PATTI LABELLE Archives - Signature Cruise Experiences https://dev.scecruises.com/tag/patti-labelle/ The Gold Standard for Charter Theme Cruises Since 2001 Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:50:07 +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 PATTI LABELLE Archives - Signature Cruise Experiences https://dev.scecruises.com/tag/patti-labelle/ 32 32 OUR TAKE: Great Music is Just That…Great Music https://dev.scecruises.com/2024/04/13/our-take-great-music-is-just-thatgreat-music/ Sat, 13 Apr 2024 17:33:32 +0000 https://www.jazzcruisesllc.com/?p=5736 Jazz Cruises is the GOLD STANDARD for Jazz at Sea. Apparently, we have a very cool side hustle going. We just completed a wonderful 4-day, 3-night cruise that featured the very soulful Michael McDonald and Patti LaBelle, the Godmother of Soul. Between those shows, hanging with Marcus Miller, enjoying the comedy of George Wallace and Alonzo Bodden, the songs of Lisa Fischer and a wonderful crowd of fans, this cruise was amazing! Not our regular gig, but a lot of fun!

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]]> Jazz Cruises is the GOLD STANDARD for Jazz at Sea. Apparently, we have a very cool side hustle going. We just completed a wonderful 4-day, 3-night cruise that featured the very soulful Michael McDonald and Patti LaBelle, the Godmother of Soul. Between those shows, hanging with Marcus Miller, enjoying the comedy of George Wallace and Alonzo Bodden, the songs of Lisa Fischer and a wonderful crowd of fans, this cruise was amazing! Not our regular gig, but a lot of fun!

I have shared the story of the origin of this cruise recently, but it is worth repeating. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has dedicated the Norwegian Pearl to music charter cruises. For months each year, it is one music charter after another. So, when a charter company fails to produce a successful program and wants to abandon the dates, NCL winds up in a bind. Marketing those dates to the public is very difficult to do, so the best course of action for NCL would be to find a charter company to take the dates.

In February ‘23, NCL gave us that very call. A charter company was unable to make their concept work and just wanted out of the contract. Could we take over the sailing dates. We were at sea at the time, but we took some time to see if we could make something happen here. We had been talking to Troy Andrews a/k/a Trombone Shorty about doing his own cruise, so that was our first attempt.

The initial call not only well, but we thought a deal was imminent. We were so certain that we started creating graphics and talking to other performers. Then, our pipeline into Troy’s world dried up. No responses. To this day, I have no idea what actually happened, but we were discouraged. We knew that a short program would be a great time to experiment with new concepts, new performers, and something outside our jazz world. We were still at sea. So, our focus had to remain on the cruises we were producing.

Then lightning struck. From none other than Michael McDonald who was our special guest for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’23.2. He said the “magic” words, “I am having a great time and would like to do this again.” All our bravado about charting a new course and trying a new idea fell to the wayside. Yes, his music is not jazz, but his music is beloved by our fans. We may have wandered into a different area code, but not nearly as far as we first thought.

From there, it was an even shorter jump to Patti LaBelle. Close allies since the mega hit “On My Own”, once we finalized the concept, she was ready to go! Her agent, Ken DiCamillo, was a pleasure to work with. Always laughing, believing that a handshake was better than a contract, and making sure that we focused on the items that make for great performances, “Kenny D” put the finishing touches on the reunion of these two superstars.

Then, sadness ensued. Kenny D had a stroke and died just before Thanksgiving ’23. He had not been ill or showed any signs that a tragedy like this was in the offing. Our cruise details were disrupted. At that time, no contract had been executed and Kenny D’s notes were in his head. William Morris Endeavor Star Noah Guthman grabbed the reins and he and I recreated the original deal, calmed those involved, and wound up getting the job done.

Tragedy continued for the LaBelle camp as long-time road manager Joe Falcon died just a few weeks ago. Their team was deep in mourning when they boarded the ship. A prayer of remembrance was led by Patti just before their onboard sound check, the first time that her entire team had assembled since Joe’s passing.

On the cruise we drank a toast to Kenny D, another to Joe, another to Noah, another to Michael McDonald, and, since were pouring, since we were pouring, several to my third-grade teacher who told me time and time again “quit clowning around and start taking life seriously.” It was just one of those moments. Kenny D was only 67 when he passed. Joe not that much older. You know you are old when the first question you ask upon hearing that someone died is “how old?”.

Patti LaBelle will be 80 in a few weeks. Most 80-year-olds are happy to listen to music, let alone make music. Michael McDonald recently turned 72. Born and raised in St. Louis, Michael and I have spent some time doing the St. Louis thing with each other.

In St. Louis, when someone asks, “where did you go to school?”, the requested information is their high school. In the fractured socio-economic circumstances of St. Louis, where you went to high school tells you more about the person than their DNA. Long before our private lives were invaded by tech companies, if you lived in St. Louis, your most intimate thoughts could be learned by knowing the location of your high school pedigree.

The performances by Michael and Patti on the cruise were amazing, historic, and will be part of our memories forever. We thank them profusely.

MARCUS MILLER

Seeing Marcus Miller on the cruise was a lot of fun. We all know that he is a serious musician. A man who respects the bandstand, cares about his product, and always looking to challenge his band, his audience, and himself. On this cruise Marcus took up the duty of providing Michael McDonald with a first-class band, or, as Michael said, the best band he has ever performed with. That Marcus took this role seriously and with buoyancy is not surprising to anyone. The man is about the music and making the guests happy.

On the middle day of the cruise, Marcus was the leader of what was undoubtedly, the coolest and best onboard, outdoor, poolside, late-night jam session ever. Lisa Fischer, Lynne Fiddmont, and Romeo Johnson were there to add first class vocals. Joining Marcus in the band was Music Director Eric Marienthal, Arlington Jones, Bill Heller, Jay Williams, Kevin Turner, Munyungo Jackson, Patches Stewart, and Nate Phillips. A tried-and-true Jazz Cruises “A” team.

I spent a lot of time this week walking around the ship watching people have fun. The intensity of the search for enjoyment is much greater in a shorter cruise. I learned that. Our longer cruises have a beginning, a middle and an end. Shorter cruises have none of the above. It is more of an “on your marks, get set, go”. Both are valid. Both are fun. But there is a different vibe, for sure. We had a great time on the cruise.

Again, this type of program is not our regular gig, but, as the cruise ended, we had but one regret. Sadly, the program was billed as “A One-Time Only Cruise Getaway”. We’ll see.

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

Botti at Sea ’25
The Botti Vibe Goes Sailing

CHRIS BOTTI AT SEA

One of the jazz magazines called the other day to talk about Botti at Sea II (’25). The writer had not sailed on Botti at Sea ’24, the inaugural sailing, but had recently attended a dinner at which two couples who had been on the cruise were sharing how much fun they had on the program.

One of the husbands, who was neither a cruise fan nor a music fan, told the group that it was the best people watching event in years. He could not remember seeing so many sophisticated and engaged people having so much fun.

I had not thought of the cruise in that way, but it was an apt description. Of course, that is the Botti Vibe. Elegant, talented, first-class, but also fun and exciting. Chris has collaborated with some of the top performers in the world, Sting, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Frank Sinatra, and many more. Earning a Grammy®, multiple Gold and Platinum records and a score of chart-topping jazz albums, Chris’ talents and excellence is in the upped end of the “no doubt” category.

But, as alluded to above, the Botti Vibe is more than that and it has never been in greater display than on the cruise. Botti at Sea II (’25) continues that party, every night is special aura that captivated the sold out sailing a few months ago.

With every day being either a gorgeous, fun filled day at sea or on a beach enjoying Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Every Night is a Night on The Town… dinner, a main show and then your choice of late night fun and excitement. 18X Grammy® Winner David Foster performs with his famous wife, Katharine McPhee. 5X Grammy® Winner Esperanza Spalding presents a magical show of great music and dance. Corinne Bailey Rae shows why she is an international star. Kamasi Washington, perhaps the most dynamic musician in jazz, will present his famous show. Kool & The Gang, an OG with great songs and pizzazz, will hit the stage. And, of course, Chris Botti and his amazing group of musicians and vocalists will mesmerize you. Ready to dance, Mindi Abair and an all star band are ready to make that happen. Add in the comedy of Alonzo Bodden and more.
Yes, you can catch the Botti Vibe on land. No one performs more than Chris Botti, but the “at sea” version of the Botti Vibe…now, that is special.

Newport Jazz Festival

The storied Newport Jazz Festival has just announced the lineup for its 70th edition, to be held August 2-4, 2024 at Fort Adams State Park in that iconic Northeast town. With Christian McBride at the helm as artistic director, the historic event features artists from a wide range of jazz genres and “jazz-leaning” genres. Among the 50 or so headliners are several artists who have sailed on our programs, including Kamasi Washington, Kenny Barron, Robert Glasper, Samara Joy, Artemis, Johnathan Blake and, of course, Christian himself who will lead a Jam Jawn group with special guests.

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NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

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

The Jazz Cruise ’25 is 82% reserved and is currently in “Open Booking,” where anyone may reserve any available stateroom. You may view current stateroom availability and start your reservation on the website now.

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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.

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BOTTI AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Botti at Sea ’25

Botti at Sea II began “Open Booking” on March 5, 2024 and is over 50% reserved. Anyone may reserve any available stateroom either by calling the office during regular business hours or doing so online.

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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 is currently in the stateroom Selection Process for Pre-Sale Reservation holders. “Open Booking” will begin on April 30, 2024.

For more information about the cruise, the lineup of musicians (as of today), full itinerary, pricing and reservation process, go to www.journeyofjazz.com.

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]]> OUR TAKE: How About Them Drums https://dev.scecruises.com/2024/04/06/our-take-how-about-them-drums/ Sat, 06 Apr 2024 18:47:00 +0000 https://www.jazzcruisesllc.com/?p=5915 There is no such thing as a great band, or even a good band, that sports a poor drummer. Drums are the foundation upon which you can build something big, something impressive.

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]]> Last night, I saw Herlin Riley perform with his band at Jazz St. Louis. Though Herlin has been an almost regular on The Jazz Cruise for the past few years, it has been a while since I saw him as the leader of his own group. He was great, as always. For those who sailed on The Jazz Cruise ’24, Herlin set the place on fire! Herlin’s music and style are synonymous with New Orleans. You can feel the pulse of Bourbon Street in the sound of his drums.

Tonight, at a different venue in St. Louis, Paula is joining our neighbor to see Sheila E.! Now that will be a whole different experience. Sheila E. has sailed with us several times. That she puts on a great show is an understatement of epic proportions. Her talents include virtually every element of the percussion world, the ability to sing, the self-expression to be a songwriter and more. She is a highlight reel set to music.

Interestingly, both Herlin and Sheila E. are 66 years old. They look younger but have been on the scene so long that you might assume that they are older. Every great drummer that I have met feels that the spotlight should be on them. They are the heart of the band, the keeper of the beat, and the driving force behind every tune. If you are waiting for my rebuttal, get comfortable as it is a long, long way off. I have never heard a great band that did not have a great drummer, but I have heard some very average bands so pretty good if they, too, had a great drummer.

To make this circle complete, there is no such thing as a great band, or even a good band, that sports a poor drummer. Drums are the foundation upon which you can build something big, something impressive.

In the nearly 25 years that I have been involved in producing music cruise programs, I have had the great fortune to have watched and listened to some of the very best drummers in the world. Jeff Hamilton, Lewis Nash, Roy Haynes, Billy Hart, Billy Kilson, Jack DeJohnette, Jimmy Cobb, Peter Erskine, Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl, John “JR” Robinson, and Harvey Mason… just to name a few. Each has their own style. Their own approach. A personality emerges from their play. Just like other instrumentalists, there are drummers who play a lot of notes and those who are minimalists. That approach may change with the tune being performed, but, for the most part, that trait is part of their being.

At this point, I should remind you that I own a drum kit, take lessons, and practice 2 – 3 times a week. In no way does any of that qualify me as a drummer. A drum enthusiast, perhaps. Notice, there was no mention of me having talent, rhythm, or gigs. My performances thus far have been for very small audiences, mostly folks related to me, and the occasional drum bomb when there is a vacant kit on the ship or on a stage. Further, I have not played with other musicians in 40 years.

Someone asked why I have not sat in with a band. I told them I would feel like I was back in 4th grade. They shrugged that off and told me I was exaggerating. No, I told them, in 4th grade, I received an “Unsatisfactory” for “Plays Well With Others”. I seriously doubt that much has changed since then. None of this has ever stopped me from imagining what it would be like to perform with a great band. The operative word here is “imagine”.

In Legend of Bagger Vance, the Matt Damon hero is urged to “See the Field” and imagine hitting the perfect golf shot using the perfect swing. For Matt, it worked. But another movie moment is probably more apt in terms of my drum skills. In Working Girl, the story of a young woman’s dream of being a business success, her friend, played beautifully by Joan Cusack, tries to add some reality to those dreams with the following insight:

“Sometimes I sing and dance around the house in my underwear.
Doesn’t make me Madonna. Never will.”

Just as “See the Field” is overly optimistic, “Doesn’t make me Madonna” is overly cynical. Outside of the delusional, most of us dream with the goal of feeling what it would be like to do amazing things. Many imagine being able to fly. Few jump off a building with that expectation. And none of us would succeed at anything if we did not try to “See the Field”!

My respect for musicians and vocalists goes way beyond drummers. I marvel at anyone who can make beautiful music. I just saw a YouTube video of a piano player and a violinist playing Hallelujah! It was mesmerizing. To be able to do that must feel amazing. Like most of us, I am left with admiring and enjoying. Okay, that does not make me Buddy Rich. Never will.

But I am still much better off for having that dream, than I if I never dreamed it all.

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

Back at Sea, If Only for a Short Time
(Jazz Cruises’ Office will be Closed from April 10-12)

SIGNATURE JAZZ CRUISES SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

The Jazz Cruises’ team heads back to sea next week for the Michael McDonald / Patti LaBelle Cruise, a four-day program featuring those iconic vocalists along with support from Marcus Miller and Eric Marienthal. The world of funny will be well represented as both George Wallace and Alonzo Bodden will be on the ship. Miami – Nassau – Miami. That is it!

We undertook these dates at the behest of Norwegian Cruise Line who was trying to fill a charter slot that had been abandoned by a producer who was not making it work. Being able to secure the services of both Michael and Patti was fortunate and provided a surge of interest, event hough it is a short itinerary.

Our cruise is fully reserved, which surprised us as we had no expectations having never produced such a short cruise. Evidently, the desire to sail for just a few days, have a ball and then head home is strong. And, after all, why not!

Our team is having a great, great time producing this program. We have stuffed five days of events into three full days of cruising. Plus, we are excited about the music of our hosts, some more special time with Marcus and Alonzo and trying a new ship. This event is a “One-Time Only” cruise, however. My guess is that we will try to do something like this again….perhaps soon.

Given the short time at sea and the time of the year, our entire office will be either on the cruise or helping in some way. To accommodate that schedule, JAZZ CRUISES’ OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON BOTH THURSDAY, APRIL 11 and FRIDAY, APRIL 12, and will reopen as usual on Monday April 15, 2024.

Norman Brown Releases It Hits Different

Guitarist Norman Brown, who has sailed on The Smooth Jazz Cruise numerous times in the past, has just released a new album, It Hits Different, on Shanachie Entertainment. The recording, his 14th as a leader, features eleven originals that seamlessly unite the best elements of jazz, R&B, pop, blues, and beyond. Guests include vocalist Wirlie Morris, drummer Lil’ John Roberts, keyboardist Tom Schuman, guitarist Paul Brown and other notable contemporary jazz artists. “I’ve put a great amount of time, energy and focus into developing my gift of channeling a heavenly sound that strikes the spirit, moves emotions and makes you feel good,” Norman explains. “The music on this album expands my personality and artistic expression and it reveals additional elements of my character.”

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NORMAN BROWN SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

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

The Jazz Cruise ’25 is 82% reserved and is currently in “Open Booking,” where anyone may reserve any available stateroom. You may view current stateroom availability and start your reservation on the website now.

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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.

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BOTTI AT SEA SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Botti at Sea ’25

Botti at Sea II 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 CRUISE SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land 

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 SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Ray – New Jersey
MUG SHOTS SIGNATURE CRUISE EXPERIENCES
Beverly – New Jersey

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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