GREGORY PORTER Archives - Signature Cruise Experiences https://dev.scecruises.com/tag/gregory-porter/ The Gold Standard for Charter Theme Cruises Since 2001 Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:03:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://dev.scecruises.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cropped-web-app-manifest-512x512-1-32x32.png GREGORY PORTER Archives - Signature Cruise Experiences https://dev.scecruises.com/tag/gregory-porter/ 32 32 Our Take: A (Jazzy) Easter Basket For You https://dev.scecruises.com/2025/04/19/our-take-a-jazzy-easter-basket-for-you/ Sat, 19 Apr 2025 08:03:00 +0000 https://scecruises.com/?p=8673 No matter what your religious beliefs may be, sometime in your life you either gave or received an Easter Basket. Though inextricably tied to Easter, over the years Easter baskets have become a universal gift to children during Spring, with the eggs representing new life. The colors of the baskets reflect the hues of Spring […]

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]]> No matter what your religious beliefs may be, sometime in your life you either gave or received an Easter Basket. Though inextricably tied to Easter, over the years Easter baskets have become a universal gift to children during Spring, with the eggs representing new life. The colors of the baskets reflect the hues of Spring and ushers in an entire set of traditions and fun. Not sure how the Easter egg hunt began or what it adds to the meaning of the event. Perhaps it is intended to hasten the need for a child to nap, thereby creating a holiday for parents.

As a kid, I can recall receiving a basket that was filled with marshmallows encased in colorful candy coatings. I would eat them until I was sick. As I grew older, the number of those eggs needed to do the trick became fewer and fewer. Perhaps there was a cumulative effect to this special candy. I believe that the candies were Brach’s Easter Eggs. Last year, as my wife was preparing baskets for our grandchildren, I told her to add some Brach’s Easter Eggs to the bounty. The next day, she told me that she went to four different places and there were no such eggs to be found.

Though I should never have doubted her, as she is the most able finder of almost everything, I went online to see how to secure the eggs for the kids. To my surprise, I found that Brach’s had discontinued this treat in 2023. No reason was given, but the article surmised that the cost of the eggs outweighed the profits. I am hip to the “nothing lasts forever” aspect of life, but would it hurt anybody to continue to make marshmallow eggs wrapped in candy? Yes, there some impostors out there, but I miss the real thing.

Back a few years ago, Signature Cruise Experiences, for various reasons, either sold or discontinued certain cruise programs. Guests still talk about the North Sea Jazz Cruise, Playboy Jazz Cruise and Blue Note at Sea Cruise. Those programs have given way to Journey of Jazz, Christian McBride’s World at Sea and Botti at Sea. In addition to those sailings, just as Sara Lee will always make pound cake, we will continue to share our secret recipe for The Jazz Cruise and the sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise for as long as there are guests ready to sail.

So, on this Easter Weekend, we are presenting you with the Signature Cruise Experiences’ Jazz Easter Basket, filled with candy eggs, not filled with marshmallows, but with a special holiday offering to start your Spring celebrations.

Journey of Jazz ’25

Sailing in just under five months, Journey of Jazz ’25 is over 90% reserved. And why not? Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter (see video) are the hosts, the lineup is amazing, the West Coast itinerary is exciting and the on land excursions are once-in-a-lifetime events. Some Concierge and Veranda Staterooms remain available and there are Special Prices for the remaining Staterooms. The Promo Code for this offer is PORTER.

Christian McBride’s World at Sea

Multi-GRAMMY® Winner Christian McBride has gathered most of his ensembles and some amazing vocalists to join him for a cruise into his “World.”   

Learn More. Want to learn more about Christian McBride’s World at Sea cruise? Sign up now to join the first ever “Cruise” Lowdown Livestream with Christian McBride on Tuesday, April 29 at 3 PM ET for information about the cruise straight from the host!

Special Prices. From now through April 30, 2025, We are offering a Jazz Appreciation Month (Super Special) for those staterooms. Use Promo Code JAM when you register online.

Christian McBride’s World at SeaCurrent Cruise PriceJAM Cruise Price
Ocean View Staterooms$3,325$2,500
Inside Staterooms$2,975$2,000
Inside Single Staterooms$4,425$3,850

The Jazz Cruise ’26

The Granddaddy of all Cruises, The Jazz Cruise has been the icon of the jazz world since 2001. Already more than 70% reserved, be on the lookout for the updated lineup and special prices for Inside Staterooms in either the 4.26.25 edition of The Weekender or the 4.30.25 edition of Jazz Notes.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1/’26.2/’26.3

The bad news is that The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.2 is fully reserved and The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 is 98+% reserved. The good new is that there are staterooms available for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3, the first West Coast sailing of this program in more than a decade. Stay tuned for more information about the amazing excursions being offered while the ship docks in Victoria, BC and in San Francisco (Winery Tours/Napa Valley Wine Train/Culinary Events, Music Shows, etc.). Excursions will be open for reservations by the end of June ’25.

Chris Botti at Sea ’26

Moving to the West Coast, the hometown area for Chris Botti, Botti at Sea has an amazing lineup that includes Elvis Costello, Boz Scaggs, Melody Gardot, Peabo Bryson and more. Just like The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.3, there will be significant excursions in Victoria BC and San Francisco. Stay tuned for more information. Excursions will be open for reservations by the end of June ’25.

With three sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise, your basket has seven eggs for you to enjoy. Unlike my Brach’s Easter Eggs, these eggs are very much in production and ready for you! Enjoy this holiday weekend and we will catch up next week on more jazz news.

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, Homecoming: The Cruise and Top Shelf Country Cruise. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at michael@scecruises.com.

Ready for Journey of Jazz? Gregory Porter is!

Journey of Jazz ’25 sails in just under five months! Are you ready to enjoy our first West Coast jazz cruise in more than a decade? From Vancouver to Los Angeles with stops in Victoria and San Francisco, not only does this cruise present our much-heralded hours and hours of music onboard, but we are offering exciting excursions to Napa and Sonoma, special shows at SFJAZZ and in Victoria, culinary journeys in San Francisco and more!

Check out how excited Co-Host Gregory Porter is for the start of this cruise!

From NOW Through May 15: Favorable Prices on Selected Remaining Staterooms;
Most Excursions Have Openings!

The cruise is more than 90% reserved! The remaining staterooms consist, mainly, of Veranda Staterooms, Inside Staterooms and Single Inside Staterooms!

We would like to close out the manifest as soon as possible so that we can finalize the arrangements for the amazing JOJ Excursions. Availability remains for most of the excursions, but they will close shortly.

These remaining staterooms are favorably priced through May 15, 2025(*). You can learn those prices by calling the office or starting a reservation online. Please use the promo code: PORTER. There is no obligation to complete a reservation once you learn the prices.

(*) Restrictions do apply and some selections and choices are no longer available. These prices are per person, based upon double occupancy, non-commissionable and may not be combined with other offers or discounts. For new reservations only.

BEGIN RESERVATION

Gerald Clayton’s Ones & Twos

Gerald Clayton, who has performed countless times on our sailings, has just released Ones & Twos, his third album on the Blue Note label. The recording, which features vibraphonist Joel Ross, flutist Elena Pinderhughes, trumpeter Marquis Hill and drummer Kendrick Scott, with post-production work by Kassa Overall, is a very different type of recording for the pianist and composer.

“Ones & Twos is an experiment—an idea inspired by the art of turntablism,” Gerald explains. “I set out to create a record where the A side can be played simultaneously with the B side—a nod to that moment in the club when the DJ transitions from one song to the next, when you hear two separate pieces at the same time.”
 
The initial release of Ones & Twos will consist of the separated tracks and later this year Clayton will follow with a release of the combined overlayed tracks, revealing the end result of his experiment as a culmination of the project. When overlaid, the tracks transform into pieces that are both firmly rooted in the originals, yet strikingly new.

LEARN MORE

Brian Culbertson’s The Trilogy: Live from Detroit

Brian Culbertson, a longtime favorite of The Smooth Jazz Cruise, has just released the concert film The Trilogy Tour: Live from Detroit in 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray and 2-CD set from BCM Entertainment. With Brian playing keyboards and trombone, he was accompanied on The Trilogy Tour by Darnell “Showcase” Taylor (guitar), Eddie Miller (keyboards and vocals), Chris Miskel (drums and musical director), Rishon Odel (bass), Michael “Patches” Stewart (trumpet and flugelhorn), Ronnie Gutierrez (percussion) and Walter English III (keyboards and vocals).
 
“I knew the visual was going to be something special. I try to make every tour special of course, but sometimes certain things and the music push a particular tour into another space that makes it more obvious to film. It needs to be different than a regular ‘the hits concert,’ which is just a random set of songs. This show has more of an arc and story to it,” said Brian.

“The phrase that everyone kept saying to me was ‘that was an experience.’ From the band at rehearsals, to the fans at the first several shows and beyond, that phrase was repeated over and over. The Trilogy Tour is not just a regular show. It truly is an experience, both musically and visually, that takes the audience on a journey. I’m glad that the film will enable people to experience that journey whenever they want to.” 

Signature Cruise Experiences’ Executive Director, Michael Lazaroff, was one of four Executive Directors of the video.

LEARN MORE

Stateroom Availability

Cruise Programs – 2025
Journey of JazzOver 92% Reserved. Balcony Staterooms Available – Special Pricing for Remaining Staterooms through May 15. Promo Code: PORTER

Cruise Programs – 2026
Homecoming: The CruiseOpen Booking Now; For Special Prices on Staterooms, use Promo Code:  HTC
Christian McBride’s World at SeaOpen Booking Now; For Special Prices for Ocean View and Inside Staterooms, use Promo Code:  JAM
The Jazz Cruise ’26Open Booking Now
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.198%+ Reserved – Open Booking Now
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.2Fully Reserved
Top Shelf Country CruiseFull Lineup and Itinerary Announced Monday

Open Booking Now
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.377% Reserved – Open Booking Now
Botti at Sea ’26Open Booking Now

Signature Cruise Experiences’ Programs

JOURNEY OF JAZZ SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Journey of Jazz ’25 – Be on the Lookout for a Message from Gregory Porter! JAM Prices Available! 
BOOK NOW

HOMECOMING THE CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
HOMECOMING: THE CRUISE ’26
is in Open Booking
BOOK NOW
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDES WORLD AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE’S WORLD AT SEA
is in Open Booking
BOOK NOW

THE JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
THE JAZZ CRUISE ’26
is in Open booking
BOOK NOW

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.1 is in Open Booking; 26.2 is Fully Reserved
BOOK NOW

Top Shelf Country Cruise Signature Cruise Experiences
THE TOP SHELF COUNTRY CRUISE
Final Lineup & Itinerary Now Available
BOOK NOW

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE ‘26.3
is in Open Booking
BOOK NOW

CHRIS BOTTI AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

BOTTI AT SEA’26
is in Open Booking
BOOK NOW

Send us Your Mug Shots

We know many readers of The Weekender like to peruse each edition over their morning coffee. And, if you’ve sailed with us, you likely have at least one (or perhaps many) Signature Cruise Experiences mugs just for that purpose. Over the years, The Weekender has featured several pictures of cruisers showing off their mugs, pictures we affectionately refer to as “Mug Shots.”

If you want to share your “Mug Shot” with the 100,000+ readers who receive The Weekender each Saturday, email a photo of yourself and your mug to mugshot@scecruises.com. Who knows? You may just see yourself in a future edition.

Mug Shot of the Week

George & Ronke O.
United Kingdom

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

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]]> OUR TAKE: The Weekend Before Thanksgiving https://dev.scecruises.com/2024/11/23/our-take-the-weekend-before-thanksgiving/ Sat, 23 Nov 2024 11:35:00 +0000 https://jazzcruisesllc.com/?p=7645 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 Thanksgiving Eve. Lots of amazing leftovers. Who could ask for more? Thanksgiving is late this year, but it seems like Christmas is being celebrated earlier than […]

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]]> 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 Thanksgiving Eve. Lots of amazing leftovers.

Who could ask for more?

Thanksgiving is late this year, but it seems like Christmas is being celebrated earlier than ever. I am old enough to remember the beginning of Black Friday sales, which was named as such because retailers usually went into the “black” on the Friday after Thanksgiving. As with most things today, the concept has been tortured, compromised and beaten to death.

Thank goodness for our music. Amid an everchanging, overintense world we can rely upon a great recording, or, even better, a great live show, to settle our nerves, restore our optimism and touch our humanity.

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending an Emmet Cohen concert. Emmet was in town with his trio (Reuben Rogers and Joe Farnsworth). For countless reasons, I cannot say his name or listen to his music without smiling. First, performing on The Jazz Cruise was one of his inaugural professional gigs. Second, the development of his career has mirrored, almost in lockstep, with that program. Third, his growth, maturity and career path are very admirable and, to whatever extent The Jazz Cruise and our company had in that development means a great deal to us.

Before delving further into the personal traits that make Emmet special, let’s agree on one very important aspect of his career. The man can play! Serious chops. Warm and engaging stage presence and nearly perfect song selection for the event at hand. In a world where moments of bliss are thrown around like manhole covers, Emmet continues, night after night, to bring unbridled joy to his audience.

Watching Emmet navigate the jazz world, his baseline (and his bass line for that matter) has always been “respect.” He respects, even worships, the jazz musicians who have paved the way for him, the audience and, most of all, the music. I have watched other stars, such as David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Chris Botti, Christian McBride and Gregory Porter show a similar reverence. None of them, including Emmet, would do anything to cause embarrassment or lack of gratitude for the music or their time on the bandstand.

There are many other musicians with the same dedication and staunch reverence for the bandstand and the music. Confining my comments only to those musicians who have performed multiple times with us on our cruises, certainly John Clayton, John Pizzarelli, Wycliffe Gordon, Boney James, Brian Culbertson, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Catherine Russell are graduates of the School of Jazz respect as well.

There are many more who certainly qualify, but I have had the privilege and honor of working with those musicians for several years and each of them, regardless of where they are in the spectrum of jazz when it comes to their musical choices, present themselves with dignity, authenticity, and a deep respect for their craft.

Finding folks whose first goal is to provide a product or a service to others, rather than concentrate on what is best for them personally is harder than ever. Of course, all great musicians take pride in their work. They should. That type of motivation is healthy and nearly a requirement for excellence.

But what matters is which metric they use to measure their success. The great ones know that audience satisfaction is the only metric that matters. If that is achieved, then the other “goodies” will follow naturally and without further effort.

When Emmet performs, he will constantly be looking at the crowd, measuring their reactions, determining if he is connecting and making decisions about how to move forward with the next music. Guess what, for Emmet, checking out the audience is also like taking a victory lap or basking in the sun. 

The ever present smile on his face reflects his realization that he is making a whole bunch of people very happy.

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

Signature Cruise Experiences Thanksgiving Break

SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

Our offices will be open for questions during normal business hours on Monday and Tuesday and until 2 PM ET on Wednesday. The office will be closed on Thursday (Thanksgiving) – Sunday and will reopen on Monday, December 2 at 10 AM ET.

The staff of Signature Cruise Experiences wishes you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving!

Holiday Tours

The Thanksgiving holiday is coming up and we all know what that means: Family reunions, turkey dinners, sleepy football watching and perhaps some uncomfortable conversations. True, but musically, it means the onset of holiday music here, there and everywhere – in stores, restaurants and eventually in your head, and not all, or even much of it, good.
 
But several of our favorite artists will be out there on tour bringing you the good holiday music. ‘Tis the season. Here’s a rundown on just a few of the special tours happening during the coming weeks.

SAMARA JOY

Samara Joy

Samara Joy, the great young vocalist who was a sensation not only on our sailings but all over the world, will perform holiday music with her family in a show called “A Joyful Holiday Featuring The McLendon Family” at theaters and performing arts centers across the country December 3-23.

LEARN MORE

Mindi Abair

On November 30, Mindi Abair kicks off her aptly named “I Can’t Wait for Christmas” tour that travels all over the country ending on December 23, just in time to open one of her vintage bottles of wine on Christmas Eve. Then, like Gregory, she’ll host some New Year’s shows, in her case in Coronado, CA, December 29-31.

LEARN MORE
MINDI ABAIR
GREGORY PORTER

Gregory Porter

The co-host of Journey of Jazz ’25 and a longtime favorite of Signature Jazz Cruises’ audiences, Gregory Porter will be touring in the U.S. to support his GRAMMY®-nominated album Christmas Wish December 8-18. He also performs New Year’s shows at the Paramount Theater in Seattle (December 30) and the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles (December 31).

LEARN MORE

Rick Braun

Another favorite of The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Rick Braun recently released his first holiday music album, It’s Christmas, and he’ll be doing shows in Seal Beach, California with his friends Peter White, Richard Elliot and Keiko Matsui. Rick will be hosting Rick Braun’s River Cruise at Christmas from Budapest on December 9 and will host Braun’s New Year’s Eve 2024 on December 30 in Orlando, FL.

LEARN MORE
RICK BRAUN

Signature Jazz Cruises’ Programs

THE JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES

The Jazz Cruise ’26 Full Announcement on 11.26.24!

The Jazz Cruise ’25 is fully reserved and cancellations will be filled directly from the Waitlist. Reservation details for The Jazz Cruise ’26 will be available soon! Sailing from January 27 – February 3, 2026, The Jazz Cruise ’26 will depart from and return to Ft. Lauderdale with calls on the private island of CocoCay and San Juan. Keep an eye out for the cruise lineup and website – coming November 26! 

LEARN MORE

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & 26.2 – Reserve Your Stateroom Today!  

Both sailings for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25 are fully reserved and the Waitlist has more than 4,000 entrants. The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2 are in Open Booking (anyone may reserve any available stateroom) and are over 80% reserved. Reserve your stateroom today!

BOOK NOW

THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3 is Here – New West Coast Sailing! 

For the first time in many years, The Smooth Jazz Cruise will sail on the West Coast, embarking in Vancouver, sailing to Victoria and San Francisco before disembarking in Los Angeles. Exciting land excursions will be available in the ports-of-call! The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3 is in Open Booking! Anyone may now reserve any available stateroom. 

BOOK NOW

BOTTI AT SEA SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES

Botti at Sea ’25 FULLY RESERVED! Botti at Sea ’26 JUST ANNOUNCED!

Sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver, with calls on San Francisco and Victoria, BC, Botti at Sea III (’26) is moving to the West Coast in September ’26! The website for the cruise will be available later this year and the amazing lineup will be announced just before Botti at Sea II (’25) sails next February! Join the Pre-Sail today! 

JOIN PRE-SAIL

CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE'S WORLD AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

Christian McBride’s World at Sea – Sailing January 20-27, 2026!

Christian McBride will be hosting a new Signature Jazz Cruises’ program, Christian McBride’s World at Sea! 

The cruise will set sail from Fort Lauderdale in early ’26 with stops in Jamaica and Grand Cayman. The full lineup and website will be announced on November 26, but you can establish your priority for reserving a stateroom NOW by joining the Pre-Sail. 

JOIN PRE-SAIL

JOURNEY OF JAZZ SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

Journey of Jazz ’25 – Excursions Available to Book Now!

Hosts Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter will take you on an incredible musical journey onboard Journey of Jazz. The cruise also features a special show from Diana Krall while the ship is in-port in Victoria! 

Land-based excursions are now available to book! Check out Signature Jazz Cruises’ curated trips to Wine Country, Special Land Based Concerts and more HERE.

BOOK NOW

Mug Shots of the Week

SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES MUG SHOTS

Yolanda B. and Sharon S.
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: The Weekend Before Thanksgiving appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> OUR TAKE: Showtime! https://dev.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: Let’s Talk Vocals https://dev.scecruises.com/2024/06/08/our-take-lets-talk-vocals/ Sat, 08 Jun 2024 15:40:00 +0000 https://www.jazzcruisesllc.com/?p=6128 Recently, I checked out the lineup for our very first cruise as Jazz Cruises, The Jazz Cruise 2001. Dee Dee Bridgewater was the headliner vocalist for this landmark event, which infamously sailed just a few weeks after the 9/11 tragedy. Dee Dee will reprise her history of performing on inaugural sailings when she joins Marcus Miller […]

The post OUR TAKE: Let’s Talk Vocals appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

]]> Recently, I checked out the lineup for our very first cruise as Jazz Cruises, The Jazz Cruise 2001. Dee Dee Bridgewater was the headliner vocalist for this landmark event, which infamously sailed just a few weeks after the 9/11 tragedy. Dee Dee will reprise her history of performing on inaugural sailings when she joins Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter on the first sailing of Journey of Jazz (9.12.25 – 9.19.25). On the 2001 sailing, Dee Dee was one of very few vocalists in the lineup. The Jazz Cruise ’25 features Dianne Reeves, Catherine Russell, Ann Hampton Callaway, Niki Haris, Clint Holmes, John Pizzarelli, Bria Skonberg & Benny Benack III. The history of vocalists on the programs of Jazz Cruises is worth discussing.

In addition to Dee Dee, the first sailing of The Jazz Cruise presented Ken Peplowski, Houston Person, Wycliffe Gordon, John Clayton and a few other musicians who continue to join us on an annual basis. The balance of the lineup were largely musicians who are no longer with us. Red Holloway, Keter Betts, Eddie Higgins and Joey DeFrancesco were stars of that cruise that have passed. Then there is a list of musicians who, for one reason or another, are no longer part of the rotation. From the beginning, however, there were no female musicians and very few vocalists.

The first sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise (2004) was even more voiceless. Jonathan Butler was the only vocalist and there were no female performers of any kind. 2005 saw the addition of Oleta Adams, thereby doubling the number of singers and breaking through the male only lineup barrier. Finding vocalists to join Jonathan over the years has been a challenge. The list of performers is long and distinguished, but, for whatever reason, very few resonated with our guests. Chaka Khan, Ledisi, Brian McKnight, Chante Moore, Jon Secada, Jody Watley, Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle, Maysa, Angie Stone and others took a turn on The Smooth Jazz Cruise bandstand. Though they were at the tail end of their careers, we were fortunate enough to present the legendary Natalie Cole and Al Jarreau.

To this day, finding the right vocal fit for The Smooth Jazz Cruise has been challenging. Those that have been successful on a consistent basis are George Benson, Jeffrey Osborne and Larry Braggs. With George performing on a limited basis now, and given the challenge of performing on a cruise ship, it is unlikely that we will be able to present him on further cruises. Jeffrey’s popularity was proven when our 20th Anniversary Pick the Artists Poll named him the #1 vocalist with a vote total that was greater than all other nominees together. 

Ms. Monet is back for ’25 after a successful debut. And one of our stars of the early sailings, Patti Austin, has graciously agreed to be the voice of The Summit, our Super Band. Judith Hill will be making her debut and both Jonathan and Larry will be singing your favorite tunes.

MS MONET
Ms. Monet

The addition of more vocalists on The Jazz Cruise and The Smooth Jazz Cruise over the years reflects several considerations. First, we have found that many vocalists are prepared to perform with one of our bands or a combination of their music director, most often a piano player, and our musicians. Second, adding vocals to our lineups has been well received by our guests. Listening to tunes they know being presented by top voices has enriched the cruise experience, broadened the audiences and enlivened the programming. Finding the “right” singers, however, remains a challenge, particularly for The Smooth Jazz Cruise.

Botti at Sea II is intended to offer the broadest array of talent and programming, so vocalists abound. With at least one more significant vocalist addition to be announced soon, this cruise boasts Katharine McPhee, Corinne Bailey Rae, esperanza spalding, Morgan James, Thana Alexa, Mindi Abair and Benny Benack III.

Journey of Jazz ’25 follows suit with Gregory Porter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Bria Skonberg and Benny Benack III.

The art of jazz remains dominated by instrumentalists sharing the bandstand. There is no plan or reason to believe that our cruises will depart from that foundation, nor should it. One way to look at our programming is to assess the volume of music. In reviewing the history of our cruises, the hours of vocals have not been added at the expense of instrumental presentation. Instead, vocals account for the expanse of our programming. The total number of instrumental music on The Jazz Cruise ’25 is no less (actually greater) than it was in ’01. The total number of hours of music, though, has increased dramatically, directly related to the addition of vocals and special shows.

That is our story, and we will sing (and play) it from the top of the mountain down to the sea. After all, Jazz Cruises is the Gold Standard of Music at Sea Since 2001.

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.

STL JAZZ FEST

STL Jazz Fest 1-Day Tickets Available Now!

STL JAZZ FEST
STL JAZZ FEST BRIAN CULBERTSON
Let Brian Culbertson tell you why
this is a can’t- miss event!

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 REMAINING

Labor Day Weekend Jazz Festivals

Vail Jazz Party

VAIL JAZZ PARTY

Our friends at Vail Jazz are continuing the tradition established by the late Howard Stone, whose curation and leadership set the tone for this festival, as well as for the education programs offered by the organization.

The Vail Jazz Party, a three-day event held Aug. 30-Sep.1 at the Manor Vail Lodge Jazz Tent, is a veritable The Jazz Cruise on Land with headliners such as Ann Hampton Callaway, Niki Haris, John Clayton, Lewis Nash, Terell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordon, Dick Oatts and Bill Cunliffe. Niki even hosts a Gospel Show on Sunday.

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Detroit Jazz Festival

DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL

This sprawling free event is held over the four-day weekend downtown in the city that claims some ownership of the labor movement. Originally founded in 1980, the 2024 edition of the Detroit Jazz Festival features many artists who have appeared on our Jazz Cruises programs, including Christian McBride, Monty Alexander, Warren Wolf, Chief Adjuah, Billy Childs with Sean Jones, Isaiah J. Thompson, Nate Smith and Marquis Hill. Drummer Brian Blade is the artist in residence and will perform multiple sets with his Fellowship band.

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DC Jazz Festival

DC JAZZ FESTIVAL

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this festival in our nation’s capital features a hybrid of free and paid concerts, with the main event being a series of outdoor concerts Aug. 31 and Sep. 1 at the Wharf, as well as some shows at the nearby Anthem venue. Headliners include several Jazz Cruises favorites such as Samara Joy, Dianne Reeves, Kenny Barron, James Morrison, Ron Carter Trio and the Emmet Cohen Trio with Houston Person. In addition, the festival hosts the DCJazzPrix International Band Competition, with the winning group receiving a $15,000 prize and a yearlong association with the DC Jazz Festival

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Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

THE JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25th Anniversary

The plans for the 25th Anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’25 are spectacular. The cruise is over 90% reserved and is currently in Open Booking, which means that now anyone may reserve any available stateroom. Staterooms with Verandas remain in inventory along with Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.

BOOK NOW
THE SMOOTH JAZZ CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3rd Decade

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 SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Botti at Sea ’25
Every Night is a Night on the Town

Botti at Sea ‘25 is in the Open Booking stage and is over 60% reserved. Anyone may reserve any available stateroom either 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! 

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JOURNEY OF JAZZ SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 
West Coast Style 

Jazz Cruises’ newest program, Journey of Jazz ’25, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, has completed the Pre-Sale process and began Open Booking on April 30, 2024. Like a race care, this program as gone from 0 – 60(%) sold in the blink of an eye. 

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Mug Shots of the Week

MUG SHOTS THE WEEKENDER SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Tom and Carol M.
Missouri
MUG SHOTS THE WEEKENDER SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Clarence G.
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: Let’s Talk Vocals appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

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