle, at least not in a significant way. Hope’s shows would feature at least one beautiful actress, a couple of vocalists and, of course, Phyllis Diller.

They were filmed on army bases, battleships, aircraft carriers and any other military site. While watching on TV, you could feel that joy and excitement for the servicemen, along with their homesickness and anxiety. A strong sense of gratitude for their service remains today, but opposition and criticism are also more prevalent, at least shared aloud more.

Famously, jazz was the soundtrack of servicemen in World War II. Glenn Miller led the Army Air Force Band and USO groups would always feature our music. The National World War II Museum has a complete history of Jazz musicians in WWI and WWII on its website. That museum is in New Orleans, and, for those sailing on Journey of Jazz ’27, we have arranged a special tour with an emphasis on the “jazz section” while we are there. We have a surprise host ready to go and we are very excited about this visit and learning more about how jazz and the military are tied together.

Jazz was a panacea during the hot war but served as a weapon in the Cold War as well. In 1956, our State Department supported a band of the top jazz musicians including Dizzy, Louis and Duke to promote American culture throughout the world. Though hypocritical due to the circumstances at home, The Jazz Ambassadors as they were called, were also meant to be a counter measure to Communist propaganda regarding racism in the US.

With the passage of the Voting Rights Act nearly a decade away, this group had their hands full proving racial harmony. Though mutual respect existed strongly within the jazz community, even the top musicians were victims of prejudice and segregation in terms of hotels, travel, restaurants and more.

Regardless of the original purpose, the Memorial Day holiday for many has become a celebration marking, the beginning of summer more than a tribute to fallen service men and women. As our world evolves, we lose track of how certain mores have come to be and what it took to make them happen.

There was a time when women could not vote, residential areas were off limits to certain minorities and you could not drink alcohol. Only white men could serve on the Supreme Court, play major league baseball or serve in certain military units. Hard to believe, but that was the case…and not long ago either.

I remember George Takei (Star Trek star) talking to me on one of our cruises about his time in a Japanese Internment Camp. The path that African Americans have had to trod has shameful elements that live on today. Almost every ethnic group or minority has had their share of oppression and prejudice at some time.

We are not perfect, not by a long shot. Prejudice and hatred are still a part of the American landscape. Yesterday’s targets become today’s haters and that process goes around and around. Hopefully, in a few years some of the ills of today will be removed and will become a part of history that we will try to forget. But it would be wrong to forget everything.

We should never forget how this country fought tyranny in World War II, rebuilt Europe and sent men to the moon. That soldiers died in defense of our country and how we have conquered diseases and maladies. And how we continue to pursue our democracy in the face of opposition both foreign and domestic.

To view this country in terms of Liberals and Conservatives or the Left and the Right is a futile exercise in that it never produces resolution and always causes rifts. There is only one test that counts…right and wrong. Not always a clear distinction, but I prefer to debate that test than some politically created binary choice.

You ask me why I cherish the world of jazz. For the most part, actually for nearly all of it, the only dividing lines are between musicians and audiences, good players and bad players and good music and bad music. The test is not who you are or where you came from, but what you can do on the bandstand and how you treat your fellow musicians. And that is the America that we celebrate this weekend as we remember the thousands and thousands of men and women who died for that ideal.

The Music Does Not Stop on Labor Day

While Memorial Day is the launch date of the summer jazz season, the music does not stop on Labor Day!

There are several important and revered events in September and October, including our West Coast cruise programs: The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 and Chris Botti at Sea III. Last year, Journey of Jazz ’25 sailed from Vancouver to Los Angeles with a long layover in Victoria and an overnight stay in San Francisco. This was our first fall sailing in many years and the guests loved the gorgeous weather and our curated excursions to Napa, Sonoma and the major sites in those cities.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 (Fully Reserved) repeats the Vancouver – Los Angeles itinerary and the Chris Botti at Sea III heads back from Los Angeles to Vancouver, also stopping in San Francisco and Victoria. Our excursions are available again and we have added a few new ones. When in San Francisco, guests on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 will have the option of a special afternoon show at the amazing SFJAZZ venue featuring Brian Simpson and Grace Kelly. Chris Botti at Sea III guests can choose to see the Branford Marsalis Quartet when they are there.

With The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 being Fully Reserved, Chris Botti at Sea III is the final opportunity for guests to join us in ’26 for a cruise. To complete the manifest of that cruise, we will be initiating a MANIFEST CLOSEOUT SALE for remaining staterooms. Availability is limited, so, if you are interested in joining the one remaining available Signature Cruise Experiences’ program in ’26, you will need to act soon.

You will receive the MANIFEST CLOSEOUT SALE information on Tuesday, May 26 with the details, so keep your eyes on your in-box!

Holiday Hours

In observance of Memorial Day, Signature Cruise Experiences’ office will be closed on Monday, May 25th.

During this time, guests may still complete reservations online, check their account and submit questions to us at info@scecruises.com. We will reopen on Tuesday, May 26, at 10 AM ET.

Emmet Cohen Master Class

Emmet Cohen launched his new course Breaking Through™ last Tuesday and will be re-opening enrollment at a discount for a limited time! This live course runs every Tuesday at 12 PM ET and is perfect for anyone interested in learning more about the intersection of art, creativity and business.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

June Jazz Festivals in Canada

For many years, many of the major jazz festivals in Canada have been held during the same week in mid- or late-June, which given the great distance between the host cities has not had an adverse effect on attendance. This year is no exception as several festivals will be held during the last two weeks in June.

– Lee Mergner

Ottawa Jazz Festival
June 18-28
Ottawa, Ontario

LEARN MORE

Toronto Jazz Festival
June 19-28
Toronto, Ontario

LEARN MORE

TD Victoria International JazzFest
June 19-28
Victoria, British Columbia

LEARN MORE

Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (FIJM)
June 25-July 4
Montréal, Québec

LEARN MORE

Vancouver International Jazz Festival
June 25-July 5
Vancouver, British Columbia

LEARN MORE

The post Our Take: Memorial Day Weekend appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Jazz Notes 5.20.26

Kim Kelley — Wed, 20 May 2026 17:16:26 +0000

When Going Out Gets Expensive for Music Fans…
Music Fans go Cruising!

A night of great music costs more than ever before. Whether you drive, fly or take another form of transportation, the cost of “getting there” continues to rise. Once you arrive, food, drinks, lodging and entertainment all add to the expense. These days, having a good time is truly an investment.

And yet, the allure of live entertainment remains as strong as ever. Fueled by the memories of the Pandemic when the paucity of human connection drove us to become cave dwellers, the thrill of interaction and involvement has been re-enforced as a valuable, if not vital, element of our daily lives.

Cruises are highly valued for bringing together entertainment, dining, accommodations, travel and community in one complete experience. Though not inexpensive, our cruises continue to offer exceptional value, considering the cost of 7 hotel nights, 7 days and nights of entertainment, 21 meals and the roundtrip cost of gas.

It’s easy to understand why so many guests continue to choose our programs year after year. Still, we recognize that not everyone who wants to sail on our programs is able to do so.

We would like to change that.

From now through July 4th, we are reducing the Cruise Prices for Ocean View and Inside Staterooms on cruises, starting this Fall with The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 (*) and Chris Botti at Sea ’26 and continuing into ’27 with the following programs:

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore (5 Nights)
The Jazz Cruise ‘27
Journey of Jazz ‘27
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2 (**)

STATEROOM	7 NIGHT PRICE	PRICE/DAY
Ocean View	$2,950	$422
Inside	$2,450	$350

STATEROOM	5 NIGHT PRICE	PRICE/DAY
Ocean View	$2,225	$445
Inside	$1,800	$360

(*) The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 is fully reserved. Wait List entries are available and, if filled, will not be eligible for this promotion. New Reservations Only. Cruise Prices are per person and based on Double Occupancy. Payments are non-refundable. Promotion may not be combined with any other offer and rates are non-commissionable. Offer ends on July 4th, 2026.

(**) Ocean View Staterooms on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.2 are “Wait List” only. Inside Staterooms are available and reservations for those staterooms are eligible for this promotion. New Reservations Only. Cruise Prices are per person and based on Double Occupancy. Payments are non-refundable. Promotion may not be combined with any other offer and rates are non-commissionable. Offer ends on July 4th, 2026.

As always, you may call the office during business hours and one of our team members will assist you with any aspect of the reservation process.

We would not go so far as to call this “giving back,” but it is our way of recognizing how grateful we are for the enthusiasm and support of our guests in the post-pandemic world. We want to make it easier for you to sail with us. Our only request is simple: enjoy the music, the experience and one another to the fullest.

The Jazz Community Celebrates Ken Peplowski

Last night, the life and music of our friend Ken Peplowski was celebrated in a memorial service held at the “jazz church,” Saint Peter’s in NYC, where many jazz greats including Miles Davis, Sheila Jordan and Roy Haynes have been feted in the past. The event, which featured a mix of remembrances and performances, was organized by Ken’s friend, Pamela Stark, with assists from Loren Schoenberg, David Ostwald, Mark Lopeman, Ehud Asherie and me, who all endeavored to pay proper tribute to Ken both as a musician and a man. Not that the two could be easily separated. During the course of nearly a dozen remembrances, a common theme emerged: that of Ken taking the music seriously, yet not taking himself (or any of us) seriously. It seems that just about anyone who knew Ken has stories about his self-deprecating wit, which could also be turned into a razzing weapon onstage or off. Pamela is planning on setting up a Legacy.com page for friends and fans to share those often-hilarious stories about Ken. We’ll share that with our SCE guests, many of whom were in attendance at the church last night.

As the emcee, David Ostwald, a longtime bandleader and friend of Ken’s, used short video clips of Ken to introduce the speakers and performers. I think Ken would have appreciated that David enabled him to narrate his own memorial in his own inimitable fashion. Friends who spoke movingly but also often humorously about Ken included Loren, Mark, Spike Wilner, Paquito D’Rivera, Dick Hyman (in absentia) and Ken’s brother Ted.

Of course, the artists who performed musical numbers couldn’t help but share remembrances when introducing their songs. Those songs, all exquisitely performed, included: “You Must Believe in Spring” by Tierney Sutton and Shelly Berg; “When You Wish Upon a Star” by Glenn Zaleski, Martin Wind, Terell Stafford and Wycliffe Gordon; “Here Comes the Sun” by John Pizzarelli, Madelyn Pizzarelli and Jessica Molasky; “Why Try to Change Me Now?” by Katie Thiroux and Matt Wilson and “The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else” by Catherine Russell and Ehud Asherie.

The service ended with two clips of Ken performing Elvis’s “Love Me Tender,” 40 years apart, one as a vocalist and the other on his favored instrument of the clarinet. It was a touching coda to a very powerful event. You can see for yourself and watch a copy of the livestream on the Saint Peter’s Church YouTube channel by clicking below.

by Lee Mergner

VIEW MEMORIAL LIVESTREAM

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

VIEW ALL UPCOMING SCE SAILINGS

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
The West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience

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.

Joining Chris on the cruise are several icons of the world of music: Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle 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

Stay Tuned for the Lineup and Detail

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 it has sailed and The Jazz Cruise ’27 is on its way to reaching that goal again. Open Booking began on February 24, 2026 and the cruise is nearly 80% 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, 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 and learn more about the history of jazz. As an example, Journey of Jazz ’27 will present Ledisi as a main show performer on the ship. In keeping with the theme of the cruise, Ledisi will perform her universally beloved Tribute to Dinah (Washington) program.

Journey of Jazz ’27 is in Open Booking.

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.

Both sailings are in “Open Booking” and both are nearly 95% reserved at this time.

Botti at Sea IV (’27)

10.6.27 – 10.13.27

Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec

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.

The post Jazz Notes 5.20.26 appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Our Take: A Few Days in the Big Apple

Kim Kelley — Sat, 16 May 2026 15:27:28 +0000

I’m home from a few days in New York City. I know that New Orleans is the epicenter of jazz, but when I am in NYC, I feel the jazz vibe more than anywhere else. Most of the trip related to the business of Signature Cruise Experiences, but there were several jazz connections along the way.

Upon arriving, Paula and I went directly to Woodlawn Cemetery Conservancy for the internment of Ken Peplowski. There is a more joyous celebration of his life next Tuesday at Saint Peter’s Church, one that features music and stories about Ken presented by his closest friends and colleagues. Lee Mergner wrote more and shared details on that celebration in our recent edition of Jazz Notes. Click HERE to read more.

My other Piz memory was not as joyful. Upon learning of Ken’s death on the ship, John, Shelly Berg and I gathered in the SCE onboard office to sort out what we needed to do, such as who we should notify, what to do with his instruments and belongings and, of course, what to say to the passengers.

We learned that Pamela was Ken’s emergency contact by checking his phone. We contacted Pamela within an hour of his passing and began a process of settling matters for Ken that continues today. Ken’s death created his last “performance group.” Not as large as a Big Band, but certainly more than a quartet. Let’s call it an octet with some special guests from time to time.

The ceremony was free flowing. Everyone shared stories about Ken, most of them centering on his sense of humor, ability to play almost any tune and his penchant for being sloppy with respect to his apartment or hotel room. No one knew how, or when, to stop, as if lingering there would keep Ken “alive” that much longer. Due to other scheduled obligations, we were the first to leave and I do not know how long the others stayed.

The weather that day was glorious. Sunshine. Blue Skies. Slight breeze. Woodlawn is aptly named; the grass was immaculate and lush. Ken’s final resting place is atop a hill with a panoramic view. Very regal.

Being buried at Woodlawn was one of Ken’s directives and requests. The man who inherited the mantle of being Benny Goodman’s heir shares his resting place with Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Lionel Hampton and many other jazz stars. A fitting tribute.

The next night, after a day of doing business and answering business-type questions with young businesspeople speaking in terms and abbreviations that I did not know, we had the pleasure of having dinner with Emmet Cohen and his girlfriend, JoJo Levesque. Dinner was delightful, despite the ironic and bothersome sounds of a lounge pianist pounding the keys and producing what some people would call music.

Emmet was very polite throughout, though I did catch a wince or two. Now that I think about it, Emmet’s famous ravenous appetite seemed curbed. Bad music will do that. JoJo was on her way to a rehearsal for Chess, a Broadway show in which she will star for most of the summer. After our dinner, Emmet joined her at the theater to escort her to their new home.

When I first met Emmet, he was the star of the Frost School of Music jazz band performing on our ship during the T-Shirt party. Now, he is an Internationally known jazz musician with an enormous following living the A-List life in New York City. I feel like a very proud uncle or older brother, though my age could qualify me as his very young grandfather!

Like most trips I take, particularly business trips, the best part was when it was “wheels up.” No trip, no matter how wonderful, lasts forever. That the days were fulfilling and all that was expected or anticipated was achieved is the measure. Acknowledging and feeling good about the end is not as much about the joy of going home as it is about feeling satisfied that you accomplished your goals.

I feel that way when any of our cruises end. Sad that it is over, but ebullient that It went well. At current count, our team has shared that feeling more than 100 times over 25+ years.

On-Demand! David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27 Livestream

If you missed the livestream even this past week or just want to watch again, the recording is now available on-demand online!

This livestream features an exclusive insider’s look at the world-class music, luxury travel and once-in-a-lifetime experiences our Guests will experience aboard David Foster: The Hitman Cruise.

WATCH ON-DEMAND

June Jazz Festivals in the U.S.

As the summer comes upon us, so too does jazz festival season. You’ll find many of our (and your) favorite artists performing at festivals all over the world. Below are listings for jazz festivals happening in the U.S. during June. We’ll feature international festivals in the next edition of The Weekender.

Lee Mergner
Jazz Consultant

Ravinia Festival

June 3–17
Ravinia
Highland Park, IL

LEARN MORE

Jazz in June

June 12–14
Camden Maine Opera House Camden, ME

LEARN MORE

Healdsburg Jazz Festival

June 12–21
Healdsburg, CA

LEARN MORE

Blue Note Jazz Festival

June 13–14
The Hollywood Bowl Hollywood, CA

LEARN MORE

Twin Cities Jazz Festival

June 19–20
Lowertown
St. Paul, MN

LEARN MORE

Rochester Int’l
Jazz Festival

June 19–27
Various Venues
Rochester, NY

LEARN MORE

Stanford Jazz Festival

June 21–July 31
Various Venues
Stanford, CA

LEARN MORE

Tri-C Jazz Fest

June 25–27
Playhouse Square
Cleveland, OH

LEARN MORE

JAS June Experience

June 25–28
Paul JAS Center
Aspen, CO

LEARN MORE

Saratoga Jazz Festival

June 27–28
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga, NY

LEARN MORE

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

VIEW ALL UPCOMING SCE SAILINGS

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
The West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience

SCE Sailings in ’27

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

Stay Tuned for the Lineup and Detail

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 it has sailed and The Jazz Cruise ’27 is on its way to reaching that goal again. Open Booking began on February 24, 2026 and the cruise is nearly 80% reserved.

Journey of Jazz ’27

1.24.27 – 1.31.27

Now in Open Booking

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.

Both sailings are in “Open Booking” and both are nearly 95% reserved at this time.

Botti at Sea IV (’27)

10.6.27 – 10.13.27

Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27

The post Our Take: A Few Days in the Big Apple appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Jazz Notes: 5.13.26

Kim Kelley — Wed, 13 May 2026 14:58:30 +0000

Soon, it will be the 10th Anniversary of The Weekender, signifying over 500 editions of “Your Saturday Morning Jazz Fix.” Jazz Notes is its little brother, having come on the scene just over five years ago. When we first started, Jazz Notes was meant to complement The Weekender by sharing insights about musicians and other jazz-related topics. Clearly, the two newsletters overlap from time to time, though The Weekender retains its original conversational style and Jazz Notes has the Jack Webb “just the facts” approach.

In keeping with that framework, here are some jazz cruise facts for you to consider:

Ken Peplowski was interned at Woodlawn Cemetery Conservancy in a private ceremony yesterday, May 12. Ken’s resting place is within a special portion of the cemetery dedicated to jazz musicians. Signature Cruise Experiences was honored to fund that ceremony and both Paula and I were privileged to attend.
The Memorial Service/Concert for Ken Peplowski will be held in St. Peter’s Cathedral on Tuesday, May 19. See Lee Mergner’s note with the details. We thank Lee for his participation in the event, including the creation of a memorial slide show. Unfortunately, I will not be able to share in that celebration.
Fans of The Smooth Jazz Cruise, please know that The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3 is fully reserved and The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’27.1 and ’27.2 have very limited availability. SJC ’27.1 does have a few Veranda and Concierge Staterooms remaining, but other than that, the inventory is Ocean View and Inside Staterooms only. SJC ’27.2 has fewer than 25 staterooms available, all of which are Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.
The 2026 NEA Jazz Masters tribute concert is being rescheduled for fall 2026, featuring honorees Rhonda Hamilton, Carmen Lundy, Airto Moreira and Patrice Rushen.
Though they are not pure jazz programs, both Botti at Sea III and David Foster: The Hitman Cruise offer top of the line entertainment presented by some of the most famous names in music. Keep checking your emails for a special offer to all our jazz fans to join hosts Chris Botti and/or David Foster for an amazing event.
Did you know that you can nominate an artist for an NEA Jazz Master Award? Submit your nominee here: https://www.arts.gov/honors/jazz/make-nomination-nea-jazz-masters

One of our goals with both The Weekender and Jazz Notes is to be a billboard for jazz events, new recordings and more. We are committed to presenting any information that you may wish to share under the following terms:

The subject must be of the highest caliber and likely to be of interest to a significant number of our readers.
Though the subject may be of a commercial nature, it must also reflect the artistic or educational goals of our messaging.
Requests for publication must include hi-res art accompanying the text. Even in the jazz world, one picture is worth 1,000 words.

Submit any material directly to Lee Mergner at lee@scecruises.com. Materials will be edited to fit available space and the SCE voice.

Ken Peplowski’s Celebration of Life

As Michael mentioned above, the memorial service for Ken Peplowski will be held at Saint Peter’s Church in NYC on Tuesday, May 19 with doors opening at 5 PM ET. For those in town at that time, admission is free, but seating is limited. Anyone wishing to attend in person needs to reserve their seats through an EventBrite page HERE. For the many jazz fans and friends of Ken who are unable to attend in person, the event will be streamed on Saint Peter’s YouTube page HERE.

This celebration of Ken’s life features both personal remembrances and musical performances from his friends and colleagues. Among the artists participating in the event are several longtime favorites of The Jazz Cruise guests, including John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey, Catherine Russell, Shelly Berg, Tierney Sutton, Paquito D’Rivera, Matt Wilson, Martin Wind and Ted Rosenthal.

In addition, as a prelude to the service, I put together a photo slideshow of almost 150 photos contributed by a few dozen of Ken’s friends and family. The photos depict Ken with many of the people in his life – family, friends, fans and fellow musicians. You can view that 9-minute video HERE.

Lee Mergner
Jazz Consultant

Tomorrow!
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Livestream
5.14.26 / 4PM ET

Join us for the David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Livestream on May 14 at 4PM ET to meet the lineup, including exciting new additions, learn about the ports, get the details about events performances and learn why one sailing is never enough!

Jazz Cruises Conversations’ Podcast

The latest episode of the Jazz Cruises Conversations Podcast features a session from The Jazz Cruise earlier this year in which old friends John Pizzarelli and Jeff Hamilton share the kind of conversation that could only happen when two people have shared enough bandstands to stop performing for each other. No moderator was necessary.

Jeff takes you back to his first night playing with Oscar Peterson, the Ray Brown philosophy of career preparation and what it actually takes to pack a bag when you’ve been on the road since 1974. John traces his unlikely path to singing back to a Nat King Cole reissue, a last-minute Stash Records session, and a father who never missed a teaching moment — even when the lesson arrived as a one-liner. Stories about Bucky, Paul McCartney, James Taylor and the future of straight-ahead jazz fill out the second half with audience questions that are as good as the answers.

LISTEN TO PODCAST

Emmet Cohen’s Artistry Masterclass

“Emmet’s Place Live: An Artistry Masterclass” is a free online conversation with pianist Emmet Cohen about what it means to build a life in music today. Drawing on his experiences with Emmet’s Place, touring, collaboration, mentorship and community-building, Emmet will reflect on the artistic, personal and practical lessons that have shaped his path. The session will explore questions of voice, purpose, audience connection and how musicians can create lives around the music they love with greater clarity and intention. The session takes place today, Wednesday, May 13 at 3PM ET and anyone can sign up for free.

MORE INFORMATION

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

VIEW ALL UPCOMING SCE SAILINGS

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
The West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience

SCE Sailings in ’27

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

Stay Tuned for the Lineup and Detail

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 it has sailed and The Jazz Cruise ’27 is on its way to reaching that goal again. Open Booking began on February 24, 2026 and the cruise is nearly 80% 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, 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 and learn more about the history of jazz. As an example, Journey of Jazz ’27 will present Ledisi as a main show performer on the ship. In keeping with the theme of the cruise, Ledisi will perform her universally beloved Tribute to Dinah (Washington) program.

Journey of Jazz ’27 is in Open Booking.

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.

Both sailings are in “Open Booking” and both are nearly 95% reserved at this time.

Botti at Sea IV (’27)

10.6.27 – 10.13.27

Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27

The post Jazz Notes: 5.13.26 appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Our Take: Mothers of Achievement

Kim Kelley — Sat, 09 May 2026 05:35:00 +0000

The title of this Our Take is a bit misleading. After all, by definition, all mothers have achieved. They are all mothers, a heroic achievement by any measure. When a mother is able to achieve even more beyond “mere” motherhood, we take notice.

For instance, only three “mothers” have ever won a Grand Slam Tennis tournament: Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Kim Clijsters. Golf has similarly rarified air. Catriona Matthew and Sherri Steinhauer both won Women’s British Opens after becoming mothers. Perhaps the most famous mother/golfer/Major Championships winner is Juli Inkster, who won multiple Majors after having two daughters.

The world of jazz has its super mothers as well. When Sheila Jordan divorced Duke Jordan, she withdrew from the jazz world and worked for 20 years as a legal secretary so that she could raise her daughter, Tracey. At 58, she triumphantly returned to the bandstand and proceeded to carve out a wonderful career that included her being inducted as an NEA Jazz Master, the Grand Slam and Majors equivalent in our world.

Rene Marie was a mother of two by the age of 23. Finally, at age 42, her children were old enough to allow her to fully launch a professional career. Now a GRAMMY® nominated singer and songwriter, she has achieved great success after motherhood.

Two of our favorite vocalists have recently added “being a mother” to their resumes. Melody Gardot, who will perform on Chris Botti at Sea III, and Cyrille Aimée, who joins our Journey of Jazz ’27 lineup, are now both moms! Our Talent Administration personnel tell me that their travel plans for the cruise include significant “child” details, signaling their desire to balance their careers with the joys of being a mom as much as possible.

No Our Take about mothers and jazz would be complete without a nod to my mother, Anita E. Berry, founder of The Jazz Cruise. For those who have heard this story 10 or more times, you have earned a Reserved Seat for the next 10 or more presentations. At age 70, Mom became the first person in the world, male or female, to charter an entire ship for a musical cruise. What seems to be an obvious decision now, seemed amazingly risky back in 2000, when she decided to charter Holland America’s m/s Maasdam.

Emails and social media were very limited. She had a mailing list from her days with NCL and its jazz program (half a ship), but there was no guarantee that those folks would be willing to reserve a stateroom. She also had the full and complete support of the musicians, which proved to be the most important endorsement of all.

Whether Mom was a successful mother before becoming a jazz impresario depends upon your assessment of her three sons. Actually, two of them are more than fine. The jury is still out on me. Whatever time I have going forward will be directed to making her dream of great music cruises come true.

To all mothers, whether you are working, not working, pursuing a career, not pursuing a career or something in the middle, you already have the most difficult job in the world. Make sure that you guilt as many people tomorrow as possible to wait on you, give you gifts and otherwise dote over you.

Turning guilt into action is every mother’s secret weapon.

NOTE: A very special shout out to Aubrey Pavlik, our Director of Guest Communications, who is celebrating her very first Mother’s Day!

This Week!
David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27 Livestream

Join the David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Livestream event on May 14 at 4PM ET!

We’ll have an exclusive insider’s look at the world-class music, luxury travel and once-in-a-lifetime experiences our Guests will experience. Plus, we’re giving one lucky attendee a FREE Stateroom aboard The Hitman Cruise Encore!

Wea Culpa

In last week’s edition of The Weekender, we included an item about pianist Ted Rosenthal’s latest album The Good Old Days, featuring his take on early jazz styles. Unfortunately, we included the incorrect link to learn more about the album. Here is the correct link.

LEARN MORE

Wynton Marsalis & Vince Giordano’s
The Wonderful Word of Louis Armstrong

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Blue Engine Records has just released Jazz Summit: Wynton Marsalis & Vince Giordano Play on the Hot Fives and Sevens, The Wonderful Word of Louis Armstrong, featuring fresh interpretations of Louis Armstrong’s classic Hot Fives and Hot Sevens recordings.

The album was originally recorded by Wynton Marsalis (who will perform on Journey of Jazz in New Orleans), Vince Giordano, and members of their ensembles December 26–31, 2012, during an historic run at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club in NYC. The Wonderful Word of Louis Armstrong is the third album in a series from Wynton and Blue Engine exploring jazz’s ethical relationship to democracy, freedom, and collective life. It follows We The People (released in February) and Let Freedom Swing (released in March).

LEARN MORE

Steve Wilson’s Enduring Sonance

Saxophonist and flutist Steve Wilson has sailed on The Jazz Cruise many times as both an All-Star and a member of Christian McBride’s Inside Straight. His new album, Enduring Sonance on Smoke Sessions Records, features compositions that he’s cherished over the course of his musical life.

“Some of the tunes on this record have stayed with me for, in some cases, over 50 years from the time that I first heard them,” Steve says. “I wanted to put some music out there that people can connect with, no matter what kind of music they like.” He’s joined by vibraphonist Joe Locke, bassist Jay Anderson, drummer Kendrick Scott, and pianist Renee Rosnes, who also contributed the album’s arrangements. On two pieces, they’re joined by French horn virtuoso Kevin Newton of Imani Winds.

LEARN MORE

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

VIEW ALL UPCOMING SCE SAILINGS

SCE Sailings in ’27

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3

Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles
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 is Fully Reserved.

If you wish 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)

Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver
9.18.26 – 9.25.26
West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience
The Weekender Cruise Prices: Good through May 31, 2026

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 (featuring Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson) and exciting excursions in San Francisco and Victoria including trips to wineries in Napa and Sonoma.

SCE Sailings in ’27

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27

Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa
1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Open Booking
Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

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 star-studded lineup for David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore Sailing ’27 includes Michael McDonald, Dianne Reeves, Leslie Odom Jr., Katharine McPhee, Erich Bergen and more.

The Jazz Cruise ’27

Tampa – Cozumel – Belize – Costa Maya – Tampa
1.17.27 – 1.24.27
The Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea
Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

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 on its way to reaching that goal again. Open Booking began on February 24, 2026 and the cruise is nearly 80% reserved.

Journey of Jazz ’27

Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa
1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Where Jazz Fans Go to Live The Jazz Life
Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

The Smooth Jazz Cruise

SJC ‘27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27) Tampa – Ocho Rios – Grand Cayman – Tampa (90% Reserved)
SJC ’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27) Tampa – Grand Cayman – Ocho Rios – Tampa (95% Reserved)
The Greatest Party at Sea

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 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.

Both sailings are in Open Booking and both are nearly 95% reserved at this time.

Botti at Sea IV (’27)

Boston – Portland – Saint John (NB) – Sydney (NS) – Charlottetown (PEI) – Quebec City
10.6.27 – 10.13.27
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 (8.15.26) 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

Quebec City – Charlottetown (PEI) – Sydney (NS) – Saint John (NB) – Portland – Boston
10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Smooth Jazz in the Fall!

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Signature Cruise Experiences

Our Take: It’s the 13th. Are You Superstitious?

Duke Ellington Superstitions

David Sanborn’s Anxieties

Josh Groban & Chris Botti:Live Entertainment Coming to You!

Emmet Cohen’s Universal Truth

John Clayton’s Two-o Duo

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

SCE Sailings in ’26

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3

9.11.26 – 9.18.26Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles

Botti at Sea ’26

9.18.26 – 9.25.26Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – VancouverJUST ANNOUNCED: Josh Groban Performing on Botti at Sea! STATEROOM CLOSEOUT SALE IN EFFECT

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore

1.12.27 – 1.17.27Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa

The Jazz Cruise ’27

1.17.27 – 1.24.27Tampa – Cozumel – Belize – Costa Maya – Tampa

Journey of Jazz ’27

1.24.27 – 1.31.27Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa

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

Botti at Sea ’27

10.6.27 – 10.13.27Boston – Portland – Saint John – Sydney – Charlottetown – Quebec City

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27Quebec City – Charlottetown – Sydney – Saint John – Portland – Boston

Jazz Notes: 6.10.26

Josh Groban is Performing on Botti at Sea III!

Groban Fans

The Branford Marsalis Quartet – A Band for These Ages

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

SCE Sailings in ’26

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3

9.11.26 – 9.18.2634th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

Botti at Sea III (’26)

9.18.26 – 9.25.26Just Announced: Josh Groban

SCE Sailings in ’27

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’27

1.12.27 – 1.17.27

Stay Tuned for the Lineup and Detail

The Jazz Cruise ’27

1.17.27 – 1.24.27

Still the Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea

Journey of Jazz ’27

1.24.27 – 1.31.27

Now in Open Booking

The Smooth Jazz Cruise

’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27) ’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)

Botti at Sea IV (’27)

10.6.27 – 10.13.27

Chris Botti Takes His Cruise from Boston to Quebec

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27

Our Take: What’s Your Music When Not Listening to Jazz?

Journey of Jazz Welcomes John Pizzarelli

Peabo Bryson on Watercolors

Last Chance to Sail in ’26: Chris Botti at Sea III

Signature Cruise Experiences Upcoming Programs

SCE Sailings in ’26

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3

9.11.26 – 9.18.26Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles

Botti at Sea ’26

9.18.26 – 9.25.26Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – VancouverSTATEROOM CLOSEOUT SALE IN EFFECTFor more information, see above.

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise Encore

1.12.27 – 1.17.27Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa

Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

The Jazz Cruise ’27

1.17.27 – 1.24.27Tampa – Cozumel – Belize – Costa Maya – Tampa

Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

Journey of Jazz ’27

1.24.27 – 1.31.27Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa

Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

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

Botti at Sea ’27

10.6.27 – 10.13.27Boston – Portland – Saint John – Sydney – Charlottetown – Quebec City

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘27.3

10.13.27 – 10.20.27Quebec City – Charlottetown – Sydney – Saint John – Portland – Boston

Jazz Notes 6.3.26

Peabo Bryson News

The Perfect Cruise Experience

Josh Groban & Chris Botti:
Live Entertainment Coming to You!

9.11.26 – 9.18.26
Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver

JUST ANNOUNCED: Josh Groban Performing on Botti at Sea!
STATEROOM CLOSEOUT SALE IN EFFECT

1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa

1.17.27 – 1.24.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Belize – Costa Maya – Tampa

1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa

’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

10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Boston – Portland – Saint John – Sydney –
Charlottetown – Quebec City

10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Quebec City – Charlottetown – Sydney –
Saint John – Portland – Boston

9.11.26 – 9.18.26
34th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Just Announced: Josh Groban

’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)

9.11.26 – 9.18.26
Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver

STATEROOM CLOSEOUT SALE IN EFFECT
For more information, see above.

1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa

Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for
Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

1.17.27 – 1.24.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Belize – Costa Maya – Tampa

Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for
Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa

Now Available: Special Cruise Prices for
Ocean View & Inside Staterooms

’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

10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Boston – Portland – Saint John – Sydney –
Charlottetown – Quebec City

10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Quebec City – Charlottetown – Sydney –
Saint John – Portland – Boston

9.11.26 – 9.18.26
Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver

1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa

1.17.27 – 1.24.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Belize – Costa Maya – Tampa

1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa

’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

10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Boston – Portland – Saint John – Sydney –
Charlottetown – Quebec City

10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Quebec City – Charlottetown – Sydney –
Saint John – Portland – Boston

Our First ’27 Sailing Isn’t For 230 Days!
Do You Want to Wait THAT Long?

Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver
9.18.26 – 9.25.26

9.11.26 – 9.18.26
Vancouver – Victoria – San Francisco – Los Angeles

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
Los Angeles – San Francisco – Victoria – Vancouver

STATEROOM CLOSEOUT SALE IN EFFECT
For more information, see above.

1.12.27 – 1.17.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Costa Maya – Tampa

1.17.27 – 1.24.27
Tampa – Cozumel – Belize – Costa Maya – Tampa

1.24.27 – 1.31.27
Tampa – New Orleans – Progreso – Tampa

’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

10.6.27 – 10.13.27
Boston – Portland – Saint John – Sydney –
Charlottetown – Quebec City

10.13.27 – 10.20.27
Quebec City – Charlottetown – Sydney –
Saint John – Portland – Boston

When Going Out Gets Expensive for Music Fans…
Music Fans go Cruising!

9.11.26 – 9.18.26
34th Sailing of “The Greatest Party at Sea”

9.18.26 – 9.25.26
The West Coast Edition – The Perfect Music Experience

’27.1 (1.31.27 – 2.7.27)
’27.2 (2.7.27 – 2.14.27)