Later that night, David Sanborn, among the most cerebral and clever of our jazz musicians, had the opportunity to hoist Joe on his own petard by telling Joe that when David was the leader, the other musicians, including Joe, need to follow David’s saxophone! More on this episode in later editions.

My word association reminder for making sure that I adhere to this rule is very simple. I insist that I have a SAMPLE of each performer in advance. To be clear, Joe Sample was one of my all-time favorite performers and guests on the cruise. He was a character for sure, but he was also an amazing talent. 

Joe was one of the founding members of The Jazz Crusaders and one of the pioneers of the electric keyboard. From 1960 – 1991, The Crusaders (dropping the name “jazz”) were one of the most popular and heralded bands of the genre. “Street Life”, both the song and the album, is probably the high water mark of their popularity in 1979. After the band broke up, Sample continued his high end studio work performing on recordings by Joni Mitchell, Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis, Randy Crawford, George Benson and more. One of his collaborations was with Ray Brown (bass) and Shelly Manne (drums). Now that is some serious “straight ahead” jazz.

While Joe built a career as a member of bands and performing with others, Kenny G took another approach. After graduating from the University of Washington, earning both Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude honors, instead of pursuing a business career, he plunged into the local Seattle music scene. Though he gained prominence first as part of Jeff Lorber Fusion, the famous impresario Clive Davis saw his talent and signed him up with Arista Records as a solo performer.

His solo career has spanned decades now, and though he has been the target of the jazz police for years, Kenny G has prospered, even embracing the criticism as a badge of honor. Please know that he does not claim to be a jazz musician, citing the difference between being an instrumentalist and being a jazz musician. Miles Davis once wrote to Kenny G telling him to disregard the haters as that being successful and earning that level of criticism were the ultimate compliments.

The desire to perform solo may be the impetus of his two main non-music activities, golf and being a pilot. Both activities are individual pursuits and can provide endless hours of solace and solitude. Kenny G excels at both, being one of the very best musician golfers in the world and earning honors as a pilot.

Kenny G will be performing on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 & ’26.2, his first shows on our cruises. I promise no debate about whether “smooth jazz” is jazz and whether Kenny G is a jazz musician. Once again, we will follow the teachings of Miles…both are successful, both are loved and both make us happy. No response required.

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, Christian McBride’s World 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.

SFJAZZ Collective’s Collective Imagery

Many guests on Journey of Jazz in September were treated to a performance by the 2024-2025 edition of the SFJAZZ Collective on their home turf of the beautiful SFJAZZ Center. That same all-star ensemble has just released Collective Imagery, the end result of a project undertaken in collaboration with San Francisco’s de Young Museum, which in May 2024 invited saxophonists Chris Potter and David Sánchez, trumpeter Mike Rodriguez, vibraphonist Warren Wolf, pianist Edward Simon, bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Kendrick Scott, to view a collection of pieces by contemporary Bay Area artists. 

They were able to choose a work to serve as a springboard from which to compose. “It’s very rewarding to hear a group of extremely strong, individualistic musicians find a common language,” said Potter, the Collective’s current music director. “Each person’s choice and the music they came up with was extremely personal.”

LA Jazz Society Tribute Concert & Awards

On November 1, the LA Jazz Society will honor Christian McBride, Patrice Rushen, Gretchen Parlato and others at their 2025 Jazz Tribute Concert & Awards event held at the Montalban in Los Angeles.

Christian is the Jazz Tribute Honoree, while Patrice will receive the Jazz Composer/Arranger Award and Gretchen will receive the Jazz Vocalist Award. Other award recipients include: Lois Saffian for a Lifetime Achievement Award; Edythe Bronston for the David J. Bell “Angel” Award; and Tom Whaley of Santa Monica High School for the Jazz Educator Award.

The post Our Take: Kenny G…and Joe!  appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

During this brief hiatus, besides the usual mid-summer activities, we will be preparing for our mid-2025 meetings during which we will be assessing our ’26 Programs and planning for our ’27 Programs. Doing so causes me to reflect upon the 25+ years of producing our programs, the musicians we have known and the amazing guests that we have met, befriended and enjoyed. We are very fortunate to be doing something that we love, with people that we respect, and for people whom we wish to make happy at all times. If you have to toil, it makes it so much easier when you love doing it.

As you know, we have expanded our cruise programs to include additional jazz programs (Journey of Jazz and Christian McBride’s World at Sea) together with some entertainment programs that are outside of the world of jazz. Some, like Botti at Sea and David Foster: The Hitman Cruise, though not entirely jazzy, are within the general vicinity of the jazz world. Others, like Top Shelf Country Cruise and past programs like NASCAR and Star Trek are far from striking distance of our music. Since we will be heading into a planning phase for our next set of programs, we thought it would be interesting if we asked our most loyal fans, the readers of The Weekender, to weigh in and suggest what types of cruise programs they would like us to tackle.

You see, we love our music more than anything in the world, but our singular skill is being able to produce a charter theme cruise. Very few people know how to do that and we believe that we do it better than anyone else. Applying that skill set to any theme is doable for us. One of our mission statements is to add a different theme cruise each year. Top Shelf Country Cruise was the choice for ’26. We are excited to announce that there will be a ’27 sailing of Top Shelf Country Cruise. I should have bought those boots instead of renting them!

Back to our request of you. If you have a cruise concept in mind for us to consider producing, please let us know by sending the information to info@scecruises.com. If we select your theme and it becomes a cruise, not only will you sail on the cruise for life for free, but you will be an “owner”!   

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, Christian McBride’s World 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.

Samara Joy’s New Single and BBC Orchestral Debut

The jazz vocal star Samara Joy, who will be performing during McBride’s World at Sea, has just released a new single, “Flor de Lis,” a Portuguese outtake from her 2024 album Portrait, on June 27 In the lead up to her upcoming South American dates in Argentina and Brazil.

In addition, Samara will perform with her octet and the BBC Concert Orchestra on July 19. Her first time performing with a full orchestra, the concert will be broadcast live on BBC4.

LEARN MORE

Christian McBride Big Band Album

Samara will also appear on the upcoming recording from the Christian McBride Big Band, Without Further Ado, Vol. 1, singing “Old Folks.” Released on Mack Avenue on August. 29, the album features classic jazz and pop standards sung by Samara and other special guest vocalists, including Cécile McLorin Salvant, Dianne Reeves, José James, Jeffrey Osborne and Antoinette Henry. The first single from the album has just been released and it features Sting and Andy Summers performing “Murder By Numbers,” their tune from The Police’s 1982 multi-platinum Synchronicity.

“This album has been a fantastic opportunity to record some of my favorite big band arrangements, with some of my favorite singers,” Christian said.

Signature Cruise Experiences’ Mid-Summer Break

As we mentioned in the Our Take, our office will be closed from Monday, June 30 through Friday, July 4. We will be open as usual starting at 10 AM ET on Monday, July 7. Though away from the office, we remain available via email at info@scecruises.com. 

All of us at Signature Cruise Experiences wish you and yours a happy, fun and safe July 4th holiday. Whether you spend it on the beach, at a pool, on the deck or just lounging, every holiday deserves a few hours of great jazz! Do not live without it!

Stateroom Availability

Cruise Programs – 2025

Cruise Programs – 2026

Signature Cruise Experiences’ Programs

Journey of Jazz ’25 – Limited Time Promotional Pricing

Journey of Jazz is more than 97% reserved! There are less than 40 available staterooms consisting of Veranda and Inside Staterooms. These remaining staterooms are currently at their final, lowest price. Don’t miss your chance – join us on our Journey this September! *New reservations only

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David Foster: The Hitman Cruise – 5 Days, 5 Nights, 5 Star Experience

David Foster: The Hitman Cruise will deliver five incredible days and nights of five-star entertainment, all centered around the music and career of 16-time GRAMMY® winner David Foster. Michael McDonald, Babyface, Katharine McPhee and other preeminent talents will join us aboard. Open Booking has begun and staterooms are already moving fast! Act soon to reserve your stateroom of choice.

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Christian McBride’s World at Sea – Limited Time Promotional Pricing

Open Booking has begun! Special pricing available for a limited time on Ocean View & Inside Staterooms. Use Promo Code CMW when you make your reservation! *New reservations only

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The Jazz Cruise ’26 is in Open booking

The Jazz Cruise ’26 is in Open Booking! Anyone may now reserve any available stateroom. This program always hits “fully reserved.” The only question is when!

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The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2 are Fully Reserved

Of course, you may join the Waitlist. Or, if you’d prefer to sail the West Coast this fall (two novel concepts for this program), consider joining us on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3.

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Top Shelf Country Cruise is now in Open Booking

With premium talent like Keith Urban, Lee Brice, Scotty McCreery, Parmalee, LeAnn Rimes, Thelma & James and Kassi Ashton, Top Shelf Country Cruise earns its title as the First-Class Country Music Cruise! Reserve your stateroom today!

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The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3 is in Open Booking

For the first time in many years, The Smooth Jazz Cruise will sail on the West Coast! The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3 is in Open Booking and staterooms are more than 75% reserved. Reserve your stateroom today!

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Botti at Sea ’26 is in Open Booking

We’re thrilled to be able to announce that Boz Scaggs, Elvis Costello, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle will be onboard Botti at Sea ’26 in Fall 2026. Reserve your stateroom today!

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The post Our Take: Is it a June Swoon or Just a Nice Break? appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.