MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL Archives - Signature Cruise Experiences https://scecruises.com/tag/monterey-jazz-festival/ The Gold Standard for Charter Theme Cruises Since 2001 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 18:08:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://scecruises.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cropped-web-app-manifest-512x512-1-32x32.png MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL Archives - Signature Cruise Experiences https://scecruises.com/tag/monterey-jazz-festival/ 32 32 OUR TAKE: G.O.A.T. & Mt. Rushmore Candidates https://scecruises.com/2024/09/14/our-take-g-o-a-t-mt-rushmore-candidates/ Sat, 14 Sep 2024 18:20:30 +0000 https://www.jazzcruisesllc.com/?p=6952 As a sucker for any list that purports to list the “Top 20” of anything or anyone, I am surprised that we have never undertaken such a list for the performers on our cruises and other jazz musicians. For anyone wondering what is meant by G.O.A.T. and Mt. Rushmore candidates, the first stands for the […]

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]]> As a sucker for any list that purports to list the “Top 20” of anything or anyone, I am surprised that we have never undertaken such a list for the performers on our cruises and other jazz musicians. For anyone wondering what is meant by G.O.A.T. and Mt. Rushmore candidates, the first stands for the Greatest of All Time and the second is a reference to the South Dakota mountainside sculptures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. That landmark is the reference point for the Best 4 of any particular endeavor, sport or undertaking.

With that said, I am interested in what our readers and guests believe to be G.O.A.T. (“Greatest of All Time”) of the world of “straight ahead” jazz and the G.O.A.T. (“Greatest of All Time”) of “smooth jazz,” as well as the Mt. Rushmore of various instruments and vocals. So that we can compile the results and share them with everyone, we ask that you use the attached form to make your selections. 

Our staff met this week to discuss whether selections should include:

(a) Active or Passed Musicians
(b) Musicians who have sailed with us or not
(c) Selection of Individuals from Performing Groups

Active or Passed Musicians. 
Jazz fans are often criticized for paying more attention to Musicians who have passed than those who are actively performing. The purpose of this selection process is not to anoint Miles Davis or Grover Washington, Jr. Folks like them are firmly established and do not require further exaltation.

We do, however, want to recognize any performer who has performed on one of our cruise programs, whether they are active or passed. To put some names to this category, alto players Jeff Clayton and David Sanborn are fair game for selection.

Musicians Who Have Sailed With Us or Not.
Though we like to think that every great jazz musician has performed on our cruise, there are several amazing performers who, for whatever reason, have not joined us at sea. Let’s add them to our selection process. If one or more performers in that category receive a significant number of votes, we will endeavor to add them for a future sailing.

Selection of Individual from Performing Groups.
Some of the most significant musicians on our cruises began as being part of a Performing Group. The ever-popular Anat Cohen first appeared on The Jazz Cruise as part of George Wein’s band. Patches Stewart has become a fixture on The Smooth Jazz Cruise, but he first joined us as part of Marcus Miller’s band. Feel free to pick out a performer who may not be performing on his/her own right now but is a prominent musician in your mind.

So ends our instructions. Some may ask why are we doing this exercise? Several reasons. Filling out lists like this is fun. Spending a few minutes mulling over who are your favorite jazz musicians sounds like a good thing to do all by itself. 

Full disclosure, we will use the results here to gauge once again which musicians pique the interest of our guests. We think we know, but once in a while we need to test our observations and instincts. Making sure that we are presenting the musicians that you want to see and hear is paramount.

Anecdotal information is persuasive, even if it is simply counting the number of guests who attend our various performances, But, every once in a while, taking stock with hard numbers is best. Plus, our staff has created at least 16 different betting opportunities for us. The over/under as to how many of you will respond is the most hotly contested.

Start picking!

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea and Journey of Jazz. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.

FILL OUT YOUR G.O.A.T. FORM!

Signature Cruise Experiences

We have formed a new entity to produce some of our upcoming cruise programs, Signature Cruise Experiences. As the name suggests, Signature Cruise Experiences will feature cruise programs outside of our current music repertoire. Stay tuned for more information about these exciting new programs.

Jazz Cruises will continue to be the flagship title for The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Botti at Sea, Journey of Jazz and, hint hint, another jazz cruise program soon to be announced.

Update: The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2

The excitement for The Smooth Cruise ’26.1 & ’26.2 has been amazing.

Guests on the ’25 Cruises are exercising their exclusive right to rebook their current staterooms for a ’26 Cruise and more than 1,200 guests not sailing on a ’25 Cruise have completed Pre-Sale Reservations establishing their priority to select a stateroom and complete a reservation.

These steps have some important dates coming up very soon!

Guests Sailing on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1/’25.2:

Your exclusive right to rebook your current stateroom for a ’26 Cruise ends on September 15. Beginning on Monday, September 16, unreserved staterooms will be placed back into available inventory. With 1,200 guests eligible to select a stateroom shortly, we urge those who wish to sail on a ’26 Cruise to complete their rebooking before the end of the day on September 15.

Guests who completed Pre-Sale Reservations for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1/’26.2:

•    These guests were sent reservation procedure information on Thursday, September 12. If you have not received that information yet, please email or call us at 844.616.6279.
•    Starting on September 19, the first of several groups holding a Pre-Sale Reservation will start to select staterooms and complete their reservations. This process will continue until Open Booking begins on October 17.

As always, The Smooth Jazz Cruise is in demand. The rules for securing your reservation are clearly described. If you have any questions, though, give us a call. Otherwise, the procedure is in your hands.

LEARN MORE

Upcoming Jazz Festivals

There are a few jazz festivals that are happening next month in October and
that feature artists associated with Jazz Cruises programs (in chronological order).

Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival

October 10-13, 17-20 – Avalon Ballroom, Catalina Island, CA
Featuring Candy Dulfer, Rick Braun & Richard Elliot, Peter White,
Mindi Abair, Vincent Ingala, Marcus Anderson and more.

LEARN MORE


Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival

October 17-20 – Rehoboth Beach Convention Center, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Featuring Brian Culbertson, Bob James, Najee, Norman Brown, John Pizzarelli,
Rick Braun, Peter White, Keiko Matsui and more.

LEARN MORE


Exit Zero Jazz Festival

October 25-27 – Cape May Convention Center, Cape May, NJ
Featuring Christian McBride & Ursa Major, Dee Dee Bridgewater
and Bill Charlap, The Cookers, JAZZ HOUSE KiDS and more.

LEARN MORE

Monterey Jazz Festival

Experience the Monterey Jazz Festival set against the breathtaking backdrop of Monterey, California. One of the world’s longest-running jazz festivals, this iconic event has hosted legendary performers like Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie and Dave Brubeck since 1958. Don’t miss the 67th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival September 27 – 29, featuring 350 artists across five stages, including Samara Joy, Blind Boys of Alabama, Mavis Staples, Hiromi, Stanley Clarke and more. For tickets and details, visit https://montereyjazzfestival.org.

LEARN MORE

Signature Jazz Cruises’ Programs

THE JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES

The Jazz Cruise ’25
FULLY RESERVED
Celebrating it’s 25th Anniversary

The Jazz Cruise ’25 is fully reserved. Since the cruise does
not sail for several months, there will be cancellations and staterooms will become available. Stateroom vacancies are filled from the Waitlist, which is not lengthy right now. If you wish to sail on The Jazz Cruise ’25, we urge you to JOIN WAITLIST now.  

Stay tuned for the launch of The Jazz Cruise ’26. Most of the lineup has been secured, so we should be announcing the details of the cruise in mid to late October.

JOIN WAITLIST
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2
Lineup Just Announced!
’25 Sailings Fully Reserved

Both sailings for 2025 are fully reserved and the Waitlist has more than 4,000 entrants. Through Sunday, guests sailing on a ’25 Cruise are eligible to rebook their current staterooms for a ’26 Cruise.

Guests not sailing in ’25 who wish to sail in ’26 are encouraged to go to www.thesmoothjazzcruise.com and complete a Pre-Sale Reservation for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26. Doing so is the best way to establish your priority for a stateroom on those sailings.

JOIN PRE-SALE

Botti at Sea ’25
Every Night is a Night on the Town
New Performers Announced – Diana Krall and Peter Cincotti

Botti at Sea ’25 is more than 90% reserved. Act NOW to reserve one of the remaining staterooms. Veranda, Ocean View, and Inside Staterooms are available in limited quantities

BOOK NOW

Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 
Reserve Now – Excursions Menu Available Soon 

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, is in Open Booking. Though not sailing for 12 months, the cruise is more than 65% reserved. Menu of land-based excursions in Victoria and San Francisco has been announced.

Check out Jazz Cruises’ curated trips to Wine Country, Special Shows and more (https://journeyofjazz.com/excursions/). Reserve your stateroom now to be eligible for events at that time. 

BOOK NOW

Signature Cruise Experiences’ Mug Shots of the Week

SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES MUG SHOTS
Linda S. – Massachusetts
SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES MUG SHOTS
Mimi T. – Missouri

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

Main story

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]]> OUR TAKE: A Tale of Two Cities…And Two Jazz Shows https://scecruises.com/2024/09/07/our-take-a-tale-of-two-cities-and-two-jazz-shows/ Sat, 07 Sep 2024 18:59:41 +0000 https://www.jazzcruisesllc.com/?p=6921 Last week, I shared with you some insights from our 8.23 STL Jazz Fest Show in St. Louis which featured Gregory Porter, Eric Marienthal, Niki Haris and others. Again, it was outstanding. The Saturday night show on 8.24 featured the amazing Brian Culbertson supported by a great show with Mindi Abair and Eric Marienthal. All […]

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]]> Last week, I shared with you some insights from our 8.23 STL Jazz Fest Show in St. Louis which featured Gregory Porter, Eric Marienthal, Niki Haris and others. Again, it was outstanding.

The Saturday night show on 8.24 featured the amazing Brian Culbertson supported by a great show with Mindi Abair and Eric Marienthal. All of them killed it. A virtually sold-out crowd were on their feet from the first moment Eric walked on the stage and stayed upright through Mindi’s brilliant tunes as well.

The only sitting took place immediately thereafter as our Comic King Alonzo Bodden did another hilarious set that was even funnier than his set on Friday night at STL Jazz Fest. Granted, measuring hilarity is not an exact science. I admit to playing favorites in this case. being prejudiced in this case because, at my age, I remember the jokes from the most recent show better than ones the night before.

Brian came out in full form with his red and black clad music gladiators all lined up and ready to do battle. They killed whatever it was that they were trying to slay…and then some. I saw the set list before the show. I asked Brian Rachko, our Production Manager Extraordinaire, whether BC and Co. could complete all those songs in the allotted time. It was massive.

Rachko laughed and uttered a pearl of smooth jazz wisdom, “Of course not, but there is no stopping BC from trying.” Ain’t that the truth. 

One last takeaway from the Saturday performance of STL Jazz Fest, Mindi and her husband, Eric, hosted one heckuva wine tasting event for our cruisers before their show. Eric clearly knows his stuff. Even a few of the guests who consider themselves sommelier material confessed to learning something new. Once we went past the fact that wine comes from grapes, it was all new to me.

Bottom Line:  St. Louis – Smooth Jazz – Tons of Fun

Last weekend, as we foreshadowed in earlier editions, Paula and I attended the 30th anniversary of the Vail Jazz Party. Cathy Stone, co-founder with her now deceased husband, Howard, produced the event as a tribute to Howard. His goal was to get the festival to
the 30th and she made it happen.

Joining us in Vail were my daughter and her husband. They were accompanied by the little ones. Two Welsh Corgis. One of them took ill during the weekend and was promptly brought to the Vail vet. I said that correctly. There was only one on duty.

Back to the Vail Jazz Party. With the weather being picture perfect, you could almost make a polka band sound good, but the Vail Jazz Party took no chances and invited some of the very best musicians around. John Clayton, Wycliffe Gordon, Lewis Nash, Bill Cunliffe, Dick Oatts and Terell Stafford did double duty as performers and instructors for the Vail Jazz students who were invited to learn more music during the week.

Additional star performers included Niki Haris, Ann Hampton Callaway, James Morrison, Adrian Cunningham, Obed Calvaire, Bobby Floyd, Steve Kovalcheck, Konrad Paszkudzki, Diego Figueredo and more.

As she is apt to do, Niki dominated the stage with her Gospel Show on Sunday morning. She had a full band, an amazing choir, a tent full of guests and the majesty of the Rocky Mountains and blue skies as a backdrop. Talk about a stacked deck. No need to deal from the bottom to win that hand.

Yet, though she had it all right in front of her, she avoided the easy route of allowing the circumstances to rule and she became the center of everyone’s attention and admiration. Her sincerity, her singing and her speaking were more impressive and inspiring than the mountains. Her heart shown brighter than the blazing sun.

It was a magical 90 or so minutes. The best part was watching my wife and daughter relish every note. They have been to more than their fair share of gospel shows, and they have seen and heard Niki many times, but this show that day seemed to hit them both right between the eyes.

Of course, reality took over the minute the show ended and both went to our favorite spot in Vail for wine. I am calling that gesture the natural extension of the spiritual nature of the show and its impact on their souls. They called it Sauvignon Blanc.

Bottom Line:  Vail – Great Jazz Event – Spiritual Awakening

So ends our Tale of Two Cities and Two Jazz Shows. Very different in music selection, locale and takeaways. Very similar in fan reaction. They loved them both.

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea and Journey of Jazz. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com

Important Information for Fans of
The Smooth Jazz Cruise

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 & ’26.2 have been announced. If you wish to reserve a stateroom on either sailing, you should act now.  The required action depends upon your current cruise status.

Guests Sailing on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1 & ’25.2. If you have a reservation on either of the ’25 sailings, from now through September 15, 2024 (’25 Guest Rebooking Period), you have the exclusive right to rebook your current stateroom for a ’26 sailing. Rebooking is a simple process. Click on Rebooking and follow the prompts. Please refer to the email you received on August 15, 2024 for Your Personal Online Reservation Token that is required to book online. (NOTE: If you have not rebooked your current stateroom by September 15, 2024, that stateroom will be returned to inventory and will be available to those who have completed Pre-Sale Reservations. If you wish to reserve a different stateroom or sail on a different week than you are sailing now, please contact the office before September 15, 2024 to start that process.)

Guests Not Sailing on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1 & ’25.2. Guests not sailing in ’25, but who wish to reserve a stateroom for a ’26 Sailing are urged to complete a Pre-Sale Reservation immediately. Doing so establishes your priority to reserve a stateroom once the ’25 Guest Rebooking Period ends. The order in which you will be selecting a stateroom will be determined by your sailing history with Jazz Cruises and the date of your Pre-Sale Reservation.

A record number of Rebooking and Pre-Sale Reservations have been completed at this time, so please move forward as soon as possible.

’25 Guest Rebooking Period ends on September 15, 2024!

LEARN MORE

New Albums

Two favorite performers of our programs have just released new albums.

Richard Elliot’s Straight Up Down

Saxophonist Richard Elliot, a favorite of The Smooth Jazz Cruise guests, has released Straight Up Down, his 21st recording as a leader. An inspired collection of nine tracks, eight of which are originals. The album shines a light on Richard Elliot’s signature soulful and bluesy approach which seamlessly combines his technical prowess and unbridled passion with the finer elements of jazz, blues, pop, R&B and rock. “I feel incredibly fortunate that I am allowed to do this as a career and even more grateful that I have been able to do it for as long as I have,” Richard says. “It’s all about being honest and truthful in my music and never taking it all for granted.”

LEARN MORE

Kurt Elling’s Wildflowers, Vol. 1

Kurt Elling, a perennial headliner on The Jazz Cruise, has just released a “surprise” album—Wildflowers, Vol. 1 — featuring pianist Sullivan Fortner and, on one track, fellow vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant. Conceived, recorded, mixed, mastered and released between August 23 and 30 in 2024, this spur-of-the-moment album features a carefully curated selection of tracks, each bringing its own unique flavor to the mix.

Standout pieces include the heartfelt “A Wish (Valentine),” featuring special guest Cécile, a haunting rendition of Wayne Shorter’s “Ana Maria,” a vibrant reimagining of “Things Ain’t What They Used to Be” with lyrics by the iconic Jon Hendricks and a soulful jazz interpretation of Mumford and Sons’ “After the Storm.”

LEARN MORE

Monterey Jazz Festival

Experience the Monterey Jazz Festival set against the breathtaking backdrop of Monterey, California. One of the world’s longest-running jazz festivals, this iconic event has hosted legendary performers like Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie and Dave Brubeck since 1958. Don’t miss the 67th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival September 27 – 29,  featuring 350 artists across five stages, including Samara Joy, Blind Boys of Alabama, Mavis Staples, Hiromi, Stanley Clarke and more. For tickets and details, visit https://montereyjazzfestival.org.

LEARN MORE

Signature Jazz Cruises’ Programs

THE JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES

The Jazz Cruise ’25
FULLY RESERVED
Celebrating it’s 25th Anniversary

The Jazz Cruise ’25 is fully reserved. Since the cruise does
not sail for several months, there will be cancellations and staterooms will become available. Stateroom vacancies are filled from the Waitlist, which is not lengthy right now. If you wish to sail on The Jazz Cruise ’25, we urge you to JOIN WAITLIST now.  

JOIN WAITLIST
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2
Lineup Just Announced!
’25 Sailings Fully Reserved

Both sailings for 2025 are fully reserved. Guests not sailing in ’25 who wish to sail in ’26 are encouraged to go to thesmoothjazzcruise.com and complete a Pre-Sale Reservation for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26. Doing so is the best way to establish your priority for a stateroom on those sailings.

JOIN PRE-SALE

Botti at Sea ’25
Every Night is a Night on the Town
New Performers Announced – Diana Krall and Peter Cincotti

Botti at Sea ’25 is nearly 90% reserved. Act NOW to reserve one of the remaining staterooms (Veranda, Ocean View, Inside).

BOOK NOW

Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 
Reserve Now – Excursions Menu Available Soon 

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, is in Open Booking. Though not sailing for 13 months, the cruise is more than 65% reserved. Menu of land-based excursions in Victoria and San Francisco to be announced soon! Reserve your stateroom now to be eligible for events at that time. 

BOOK NOW

Signature Cruise Experiences’ Mug Shots

SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES MUG SHOTS
Sarah Y.
Georgia
SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES MUG SHOTS
Diana and Will B.
Oklahoma


Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise, @bottiatsea, @thesmoothjazzcruise, #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

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]]> OUR TAKE: Showtime! https://scecruises.com/2024/08/24/our-take-stl-jazz-fest/ Sat, 24 Aug 2024 16:43:00 +0000 https://www.jazzcruisesllc.com/?p=6722 STL Jazz Fest, our land-based homage to all facets of our jazz programs, began last night in grand fashion. The evening included performances by our Music Director Eric Marienthal and his quintet, which included Kevin Turner, Carnell Harrell, Nate Phillips and Chris Miskel. Joining the band was a true Signature Cruise Experiences’ mainstay, the great Niki […]

The post OUR TAKE: Showtime! appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> STL Jazz Fest, our land-based homage to all facets of our jazz programs, began last night in grand fashion. The evening included performances by our Music Director Eric Marienthal and his quintet, which included Kevin Turner, Carnell Harrell, Nate Phillips and Chris Miskel. Joining the band was a true Signature Cruise Experiences’ mainstay, the great Niki Haris. They killed it as you would expect.

Following them onto the stage at STL Jazz Fest was our favorite comic, Alonzo Bodden. We flipped the script a bit here as he moved from his role as emcee to a full blown set of his amazing array of observations and hilarious comments on all subjects. I have never seen him do anything but slay the audience. Last night was no exception. Though most of the crowd were Alonzo-savvy, the few seeing him for the first time were thrilled.

The first evening of STL Jazz Fest concluded with the one and only Gregory Porter. We have been fortunate enough to present him in St. Louis and on our cruise programs several times and, famously, one year ago at The Smith Center in Las Vegas. I mention that gig as the owners of that amazing venue, long time Vegas producers, considered it to be a bad idea to present Gregory on a Friday night in August in Las Vegas in a setting as large as The Smith Center. When we offered to co-produce the event with them, they passed.

That night was one of the most thrilling events in the land-based history of Signature Cruise Experiences. Again, we leaned on both Alonzo and Gregory for the entertainment, and we sold out the venue for STL Jazz Fest. When in doubt, book those two guys and just sit back and watch the magic take place.

Gregory’s show last night at STL Jazz Fest was epic. I remember the first time I heard him sing live. Watching and hearing those beautiful sounds come from a giant of a man was surreal. He embodies strength and awe with gentle and kind like no one else I have ever seen or heard. One of our guests last night asked me “How do you decide which program you wish to use to present Gregory Porter?”

Simple answer. Whenever he is available. Which is why we are so excited that Gregory will be a Co-Host, for the first time, of Journey of Jazz ’25, our first West Coast sailing in over a decade (www.journeyofjazz.com). The cruise will present one of our very best lineups of talent as well as the most robust schedule of land events we have ever offered. A late night in Victoria, BC and an overnight in San Francisco provide us with the opportunity of a lifetime for special excursions and shows. 

Our weekend of Showtime continues tonight, again with a fabulous lineup of performers. Eric Marienthal returns to the stage with another great set of music, this time joined by “smooth jazz” fave, Mindi Abair. Mindi and her husband, Eric Guerra, will be hosting a special wine tasting event before the show. We call her Mindi the Multi-Tasker! What a great beginning to the final night of STL Jazz Fest!

Alonzo Bodden then hits the stage where he will certainly knock them dead again. Our headliner, one of our cruise favorites, will be the dynamic Brian Culbertson. As I have shared on several occasions, Brian is always creating new shows, new productions and great music. Dedicated to his craft and to providing guests with a once in a lifetime experience, we are proud and honored to have Brian so intimately associated with our brand. There are never any concerns when you have Brian in the house.

Pretty exciting stuff. The entire Signature Cruise Experiences’ team was in St. Louis this week as we worked to finalize the programming for the ’25 Cruises and put the finishing touches on the ’26 Cruises. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 & ’26.2 (SJC ’26) have already launched, exciting both our current guests and those not sailing on a ’25 Cruise. Current guests have until September 15, 2024, to rebook their current stateroom and those not sailing on a ’25 Cruise have until that same date to complete a Pre-Sale Reservation, thereby establishing their priority to select a stateroom for SJC ’26. Nearly 1,000 Reservations have been submitted.

If you are in Vail next weekend, Paula and I will be attending the Vail Jazz Festival which will be honoring our dear friend, Howard Stone. We miss him dearly. Attending the event with all his friends and former colleagues will be a lovely way to celebrate his memory and vast achievements in the world of jazz.  

As I mentioned in earlier editions of The Weekender, once Labor Day hits, the jazz events come one after another. Soon, I will be writing about Christian McBride’s and Melissa Walker’s Montclair Jazz Festival, Chucho Valdes and Paquito D’Rivera’s performances at the opening of Jazz St. Louis and the Los Angeles Jazz Society’s gala honoring our uber host, Marcus Miller.

By the way, Alonzo Bodden is the emcee for the Los Angeles Jazz Society gala. I told you he was everywhere!

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea and Journey of Jazz. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.

The Jazz Cruise ’25 is Fully-Reserved!
Want to Sail? Join the Waitlist! 

THE JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES

The Jazz Cruise ’25, celebrating its 25th anniversary, is fully reserved. Since the cruise does not sail for several months, there will be cancellations and staterooms will be available. Stateroom vacancies are filled from the Waitlist, which is not lengthy right now. If you wish to sail on The Jazz Cruise ’25, we urge you to JOIN WAITLIST now.  

If contacted for a vacancy, you will have a short time to complete your reservation or that offer will be given to the next guest in line. There is no cost to JOIN WAITLIST and no obligation to complete a reservation if offered.

JOIN WAITLIST

Labor Day Reminder

LABOR DAY

The Signature Cruise Experiences’ office will close at 2 PM ET on Friday, August 30, until Tuesday, September 3, in recognition of Labor Day. During this time, guests may complete reservations online, check their Jazz Cruises account and submit questions to us at info@scecruises.com. 

All of us at Signature Cruise Experiences wish you and yours a happy, fun and safe Labor Day

Jazz St. Louis Presents Paquito D’Rivera and
Chucho Valdes, Together Again

CHUCHO VALDES PAQUITO D'RIVERA

Jazz St. Louis Presents Paquito D’Rivera and Chucho Valdés, Together Again! at Steward Center, home of Jazz St. Louis, on September 18 and at The Sheldon on September 19.

Clarinetist, saxophonist, author, composer and arranger D’Rivera and pianist, composer and arranger Valdés first met in 1962. Both child prodigies and sons of musical families, the two worked together in Havana’s Musical Theatre Orchestra and in the Cuban Orchestra of Modern Music.

Your purchase supports Jazz St. Louis and helps secure the future of their impactful programs and events for people in the St. Louis area. Jazz St. Louis has established an extensive record of developing future leaders in music, while also preserving and advancing the treasured American art form of Jazz through community engagement efforts, educational programming, and transformative live jazz experiences.

Learn more and get tickets at //jazzstl.org/together.

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New Music

Two of our co-hosts on The Jazz Cruise ’25 have just released new albums.

Catherine Russell & Sean Mason’s My Ideal

CATHERINE RUSSELL SEAN MASON

GRAMMY®-nominated vocalist Catherine Russell has paired with the 25-year-old pianist Sean Mason for My Ideal, a recording of duets on colorful songs written by Fats Waller, Irving Berlin, James P. Johnson, Peggy Lee and others.

“Singing with the great pianist Sean Mason allows for the freedom to have fun and be in the moment,” says Catherine. “We understand each other.” My Ideal, Catherine’s ninth album as a leader or co-leader, stands alongside legendary voice-and-piano duet albums such as Ella Fitzgerald’s Ella Sings Gershwin with Ellis Larkins, Tony Bennett’s collaborations with Bill Evans and Nina Simone’s Nina Simone and Piano.

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Emmet Cohen’s Vibe Provider

EMMET COHEN

Based on his friendship with the late Harlem-based creative Michael Funmi Ononaiye, Emmet Cohen’s latest album, Vibe Provider, features an all-star band including Bruce Harris (trumpet), Tivon Pennicott (tenor saxophone), Frank Lacy (trombone), Cecily Petrarca (koshkah), Philip Norris (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums) and Kyle Poole (drums, producer).

Funmi, who died of cancer in December 2023, worked as a chief programmer for Jazz at Lincoln Center, a DJ and an A&R executive, among other professional roles. The worldly Nigerian-born New Yorker was an omnipresent force of positivity and spiritual healing — “the Mayor of Harlem,” as Emmet describes him.

“Funmi was the vibe provider, but he taught us that we all have that inside of us,” Emmet says. “We all have the ability to brighten a room or to change someone’s world for a minute or a lifetime—with music, vibrations, energy or even just a smile. And those things are important. So I wanted to get some of his favorite musicians together and make a beautiful statement in tribute.”

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Monterey Jazz Festival

MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL

Experience the Monterey Jazz Festival set against the breathtaking backdrop of Monterey, California. One of the world’s longest-running jazz festivals, this iconic event has hosted legendary performers like Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie and Dave Brubeck since 1958. Don’t miss the 67th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival September 27 – 29,  featuring 350 artists across five stages, including Samara Joy, Blind Boys of Alabama, Mavis Staples, Hiromi, Stanley Clarke and more. For tickets and details, visit https://montereyjazzfestival.org.

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Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

THE JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES
The Jazz Cruise ’25
FULLY RESERVED
Celebrating it’s 25th Anniversary

The Jazz Cruise ’25 is fully reserved. Since the cruise does
not sail for several months, there will be cancellations and staterooms will become available, which are filled directly from the Waitlist. If you wish to sail on The Jazz Cruise ’25, we urge you to JOIN WAITLIST now.  

JOIN WAITLIST
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2
Lineup Just Announced!
’25 Sailings Fully Reserved

Both sailings for 2025 are fully reserved. Guests not sailing in ’25 who wish to sail in ’26 are encouraged to go to complete a Pre-Sale Reservation for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26 to establish priority for a stateroom on those sailings.

JOIN PRE-SALE
Botti at Sea ’25
Every Night is a Night on the Town
New Performers Announced –
Diana Krall and Peter Cincotti

Botti at Sea ’25 is nearly 85% reserved. Anyone may reserve an available stateroom by calling the office during regular business hours or doing so online. Look for a note from us regarding End of Summer (EOS) prices for selected Veranda and Ocean View Staterooms.

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Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 
Reserve Now – Excursions Menu Available Soon 

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, is in Open Booking. Though not sailing for 13 months, the cruise is more than 65% reserved. Menu of land-based excursions in Victoria and San Francisco to be announced soon after Labor Day! Reserve your stateroom now to be eligible for events at that time. 

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Signature Cruise Experiences’ Mug Shots

SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES MUG SHOTS
Mike W.
Arizona
SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES MUG SHOTS
Gwendolyn & Dwight D.
Texas


Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise, @bottiatsea, @thesmoothjazzcruise, #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post OUR TAKE: Showtime! appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> Our Take: Back in the States https://scecruises.com/2024/07/13/our-take-back-in-the-states/ Sat, 13 Jul 2024 15:26:00 +0000 https://jcllcold.efficion.net/?p=6298 Going to London and Wimbledon has always been one of the bucket list items of my life. I am a tennis fan, an avid (not talented) player and I can remember watching Sampras, Borg, McEnroe, Connors and, of course, Federer play on Centre Court. Parts of the tournament were always around July 4th, which made […]

The post Our Take: Back in the States appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> Going to London and Wimbledon has always been one of the bucket list items of my life. I am a tennis fan, an avid (not talented) player and I can remember watching Sampras, Borg, McEnroe, Connors and, of course, Federer play on Centre Court. Parts of the tournament were always around July 4th, which made taking time off to watch all the easier. The English have a way of making pomp and circumstance almost acceptable. The all-white rule, the Royal Box and the curtsies by the female winners are silly, but, in most ways, charming.

We are back home from London now, but we were at the matches this week and had the good fortune of being there for the Round of 16. The 32 best gentlemen and ladies’ players in the tournament were on display for us to watch. You could not see them all, but you could sample what you wanted and linger when you chose to do so. It was a great time, particularly because my wife, Paula, who recently has become a tennis fan and a very good tennis player, enjoyed each minute.

Being in the cruise business, we rarely take a vacation as we travel a lot for the company. Our last vacation was years ago, long before the Pandemic. We planned this trip for a year, made our reservations through a very competent organization that specializes in Grand Slam Tennis events, and carefully plotted out each minute of the trip.

As fate would have it, though we came to London for the tennis, our most lasting memories will be the “jazz” portion of the trip. First, on the day after the Round of 16, Paula and I had lunch at the Reform Club with one of the most revered guests of The Jazz Cruise, Keith McDowall. Keith is 94 and has sailed with us in some form or another for more than 30 years, having started with my mother, Anita Berry, on the SS Norway.

Keith was the husband of another legend of The Jazz Cruise, Brenda Dean, Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde. Brenda came from a modest home, but, at a very young age, she became involved with the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers, rising through the ranks of the union and becoming one of the most powerful members in the country. Dean was raised to the peerage in October 1993 as Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde, of Eccles in the County of Greater Manchester and was appointed to the Privy Council in 1998. She passed quite suddenly a few years ago and her life was celebrated in England and on The Jazz Cruise. On my desk is a coffee mug (more likely for tea) that she presented to me from the House of Lords. I treasure that memento.

The Reform Club deserves a few lines of its own. Founded in 1836, the club was formed for the benefit of Radicals and Whigs who supported the Great Reform Act of 1832. Eventually, the club became the political headquarters of the Liberal Party. Perhaps the club is best known as the locale for the start and creation of Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days.

Now to jazz event #2. Our last night in London was equally dedicated to our jazz roots, only this time there was amazing music to be enjoyed. We had the good fortune of being in London when the famed local jazz club, Ronnie Scott’s, was presenting our very own Marcus Miller. Attending the show with Jazz Cruise leaders, Aubrey and Brad Pavlik, seeing Marcus, talking with Brenda…it was like being on the ship. Had Alonzo Bodden made an appearance, it would have been a “perfect” cruise event.

As always, Marcus was amazing. Great band. Great atmosphere. Great ending to one of the most memorable weeks ever. No matter where we go, there is always a Jazz Cruises’ connection to enjoy. Special music makes great things happen.

Now, it is our turn to go back to work to create several amazing weeks of enjoyment for you, the greatest fans in the world.

By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, and Journey of Jazz. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.

Fall Festivals

Although most people think of the summer as the prime time of the year for jazz festivals, September has become a very popular month for jazz events, in part because some organizations moved their events from the summer during the pandemic. Here are four jazz festivals that are coming up in the fall and that feature several artists associated with Jazz Cruises programs. Listed in chronological order.

Montclair Jazz Festival
September 14, 2024
Montclair, NJ

This event is produced by our friends at Jazz House Kids, under the leadership of Melissa Walker and Christian McBride. Although the festival includes a concert series during the summer, it’s the Grand Finale that takes over the streets of Montclair, NJ with three stages featuring performances by Christian McBride & Inside Straight, Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton, Edmar Castenada, Steve Turre, Jerome Jennings, Brianna Thomas and the Jazz House All-Stars.

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Pittsburgh Jazz Festival
September 19-22, 2024
Pittsburgh, PA



This free outdoor festival returns to the streets of downtown Pittsburgh and features several artists who have performed on our sailings, including Maysa, Emmet Cohen, Sean Jones, Robert Glasper and Dan Wilson, as well as other headliners such as Orrin Evans, Shemekia Copeland, Average White Band and many more. The festival also hosts a jazz train that leaves from New York City with stops in Newark and Philadelphia before arriving in the Iron City in time for the start of the festival.

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Atlantic City JazzFest
September 21, 2024
Atlantic City, NJ



Held at the Hard Rock Casino on the boardwalk of the Jersey seaside resort, this one-day event is the fifth annual Atlantic City JazzFest and will feature performances by Brian Culbertson, Jonathan Butler and Jazmin Ghent.

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Monterey Jazz Festival
September 27-29, 2024
Monterey, CA



Considered one of the most prestigious jazz festivals in the world, the Monterey Jazz Festival celebrates its 67th anniversary with performances in various venues on the hallowed ground of the Monterey Fairgrounds. Among the headliners are numerous favorites of our Jazz Cruises guests, including Samara Joy, Jose James, Robert Glasper, Gerald Clayton, Avery*Sunshine, Ben Williams, Don Was, Chief Adjuah, Cory Henry and many others.

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Mid-Summer Vacation July 3 – 14


The Jazz Cruise office is closed through July 14 for a mid-Summer Vacation. We will reopen at the usual time (10 AM ET) on Monday, July 15, 2024. During this time, guests may complete reservations online, check their Jazz Cruises account and submit questions to us at info@scecruises.com. Responses may take a bit longer, but we will answer all questions submitted.

1-Day Tickets to STL Jazz Fest are On Sale NOW!

1-Day tickets for STL Jazz Fest are now on sale! For details about the festival and information on how to purchase tickets, see below:

STL JAZZ FEST
Produced by Jazz Cruises
The Factory – Chesterfield (St. Louis) Missouri

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2024
Eric Marienthal Quintet, featuring Niki Haris
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
GREGORY PORTER

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2024
Mindi Abair with Eric Marienthal & Friends
The Comedy of Alonzo Bodden
BRIAN CULBERTSON

Doors 6 PM / Showtime 7 PM

FRIDAY TICKETS
SATURDAY TICKETS
LIMITED 2-DAY TICKETS AVAILABLE

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25th Anniversary
The Last 55 Staterooms…Act Now! 

The plans for the 25th Anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’25 are spectacular. The cruise is over 95% reserved and is currently in Open Booking, which means that anyone may reserve any available stateroom. The remaining inventory, totaling under 55 staterooms, includes Veranda and Inside Staterooms.

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The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3rd Decade
Both Sailings Fully Reserved

With both sailings being fully reserved, guests wishing to sail on a ’25 sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise should JOIN WAITLIST now. Cancellations will be filled exclusively from the WAITLIST. WAITLIST guests qualify for special terms when reserving a stateroom on The Jazz Cruise ’25 or Botti at Sea II.

JOIN WAITLIST

Botti at Sea II
Every Night is a Night on the Town
New Performer – Diana Krall! 

Botti at Sea ’25 is over 65% reserved. Anyone may reserve an available stateroom by calling the office during regular business hours or doing so online. It was this time last year that there was a “run” on staterooms, so act now! Diana Krall has just been added to the lineup! 

BOOK NOW

Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 
Reserve Now – Land Events Menu Soon

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, is in Open Booking. Though not sailing for 15 months, the cruise is more than 65% reserved. Menu of land-based events in Victoria and San Francisco to be announced in late July! Reserve your stateroom now to be eligible for events at that time.

BOOK NOW

Mug Shots of the Week

Barry and Rhonda – Florida
Debbie, Melody, Natalie – California

Guests on the ’24 jazz cruises received The Weekender mug, which we hope you will use with your Saturday morning coffee while you read the latest edition. Please share a picture of yourself & your mug with us so that we can include it for the 100,000+ folks who receive The Weekender each Saturday.

Tag us @thejazzcruise @bottiatsea @thesmoothjazzcruise #jazzcruises and #theweekender. Email your photo to MugShot@scecruises.com.

The post Our Take: Back in the States appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

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