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 genre, especially jazz, is tricky. What makes a vocalist a jazz vocalist? If you say “scatting,” then you are my age or higher. It is […]

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise ’26: Special Photo Edition They say that a picture is worth 1,000 words. If so, then here is more than 10,000 words from David Foster: The Hitman Cruise that completed an amazing 5-Day cruise program yesterday. Joining David Foster and his amazing band were Michael McDonald, Babyface, Pia Toscano, Peter […]

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 you. So many great singers and, with David Foster producing, everyone is presented beautifully. Would you expect anything less?  The opening show, hosted by David, […]

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. Here are some numbers to consider: 10,000 passengers/guests. Nearly 900 hours at sea. Almost 400 musicians to present. And heaven knows how many steps taken […]

‘Tis The Season…Cruise Season That Is!The Antidote to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) No, I am not making this up. Post-holiday depression, often called “holiday blues,” is a recognized, if not real, malady that impacts folks in January each year. For those of us who live north of the Mason-Dixon line, I always thought that this […]

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 of The Way You Look Tonight in the 1991 movie Father of the Bride, that turn was but a small part of his legacy. Over the […]

Happy New Year Edition I have always found New Year’s Eve to be a time for reflection, more than a time for elation. For those who feel the opposite, what are you celebrating that night? That ’25 is over? That ’26 is beginning? I understand the idea, but I cannot connect the dots between those […]

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 the new year is and I sing that lyric 100 or more times.    “Got a feeling (’26) is going to be a good year, […]

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 our holiday thoughts, events and traditions. Our Signature Cruise Experiences team is significantly larger than it has been in the past, includes folks of all […]

What a thrill when one of our favorite team members is honored. Lee Mergner, our Jazz Consultant, will become the 10th recipient of the Bruce Lundvall Visionary Award on January 7 in a ceremony to be held at Jazz at Lincoln Center.