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
December 28, 2024
OUR TAKE: Seeing the Forest for the Trees
I often scoff at idioms. Generally, they appear when a more complex thought should be utilized. Reviewing some common idioms proves this point. Do the phrases “break a leg,” “better…
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December 21, 2024
OUR TAKE: The Gift of Celebration
Later this week, folks will be celebrating Christmas, Hannukah and Kwanzaa. While these holidays do not cover the entire world, it is a very good start. Each holiday has its…
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December 14, 2024
OUR TAKE: From “Divine Nine Challenge” to Homecoming: The Cruise
Homecoming: The Cruise is meant to produce education, entertainment and excellence in the tradition of HBCUs and the NPHC.
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December 7, 2024
OUR TAKE: Jazz & World War II
Frequent readers of this column know my reverence for Winston Churchill and my interest in all matters surrounding World War II. Our world today has conflicts, but none of them…
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November 30, 2024
OUR TAKE: The Gift of Jazz
They say that nearly 70% of all holiday gifts are purchased this weekend. My wife and I are part of that group, as we spend the weekend making our list, checking…
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November 23, 2024
OUR TAKE: The Weekend Before Thanksgiving
For those who follow this column, you may remember that I love Thanksgiving. The menu is simple, known by all, but flexible enough to highlight individual and family heritage recipes. No gifts. No…
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November 16, 2024
OUR TAKE: Roy Haynes – American Drummer
Talk about a legend. None bigger than Roy Haynes, a true original American drummer, who died this week at 99. He sailed with us twice on The Jazz Cruise years…
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November 9, 2024
OUR TAKE: Quincy Jones – Jazz Man
Not sure that anyone in the history of music was more influential than Quincy Jones. His career spanned over seven decades. Known worldwide for his work with Michael Jackson, composing…
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November 2, 2024
OUR TAKE: Fall Back, Foul Off, Fell Flat, Feel Fine, Free Country
One strategy for success is to throw as much as you can against the wall and hope that something sticks. That is the mantra for this edition of Our Take.…
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October 26, 2024
OUR TAKE: A Life Well Lived
Dick Golden is the host of a Saturday morning jazz show on SXM called American Jazz. He was our Jazz Historian on The Jazz Cruise for several years and was…
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October 19, 2024
OUR TAKE: Where did you go, Joe DiMaggio?
At the risk of criminal redundancy, my spectator sports are jazz and baseball. My active sports are tennis and drums. My skill level for either of my active sports does…
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October 12, 2024
OUR TAKE: What’s in a Name?
Welcome to Signature Cruise Experiences! Quoting Shakespeare is not one of my fortes. Though he is touted to be the finest author ever, understanding the true meaning of his words…
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October 5, 2024
OUR TAKE: Honoring Marcus Miller
Today finds me in Los Angeles. Though our (Paula and me) stay will be very brief, we are excited, honored and humbled to be participating in tonight’s Los Angeles Jazz…
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September 28, 2024
OUR TAKE: Benny Golson – His Life was a History of Jazz
Benny Golson died last Saturday. He was 95. Which means he was born in 1929 and remained active as both a player and a composer through 2024. His life nearly…
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September 21, 2024
OUR TAKE: Why We Love This Music!
I have read stories about chefs who prefer peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to their haute cuisine dishes. Many athletes famously refuse to watch games involving their professional sport. And…
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