Since 2016, every Saturday morning subscribers have received their weekly “jazz fix” in the form of The Weekender. Our purpose is to present what is going on in the world of jazz, where our favorite musicians are performing and various musings about jazz that range from “on the ball” to “off the wall.” Read by nearly 40,000 fans each week, The Weekender has become Signature Cruise Experiences’ voice to Jazz fans worldwide.
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THE WEEKENDER ARCHIVE
March 7, 2026
Our Take: Music by Any Name is Music
I am home today, in St. Louis, having spent last week on the inaugural sailing of Top Shelf Country Cruise, our first country music cruise in over 10 years The…
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February 28, 2026
Our Take: Four Letter Words that Matter
When we talk about four-letter words, we are usually talking about profanity. Eliminating four-letter words from your vocabulary is often a New Year’s resolution or even a suggestion by others. Of course,…
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February 21, 2026
Our Take: Home, Sort Of!
The Signature Cruise Experiences team members are at their various homes today, with many having completed over 30 days at sea (and some nearly 40!). If our experience were like…
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February 14, 2026
Our Take: Happy Valentine’s Day from the Sea!
It is Day 31 at sea for the Signature Cruise Experiences production team. On Tuesday, The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2 returns to port and the team will head home for a…
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February 7, 2026
Our Take: From a Glorious Sailing on The Jazz Cruise to a Rousing Start of The Smooth Jazz Cruise!
The Jazz Cruise ’26 was amazing. Many called it the very best. In terms of talent and excitement, they may be right. After three standing room shows on the ship,…
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January 31, 2026
Our Take: The Jazz Cruise is Amazing!
Last week, I shared thoughts about the conclusion of David Foster: The Hitman Cruise and the start of Christian McBride’s World at Sea Cruise. This week it’s a quick wrap…
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January 24, 2026
Our Take: The Sea is Alive with the Sound of (Our) Music
The relationship between instrumental music and vocal music has always intrigued me. Some instrumental musicians will not back up a singer. Some thrive on it. Matching vocals to a particular…
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January 17, 2026
Our Take: David Foster: The Hitman Cruise – What Talent!
David Foster’s The Hitman Cruise is nearly halfway through and none of us want it to end. Talk about talent. If you enjoy vocals, then this cruise is perfect for…
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January 10, 2026
Our Take: They Put a Smile on My Face
In just a few days, we begin a 33-day, 5-program music extravaganza at sea. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to be embarking on this journey.…
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January 3, 2026
Our Take: The Final Shows of Steve Tyrell
I just learned that, on February 13 and 14 at Catalina Bar (Hollywood), Steve Tyrell will be making his final performances as a singer. Perhaps best known for his iconic vocal…
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December 27, 2025
Our Take: So You Think ’26 is Going to be a Good Year
Nothing in The Who’s Tommy is jazz, yet whenever New Year’s rolls around, the line from the tune “1921” pops into my head. I simply change the “’21” to whatever…
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December 22, 2025
Our Take: Happy Holidays!
With this being the last edition of The Weekender before many of you take off for the holidays, we thought it would be nice to share with you some of…
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December 13, 2025
Our Take: Christmas in New York
The best city in the world during the Holiday Season is New York City. No contest. Prior to the Pandemic, my wife and I always found a reason, some good…
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December 6, 2025
Our Take: Behind Many Great Musicians is a Strong Woman
Earlier this week, I learned that Inge Dulfer, Candy’s mom, passed after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. From the photo below, it is easy to see from where Candy’s…
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November 29, 2025
Our Take: Be Thankful for Music
It’s the weekend of Thanksgiving and everyone’s on the run,They are cooking and shopping and finding ways to have fun.But amid all the excitement, while we enjoy those near to…
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