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!

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.”

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.”

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 ’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 ‘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

Signature Cruise Experiences’ Mug Shots

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: A Tale of Two Cities…And Two Jazz Shows appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

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

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.

Labor Day Reminder

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

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.

New Music

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

Catherine Russell & Sean Mason’s My Ideal

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.

Emmet Cohen’s Vibe Provider

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.”

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.

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

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 ‘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

Signature Cruise Experiences’ Mug Shots

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.

Taking one comment out of context can be a dangerous thing to do and I have not been able to listen to the entire interview, so there is no judgement being offered here when I both applaud what Kirk Whalum said and offer a spin on his point in favor of virtually every musician who performs on The Smooth Jazz Cruise. Trying not to bury the lead, I agree that, though some of the “smooth jazz” music you hear streaming on the radio reflects a sameness, the real stars who are regarded as “smooth jazz” artists are individual, unique and authentic.

Part of the angst is the title of the genre. In college, a professor of mine ranted about the term “Holy Roman Empire,” claiming that it was neither “holy,” “roman” nor much of an “empire.” As we have discussed on several occasions, “smooth jazz” suffers from the same criticism. The good stuff is hardly “smooth” and if “jazz” is shorthand for instrumental music, then perhaps that works. In my mind, “jazz” is improvisational music. In the broadest of explanations, you either take a known song and “jazz it up” or you have an original composition which includes solos and improvised parts of the song. True songwriters are likely cringing at that explanation, but for those of us who are more fans than fanatics, this interpretation may suffice.

Back to the world of music. In every genre, there are songwriters and musicians who present in a formulaic manner. Unless you are knee deep in that genre, you have a difficult time differentiating the performers. I am not familiar with Country Music. To me, most of it sounds the same or at least similar to other tunes. Yet, when I hear Garth Brooks or Vince Gill, I know that I am listening to something different, something special. In no way does this condemn or lessen the quality of other Country Music, as true aficionados of the music will be able to differentiate among the multitude of vocalists in cowboy hats and boots. Please excuse my snarky comment here. Sometimes you need to vent.

In speaking with our guests, I applaud those who seek out the deeper cuts and the lesser-known performers and work hard to differentiate them. I am often criticized for not inviting more of the lesser known “smooth jazz” performers onto The Smooth Jazz Cruise. Unfortunately, here is where basic math rules the day. The cruise is seven days and seven nights long. There is a set number of performances that we can jam into that timeframe. To utilize a slot for someone other than the most well-known performers makes sense only if that performer appears to be on the road to being special. As I have said many times before, making The Smooth Jazz Cruise different is easy. Making it better requires a great deal of thought.

This conversation is particularly pertinent as we are putting the final touches on the lineup for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 & ’26.2. We will be announcing the details on 8.14.24 and rebooking for current guests and pre-sale reservations for all others will begin the following day (see below for more information). You will see a lot of names that have defined the cruise for years. You will see some well-known names that are new or long overdue for the cruise. What you will not see are any musicians who are indistinguishable from the pack.

Remember, there are only so many slots on the cruise. For every name we add, another must be subtracted. When you see the lineup, and you feel that a certain musician should have been included, ask yourself which of the named musicians would you remove? As Shakespeare wrote, “ay, there’s the rub.”

Back to the comments from Kirk Whalum. He is 100% correct that being authentic and creative beats being formulaic and a genre clone. Again, part of the problem is the name itself. If I thought it would not upset folks, I would change the name of The Smooth Jazz Cruise. To what? I have no idea. Plus, that name, I believe, does not conjure up an image of a particular music form, but, rather, is shorthand for seven days and seven nights of great entertainment, camaraderie and fun.

As a closing argument, does anyone think that the music of Marcus Miller, Boney James, Brian Culbertson, Candy Dulfer and Jonathan Butler are the same? Or formulaic? Or contrived to fit a genre? Of course not. The point Kirk Whalum makes is is well taken which is why The Smooth Jazz Cruise will always be looking for those musicians whose sounds and compositions stand out.

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

Peter Cincotti to Join Us for Botti at Sea ’25

The greatest lineup of stars has a new member, the amazing singer/songwriter Peter Cincotti. Though we can announce his participation on the cruise now, he has been part of the plan almost from the beginning. The terms and conditions of his other commitments required us to keep his involvement under wraps.

Peter is one of those young phenoms who has transitioned brilliantly through adulthood. Under the guidance of the legendary music producer, Phil Ramone, Peter is the youngest performer (20 years old) to have their debut album rise to No. 1 on the Billboard Jazz Chart. But his career began before that. This singer songwriter began playing piano at three years old, was gigging in high school, performing at the White House (Bill Clinton) at that time and, at 17, won an award at the Montreux Jazz Festival for his rendition of A Night in Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie).

His career has been a whirlwind of success fueled by immense talent, engaging personality and leading man good looks. He and his wonderful band will join us for the final few days of Botti at Sea ’25 and will perform numerous times, both in The Theatre and in other venues. We are excited and honored to add Peter Cincotti to the amazing lineup of stars for the cruise.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2
Will Be Announced on 8.14.24

It has become a tradition to start the reservation process for the next set of sailings (’26) right before Labor Day of the year immediately before (’24) of the upcoming sailings (’25). This may not be the easiest plan to follow, but it does provide fairness for those wishing to secure reservations for future sailings and reduces the stress of having the reservation process on a cruise thereby diverting our guests from their primary goal – enjoying the music!

With more than 4,000 people on the Waitlist for the ’25 Cruises, the pressure to secure a reservation for one of the ’26 Cruises runs high. Initiating this process now provides everyone with ample time to complete whichever procedure they may elect to follow


How to Reserve a Stateroom for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 or ‘26.2

Your reservation path depends upon your status for the ’25 Sailings.

Group 1: Guests Sailing on either The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 or ‘25.2
Guests sailing on either The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1 or ’25.2 have the exclusive right to rebook their current stateroom on their respective sailing at the rate consistent with their cruise status at any time between 08.15.24 through 09.15.24. A modest deposit is due at that time with no further payments required until after the ’25 Sailings.

Such guests will receive information about the ’26 Cruises and instructions as to how to rebook their current stateroom by email in advance of 08.15.24.

If a guest wishes to reserve a different stateroom, they must complete the reservation for their current stateroom and contact us with their preference(s) for a different stateroom. They will not be obligated to reserve their current stateroom if their preferred stateroom is not available.

Group 2: Guests on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25 Waitlist
If you are on the Waitlist for a ’25 sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise AND are booked on another Jazz Cruises’ sailing in ’25, you will receive Priority Booking upon completing your Pre-Sale reservation for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26. More information on the Special Program for Guests on The Smooth Jazz Cruise Waitlist can be found here. Guests on the Waitlist for the ’25 Sailings who complete the Pre-Sales Reservation will also be provided preferences for the ’26 Cruises. Here, too, a modest deposit, fully-refundable if no stateroom is reserved, will be required as part of the process.

Group 3: Guests Not Sailing on The Smooth Jazz Cruise in ’25
If you are not a guest on a ’25 sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise, you are urged to complete a Pre-Sale Reservation at your earliest convenience. Your priority in the system is dependent upon your cruise status and the date upon which you completed your Pre-Sale Reservation. Again, a modest deposit, fully-refundable if no stateroom is reserved, will be required as part of the process.

Schedule for Reserving a Stateroom for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2

08.14.24
• Details of The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.1 & ’26.2 are announced
• Instructions for Guests on a ’25 Cruise to Rebook their Current Stateroom are delivered by email
• Instructions for all other guests wishing to complete a Pre-Sales Reservation are delivered by email and posted on The Smooth Jazz Cruise website

08.15.24 – 09.15.24
• Guests on a ’25 Cruise may Rebook their Current Stateroom for a ’26 Cruise
• Guests on the Waitlist for a ’25 Cruise and all other guests may complete a Pre-Sale Reservation

09.19.24 – Completion
• All Guests on the Waitlist for a ’26 Cruise will be contacted in order of priority to select a stateroom for one of the ’26 Cruises.

DownBeat Critics Poll Winners

Congratulations to so many artists associated with Jazz Cruises programs—past, present and future—for taking first place in the prestigious DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll. Among the winners in this year’s survey of more than 100 jazz journalists were:
 
Cecile McLorin Salvant: Female Vocalist
Kurt Elling: Male Vocalist
Kenny Barron: Piano
Christian McBride: Acoustic Bass
Gary Smulyan: Baritone Saxophone
Anat Cohen: Clarinet
Charles Lloyd: Hall of Fame, Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Tenor Saxophone
Immanuel Wilkins: Jazz Group, Alto Saxophone
Emmet Cohen Trio: Rising Star Jazz Group
Taylor Eigsti: Rising Star Piano
Jennifer Wharton: Rising Star Trombone
Alexa Tarantino: Rising Star Clarinet
Cory Henry: Rising Star Keyboards
Benny Benack III: Rising Star Male Vocalist
 
Among the numerous runner-ups in the various categories were a host of notable artists who have sailed with us multiple times over the years, including Marcus Miller, John Clayton, Gregory Porter, Samara Joy, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Catherine Russell, Dianne Reeves, Ingrid Jensen, Wycliffe Gordon, Ken Peplowski, Paquito D’Rivera, Allison Miller, Billy Hart, Johnathan Blake, Matt Wilson, John Pizzarelli, Jose James, Sullivan Fortner, Bill Charlap, Randy Brecker, Charles McPherson and so many more.

Signature Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

1-Day Tickets to STL Jazz Fest
Are On Sale Now!

Mug Shots of the Week

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: Commander Kirk – Going Where We Have Gone Before appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

The recognition for Dianne and Dee Dee can be justified easily. There are only three living female vocalists who are NEA Jazz Masters: Dianne, Dee Dee and Sheila Jordan. Dianne and Dee Dee continue to perform at the highest possible level and are in demand perhaps more than ever. In reviewing the list of NEA Jazz Masters, one is struck by how few musicians who have climbed to the top of the jazz world continue to be a part of the jazz scene today.

Jazz Cruises is proud to include a large number of NEA Jazz Masters still on the scene in its list of current and past on-cruise performers: Roy Haynes (99), Benny Golson (95), Dick Hyman (97), Herbie Hancock, Paquito D’Rivera, George Benson, Kenny Barron, Cedar Walton, Hubert Laws, Wynton Marsalis, Charles Lloyd, Jack DeJohnette, Ron Carter, Gary Burton, Lou Donaldson, Eddie Palmieri, Pat Metheny, Regina Carter, Terence Blanchard and Chucho Valdes. The list of NEA Jazz Masters who performed on a Jazz Cruises’ program prior to their passing is equally impressive: Clark Terry, James Moody, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Heath, Chick Corea, Ramsey Lewis, Phil Woods, Jimmy Cobb, Johnny Mandel, George Wein and Dr. Lonnie Smith.

Cruisers on The Smooth Jazz Cruises may know that Dianne Reeve’s cousin was George Duke and his influence on her career during her formative years in Denver were significant. Fans of The Weekender know that I have long since put Mr. Duke on one of the highest pedestals we have. From a talent, intellectual and human perspective, he had it all. She has shared with me her gratitude to George for teaching her how to be a professional performer. But it is that voice that has captured my allegiance. So pure. So melodious. And, like all the greats, the lyrics matter to her. She is telling you a story with every song.

Dee Dee Bridgewater was the first “star” ever to perform on a Jazz Cruises’ program. For that alone, she will forever be special to us. But there is so much more. She is a performer and entertainer as well as a singer. Her time on stage as an actor has added a dramatic element to her singing style. Never too much, she knows how to make something work with the greatest of ease while never allowing the theatrical elements to obfuscate the importance of the song. There are many vocalists who you cannot stop listening to. With Dee Dee, you also cannot take your eyes from her performances. The combination of song and visual art is unbeatable.

Diana Krall is not an NEA Jazz Master. She might be later, but her claim to be the G.L.O.V.E. is due to the impact of her music and her performances on jazz fans and non-jazz fans alike. Folks who think “bebop” is a form of pickleball know who Diana Krall is. She has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide and Billboard magazine named her the second greatest jazz artist of the decade (2000–2009), establishing her as one of the best-selling artists of her time. She has “it,” whether that is good looks, sultry style, marriage to Elvis Costello or simply the enjoyment of a great piano player singing great songs, Diana Krall is a force.

Dianne will be sailing on The Jazz Cruise ’25. Diana will be on Botti at Sea ’25. Dee Dee will make our Journey of Jazz ’25 cruise amazing. They are not the only female vocalists on our cruises in ’25. Patti Austin will be making a starring role on The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25. Her long overdue return to the cruise is exciting our fans. Judith Hill will be there as well. Catherine Russell and Ann Hampton Callaway will ignite The Jazz Cruise ’25. Katharine McPhee and esperanza spalding are on Botti at Sea ’25 and the very gifted Cecile McLorin Salvant joins us for Journey of Jazz ’25 along with Dee Dee.

Female vocalists have defined the image of jazz for decades. That trend is alive and well today among whomever you may decide is the G.L.O.V.E. Just remember, if you are looking for more information about the history of the G.L.O.V.E., you will be disappointed. There is none, but I am working on a petition to the NEA to establish the G.L.O.V.E. as an annual award. Who knows, perhaps we could have the ceremony on one of our cruises. We’re excited for Dianne Reeves, Diana Krall and Dee Dee Bridgewater to join us aboard….the G.L.O.V.E. Boat!

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.

Journey of Jazz ’25 Excursions Launch

When Jazz Cruises first announced its plans for a West Coast sailing (Journey of Jazz), we promised special excursions for the day we have in Victoria, British Columbia and for the two days and one night we are docked in San Francisco. After weeks and weeks of nailing down the details for the excursions, we are nearly ready to share the options with our guests.

Soon, perhaps as early as next week, guests on Journey of Jazz will have their opportunity to select among the following very special excursions and events.

In Victoria on 09.13.25:
o Afternoon Concert at McPherson Playhouse featuring Warren Wolf‘s History of Vibes
o Culinary/Dining Experience with Michael Bauer, former Food Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle
o Whale Watching & Wildlife Tour
o Tour of Craigdarroch Castle & The Butchart Gardens

In San Francisco on 09.16.25:
o Tours of selected famous wineries in Napa and Sonoma Valleys
o Luncheon and wine tasting on the Napa Valley Wine Train (100% chartered by Jazz Cruises)
o Culinary/Dining Experience with Michael Bauer, former Food Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle
o Afternoon Concert at SFJAZZ auditorium featuring the SFJAZZ Collective (Chris Potter, David Sanchez, Mike Rodriguez, Warren Wolf, Edward Simon, Matt Brewer and Kendrick Scott)
o Special Tours of San Francisco

In San Francisco on 09.17.25:
o Tours of selected famous wineries in Napa and Sonoma Valleys
o Culinary/Dining Experience with Michael Bauer, former Food Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle
o Afternoon Concert at SFJAZZ auditorium featuring Ron Carter, Renee Rosnes, Jimmy Greene and Payton Crossley
o Special Tours of San Francisco

Each tour and event have been curated by Jazz Cruises for its guests and made available to guests at cost, with no fee or surcharge applied. In its 25-year history of producing cruises, Jazz Cruises has rarely offered its own on-land excursions. That Journey of Jazz is docked all day in the idyllic town of Victoria and will overnight in San Francisco, one of the most exciting cities in the world, has provided the impetus for this unprecedented addition to this Jazz Cruises’ program.

Almost all excursions have limited availability, so we urge guests to make their reservations and selections as soon as the “menu” is made available. If you have not yet completed your reservation for the cruise, you have time to do so before the on land events are made available.

25-25-25-25-25
The Jazz Cruise ’25 Update

The Jazz Cruise ’25, which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary, has only 25 Veranda Staterooms and 25 Inside Staterooms remaining. The story is just that simple. To make it even simpler, we are extending the SUMMERBREAK special prices for the remaining Inside Staterooms for another 25 days, giving everyone until August 14th (or while rooms last) to complete their reservations.

Vincent Ingala’s Escape With Me

Just out this week is a new album by a longtime favorite of our guests on The Smooth Jazz Cruise. Saxophonist (and multi-instrumentalist) Vincent Ingala has released Escape With Me, his eighth album as a leader, on Shanachie Entertainment. The recording features a cameo appearance by vocalist Lindsey Webster, who sings a duet with Vincent on a cover of the dance hit “Free.”

Vincent is quick to point to the major influences on his own evolving sound. “There are countless saxophonists that have shaped my influences over the years, the main three for me have always been Sam Butera, Wilton Felder and Gato Barbieri,” he says. “I remember hearing Sam Butera’s saxophone solo on ‘Oh Marie’ on the car radio one day while my cousin was driving us around, and immediately knowing that I wanted to play tenor sax. He is one of the most underrated saxophonists of all time.”

Alonzo Bodden on the Yosemite Jazz Train

Yosemite National Park in California is one of the country’s most popular national parks with its waterfalls, deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias and a vast wilderness area within its 1,200 square miles. Right outside the park, the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad offers scenic train trips through the Sierra National Forest. And, on select Sundays this summer and fall, they’re also offering a three-hour trip on the Yosemite Jazz Train, featuring performances by some special artists, including our own Alonzo Bodden (July 28), as well as David Benoit (August 9), Keiko Matsui (September 15) and Hiroshima (September 29).

Alonzo told us that he’s going to turn the Jazz Train into a Comedy Train for that one day. And that he’ll improvise a bit to keep it jazzy. He promises that no bears will be in attendance.

Brian Culbertson’s Jazz Getaway – It’s a Vibe!

Music – Food – Wine – Community

Brian Culbertson knows how to throw a party! It is time to plan your vacation, and Jazz Getaway has you covered with three uniquely incredible locations.

This September in Chicago, Brian Culbertson hosts Peabo Bryson, Avery*Sunshine, Najee, Eric Darius and more. Single Day tickets are on sale now!

Next March, Jazz Getaway is bringing the party to The Big Easy with the 2nd Annual New Orleans Jazz Getaway. Take the hassle out of your travel and stay at the luxurious host hotel, the JW Marriot, the site of our Welcome Dinner, with the Platinum package. The Platinum package includes floor seats to the Main Concert events at Civic Theatre, plus shuttles to and from the show.

Finally next June, the 12th Annual Napa Valley Jazz Getaway returns to the Meritage Resort and Westin Verasa Napa. Don’t miss all three nights of concerts with the SILVER package. Plus, ticket holders get exclusive access to a discounted room block at the Meritage Resort.

Signature Cruise Experiences’ ’25 Programs

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

Signature Cruise Experiences’ Mug Shots of the Week

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: Dianne, Diana & Dee Dee appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

Mug Shots of the Week

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.

Our corner of the world is still embracing the loss of David Sanborn. As shared before, knowing that you will never see him perform live again is difficult to absorb. Though their “playing days” are long in the past, the deaths of Willie Mays (Greatest Baseball Player) and Jerry West (The Logo) conjure up memories from my youth and adolescence. I appreciate those who are not snickering by that statement as many are waiting for the real termination date of my adolescence. All I can say is “good luck with that.” As their nicknames connote, their passing is more than just the passing of an athlete. 

Seeing all the advertisements coming our way, the summer jazz festival season is in high gear. Calling out a few festivals is dangerous as we will undoubtedly miss one or two important shows, but we are throwing caution to the wind and going for it. Our good friend, Christian McBride, is curating the Newport Jazz Festival, August 2 – 4, which features many Jazz Cruises’ performers. Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, Samara Joy, Artemis, Ravi Coltrane, Kenny Barron, Anat Cohen and Gerald Clayton will be there along with Christian’s Jam Jawn, an all-star group that features Russell Gunn, Christian Sands and one of our (and mine) favorite performers in the world, Dianne Reeves.

Newport Jazz Festival has so many special memories for us at Jazz Cruises. It was the first “must see” festival of my life. Besides being the site of some of the most famous jazz performances in the history of the genre, I spent four years of my life in college near there, so the aura of being there is overwhelming. Newport is also the home of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Jazz and tennis. If Newport becomes a Major League Baseball town, I will move in a heartbeat.

Labor Day Weekend brings us both the Detroit Jazz Festival and the Vail Jazz Party. Here again, the lineups include many, many Jazz Cruises’ regulars and special guests. In Detroit, you can see and hear Christian McBride & Inside Straight, Ravi Coltrane, Monty Alexander, Billy Childs, Marquis Hill, Nate Smith and Isaiah J. Thompson. There is no charge for this event which makes it one of the most amazing opportunities to enjoy jazz simply by showing up!

Detroit has special meaning as well for us. After spending four years near Newport, I spent the next three years near Detroit. Now, they have a baseball team, but the town is not known for tennis and is too cold in the winter to live there year around. Aubrey and Brad Pavlik, our Chief of Staff and Director of Cruise Operations, respectively, also reside near Detroit.

The Vail Jazz Party, the iconic jazz event curated for years by the late Howard Stone and his wife, Cathy, has been a part of Jazz Cruises’ lore forever! As I have shared before, the end of this event each year was the signal of beginning for our cruise season programming for the next set of cruises. Always inspiring, Vail Jazz Party is special to us and to its many followers. The ’24 edition features John Clayton, Lewis Nash, Terell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordon, Dick Oatts, Bill Cunliffe, James Morrison, Ann Hampton Callaway and Niki Haris. I love being in Vail, but, as I age, the altitude effect makes it difficult for me, leaving Vail on the “visit” and not on the “residence” list.

Yes, I poke fun at St. Louis, my hometown, for there are many reasons not to live here, but we have Major League Baseball (Cardinals), an amazing jazz tradition (Miles Davis, David Sanborn, Clark Terry and many more) and a sterling tennis history as well. What is the tennis history in St. Louis, you are asking? St. Louis was the birthplace of Dwight F. Davis, founder of the international tennis competition that bears his name, Davis Cup.

Davis was the Assistant Secretary of War from 1923 to 1925 and Secretary of War from 1925 to 1929. His grandfather and cousin were Mayors of St. Louis. His tennis prowess is evidenced by being the runner up in the US Championships in 1989 and 1899, being the intercollegiate singles champion (Harvard) in 1899 and a runner up in Men’s Doubles at Wimbledon in 1901.

Which brings me back to what I am doing now, which is preparing for my first ever visit to Wimbledon, which will be tomorrow. London has jazz for sure and we will be at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in a few days to see Marcus Miller perform. Small world, right? No need to think about moving to London. Yes, they have jazz and tennis, but it will be a long time before Major League Baseball makes it over here.

Cricket? Seriously, can anyone explain to me why that sport is entertaining? Plus, I have been told that you cannot buy a hot dog at a cricket match!

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

New Music

Recently, two young pianists who have performed in the past on The Jazz Cruise released new albums.

Brandon Goldberg’s Live at Dizzy’s

Pianist Brandon Goldberg first played on The Jazz Cruise as a guest when he was just 9 years old. The now 18-year-old will sail and perform on The Jazz Cruise ’25 as a contracted performer. Brandon recently released the album Live at Dizzy’s on the Cellar Music Group label. Recorded with Ben Wolfe (bass) and Aaron Kimmel (drums), Brandon’s trio concept is grounded in the great piano trios of the 1950s and 1960s. Drawing on the influence of legends such as Ahmad Jamal, Red Garland, Oscar Peterson and Sonny Clark, Brandon’s arrangements and compositions seek to pay homage to his predecessors through both tasteful renditions and intentional curation. Live at Dizzy’s presents the trio’s modernized take on the music of these historic trios while still giving respect to the pianists and traditions of those by whom Brandon was inspired.

Julius Rodriguez’s Evergreen

Pianist Julius Rodriguez sailed with us on The Jazz Cruise earlier this year as a member of Kurt Elling’s band. Already in his young career, Julius has played with a wide range of jazz (and jazz-leaning) artists, such as Carmen Lundy, Lakecia Benjamin, Joe Farnsworth, Meshell Ndegeocello, Macy Gray, Morgan James, Wynton Marsalis and the late Roy Hargrove. His latest album, Evergreen, released on Verve, is an eclectic and often electric project that showcases his versatility and virtuosity on keyboards. The recording features special guests Keyon Harrold, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Nate Mercereau.

I kept seeing the word Evergreen everywhere,” he explains. “I looked up the definition, and it struck me. An ‘Evergreen’ is a plant whose foliage remains functional for all seasons. That’s similar to how I like to be; I want to be myself no matter the genre I’m playing or what’s going on around me. There are a lot of styles on this record, but it’s recognizably my voice.”

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary
The Last 70 Staterooms…Act Now! 

The plans for the 25th Anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’25 are spectacular. The cruise is over 94% reserved and is currently in Open Booking, which means that anyone may reserve any available stateroom. The remaining inventory, totaling just under 70 staterooms, includes Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd 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

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

Mug Shots

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: Odds and Ends appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

Do you know why the owners did not change the name from “Jazz”? The move occurred so close to the beginning of the next season that a name change could not be accomplished in time per the rules of the league. They kept the name after that as few thought that the team would survive and then another name change would be required. As fate would have it, messiahs, in the form of John Stockton and Karl Malone, did appear for the team and they became a true success story. Now the name means something altogether different. It is a testament to succeeding when others think that you would fail.

There are several explanations for the history of the term “jazz.” Many trace the name to a slang term for energy, vitality and spirit: “jasm.” To have jasm meant that you had jass. That term was roundly used in New Orleans. Take, for instance, the “Original Dixieland Jass Band” which famously began recording jazz commercially as early as 1917. Now for the tale! That band claimed thatjass became jazz because kids would cross out the “j” on all their posters. If true, it is a great story. If not, then it is a great fib. I am good with either.

The real purpose of comparing Jazz and Heat today is to talk about the future of the great jazz festivals of the world that, for the most part, are in the Summer. I am not sure which is a greater threat to Jazz Festivals: the current trend of presenting so many different forms of music at a “jazz” festival or the impact of Global Warming. Granted, shows in Tanglewood, Monterey, Ravinia and perhaps even Newport are somewhat insulated from the Summer heat. But with temperatures moving up annually, perhaps the “season” may need to be shorter.

Here in St. Louis, we have an end of August “festival” that lasts two full days. One of our goals was to turn this very popular indoor venue event into a larger outdoor venue festival. If we were to do so, at that time of the year, an outdoor festival could save a lot of money on food sales. One could easily serve fried egg sandwiches without the necessity of a stove or any other apparatus. Just break the egg over the parking lot, toast the bun in the same manner and provide condiments and beer. Gold mine!

The vibe of outdoor festivals has changed as well. With the power of nostalgia, fading memories and cleaning up old, bad experiences, I long for the time when you could spread a blanket over a field of beautiful grass, sip wine, eat cheese and listen to great music. For most of us, the only way to reprise that amazing experience is to utilize our backyards or, better yet, one of our friend’s or neighbor’s backyard.

Public gardens and fields are often dangerous now and access has been limited in many cases. Imagine my amazement and horror to learn that some public gardens are closed to the public to stop “visitors” from stealing shrubs, trees and flowers. Heading to London shortly, I have a list of famous garden areas where the visiting times have been reduced sharply, where guards have been stationed and where admission may be charged.

Will Jazz Festivals be similarly impacted? Clearly, the trend is to move jazz events to venues with seats, controlled entrances and exits and other restraints. Such precautions cost money, so “free” events are becoming harder to find. Public events are further impacted by the high rise in all forms of insurance that one would need to prudently produce a large outdoor event.

There are fewer opportunities for folks to sample jazz without having to buy a ticket. When live music becomes available only to those who can afford to attend a show, by definition, our audiences will shrink, our reach will be impeded and our music will no longer be for everyone. We are pretty far from worrying about the Heat vs. Jazz or are we?

The world is changing every day, not all for the better, not all for the worse. But, the attractiveness of attending outdoor music shows is under scrutiny. I hope I am wrong…dead wrong. For this purpose, I want our Jazz to soundly defeat the Heat!

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.

O’ Canada! Celebrate Canada Day!

Monday, July 1 is Canada Day. Originally called “Dominion Day,” Canada Day is the national day of Canada, commemorating the unification of the three North American British colonies into one confederation: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the Province of Canada (which was made up of parts of modern-day Ontario, Quebec and Labrador).

The holiday, just like July 4th, celebrates the independence of Canada from the United Kingdom, though what was accomplished with muskets and fighting in the United States was completed by negotiation in Canada. Again, similar to July 4th in the US, Canada Day is celebrated with firework displays, concerts, barbecues, patriotic parades and festivals. The Canadian flag (see above) flies high across the country. Many people paint their faces red and white, which are Canada’s national colors. There are often citizenship ceremonies as well.

Those who watched the thrilling Stanley Cup Finals, completed just a few days ago, were treated in both Edmonton and Miami to stirring renditions of Canada’s National Anthem. Here, too, the differences between “The Star Spangled Banner” and “O’ Canada” revolve around guns. The US Anthem was written in the middle of a battle and its lyrics laud the ability of our flag to survive the “rockets’ red glare and the bombs bursting in air.” “O’ Canada” is a call to honor and to “stand on guard” for our “native land.”

Both songs stir emotions and represent the highest ideals and emotions.

Besides ice hockey and “O’ Canada,” two of Canada’s most prized assets will be sailing and performing on Botti at Sea ’25. Both David Foster and Diana Krall are proud Canadians who have supported their “native land” over the years in many ways. Want to hear each of them sing “O’ Canada”? Here you go!

https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/1164747 – David Foster
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/audio/1.1523162 – Diana Krall

We doubt that they will play that song on Botti at Sea ’25, but if we can “jazz it up” a bit, we may have a chance to do so. In the old days, we would have asked Monty Hall to negotiate for us to make this happen. After all, he was the host of Let’s Make a Deal…and a Canadian!

Fun Fact: Actress Joanna Gleason is one of three children of Monty Hall. Are you old enough to remember Video Village…?

If you are looking for a duet of Krall/Foster, check out this version of “Desperado.”

New Music

Candid Records has just released two albums featuring artists who have performed on Jazz Cruises programs

Eliane Elias’ Time and Time Again

Singer and pianist Eliane Elias, who sailed on The Jazz Cruise earlier this year, has released her latest album, Time and Again, on Candid. Produced by Eliane with her long-standing team of Marc Johnson and Steve Rodby, Time and Again showcases Elias’ exceptional songwriting with eight original compositions. Featured musicians on the album include guitarists Conrado Goys, Marcus Teixeira and Daniel Santiago, along with Marc Johnson on acoustic bass, Marcelo Mariano on electric bass, and drummers Edu Ribeiro and Cuca Teixeira. Guest artists include vibraphonist Mike Mainieri, drummer Peter Erskine, guitarist Bill Frisell, percussionists Marivaldo dos Santos and Davi Vieira and the background vocals of Mark Kibble. Eliane first invited Kibble, the arranger for Take 6 on her 2015 GRAMMY®-winning album Made in Brazil.

“For Time and Again, Mark created background vocals on six of the eight songs,” Eliane explains. “I really feel we have a special affinity in the music and together, we’ve created a very unique sound.”

Chick Corea Elektric Band II’s Paint the World

It’s been 30 years since 27-time GRAMMY® winner, keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea unveiled his brand-new incarnation of the Elektric Band, the Elektric Band II. Paint the World, originally released in 1993, featured a brand-new lineup of guitarist Mike Miller, bassist Jimmy Earl, drummer Gary Novak and saxophonist (and Jazz Cruises music director) Eric Marienthal, who was the sole holdover from the original lineup. The thirteen-track album is being reissued by Candid Records on CD, all streaming outlets and for the first time ever as a two-disc vinyl LP.

Recorded at Mad Hatter Studios in Los Angeles and comprised primarily of first takes, Paint the World is marked by the usual proficiency, spontaneity, impeccable execution, and jaw-dropping displays of chops that had characterized Corea’s previous five Elektric Band albums. With these specific players in mind, the album is notable for its “less is more” approach to Corea’s particular style of genre-bending composition.

Mid-Summer Vacation July 4 – 14, 2024

The Jazz Cruises’ office will be closed starting at 2 PM ET on July 3 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.

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

1-Day Tickets to STL Jazz Fest Are On Sale Now!

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

Mug Shots of the Week

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: Jazz vs. Heat appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

With our first sailing (The Jazz Cruise ’25) not until January 28, 2025, we have more time this year, but we continued our tradition of this holiday, nonetheless. In part, because the break comes at a good time, as you will learn below, and, in part, because my first ever trip to Wimbledon, while heavily-insured, is too tempting to cancel. Yes, we believe in purchasing Travel Insurance as well as advising our guests to do so! To keep up appearances as a supporter of the art of jazz, we will be visiting Pizza Express and Ronnie Scott’s while in London.

Believe it or not, one of the artists we will be seeing is our very own Marcus Miller, who has a long set of shows at Ronnie Scott’s. For years, our UK friends have jumped the pond to spend time with us listening to jazz. Just the beginning of our theme for this note, “flipping the script.”  

I mentioned that this time of the year is a perfect “break” for us. Our year is divided into four parts, in terms of our focus — January and February we spend at sea mostly, presenting our programs. March through the end of June sees us in full launch mode for the sailings of the next year. Mostly, we are reserving staterooms, finalizing lineups and sharing that information with our guests.

The time after July 4th through Halloween is spent in two ways: We are either creating and finalizing the programming for the upcoming cruises or preparing lineups and other information for the launch of the next set of cruises. These activities are not linear. We flip back and forth all the time, dedicating certain days for Performance Schedules, Programming and Special Events and some time for new lineups, website improvements and guest correspondence. Once we hit Halloween, it is full go on the production of the upcoming sailings. When we are closer to those dates, we can share some stories with you.

By now, you have either forgotten or no longer care to learn about why this note is titled “Flipping the Script.” Sorry, but I cannot let you off that easily. In part, out of curiosity and, in part, to either confirm or deny our recent conclusions, rather than us telling you something, we are asking you to “tell us what you think.”

Specifically, share with us the 3 – 5 aspects, events or elements of one or more of our cruise programs that you enjoy the most and 3 – 5 of such items that you would prefer us to either delete or modify in some way. Please identify the cruise you are assessing somewhere in your note. We would hate to remove an item on Cruise #1 that was a sticking point on Cruise #2!

Bullet points are sufficient. No need to explain in detail why you like or dislike something, but, if you believe that a description would assist us, feel free to add one. Send your notes to us at info@scecruises.com. We may respond back to you asking for more information or posing questions for you to consider. Your participation would be greatly appreciated. Let’s shoot for all incoming guest emails be delivered to us by June 30. And all responses from us by July 31.

From the inception of our cruise programs, we made it clear that our goal is to present the type of cruise programs that our guests want to experience. Given the popularity of the programs, we sometimes lose sight of the fact that not everything we do is loved by all and that we may not realize what elements of the cruises are “gold” to our guests. We think we know these things, but it has been a while since we have asked you to share.

Granted, most of our guest information is gathered anecdotally and our guests, never known for their shyness, frequently share their thoughts with us via email or by phone. We do our very best to respond in a timely manner, but sometimes the volume of emails causes us to miss one or two or not respond as we would like to do. By this process, you sending us your comments by email, we will have the holiday time to carefully review each submission.  

St. Louis to London is a long plane ride. Reading your mail will make that trip go by very quickly.

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

Ken Peplowski’s Live at Mezzrow

Clarinetist and saxophonist Ken Peplowski, a longtime regular of The Jazz Cruise, has just released his second album of the year. Live at Mezzrow was recorded at the intimate jazz club in NYC and features Ken with Ted Rosenthal, Martin Wind and Willie Jones III, performing several jazz classics as well as some lesser-known gems.

“This is my favorite way to record,” Ken explained. “I like to work on song material for a year or two, find some interesting tunes that are not so often played, revive some tunes that I haven’t played in years, and just go in with friends and record in a set up like a band on stage and play through the music, warts and all, and that’s exactly what we did.”

MidSummer Vacation July 4 – 14, 2024

As mentioned in the “Our Take,” the offices of Jazz Cruises will be closed starting at 2:00 PM ET on July 3 through July 14 for a Midsummer 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.

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

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary
The Last 90 Staterooms…Act Now! 

The plans for the 25th Anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’25 are spectacular. The cruise is over 94% reserved and is currently in Open Booking, which means that anyone may reserve any available stateroom. The remaining inventory, totaling just over 80 staterooms, includes Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd 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 ’25
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

1-Day Tickets to STL Jazz Fest Are On Sale Now!

Mug Shots of the Week

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: Flipping the Script appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

New Music

Two artists who have sailed on several of our programs have just released new albums. We hope you will give them a listen.

Etienne Charles’ Creole Orchestra

With Creole Orchestra, his 10th album as a leader and first for a large ensemble, trumpeter/composer/arranger (and Trinidad native) Etienne Charles delivers a mix of creole flavors, channeling a cross section of energies from reggae and soca dancehalls to hip-hop and then back in time to the swinging days of the Savoy Ballroom. Showcased on the new album are the Haitian-American rhythm section tandem of drummer Obed Calvaire and bassist Jonathan Michel, as well as pianist Sullivan Fortner, trumpeter Giveton Gelin, saxophonist Godwin Louis, and cuatro maestro Jorge Glem. Vocalist Rene Marie makes a guest star appearance on three tracks, including two of her own compositions.

The history of big band influence in the Caribbean stems from the establishment of two U.S. naval bases on Trinidad during World War II. Along with the military bases came Trinidad’s first radio station, “and the music played was big band music, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington,” said Etienne. “You immediately started hearing mini-big band arrangements mimicking the Ellington and Miller styles on Trinidadian calypso recordings.” 

Matt Wilson’s Good Trouble

Also released this week was drummer/composer Matt Wilson’s latest album which celebrates the legacy of John Lewis. Standing on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama 55 years to the day after he was nearly killed while marching for Civil Rights, Congressman John Lewis urged the crowd to, “Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” Those words have inspired countless Americans in the last few years, Wilson among them.

“I tend to think about what we do as musicians as ‘good trouble,’” Wilson says. “We want to be provocative, we want to make statements, we want to open doors for people. Representative Lewis’ words inspire people to do what they can do from where they are. I’m not an elected official, but there are things we can do with just good deeds.” That mission drives the music on Good Trouble, which also debuts a new quintet, also christened Good Trouble, which features a blend of longtime collaborators and new acquaintances: alto saxophonist Tia Fuller, tenor saxophonist and clarinetist Jeff Lederer, pianist and vocalist Dawn Clement and bassist Ben Allison.

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th Anniversary
The Last 90 Staterooms…Act Now!

The plans for the 25th Anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise ’25 are spectacular. The cruise is over 92% reserved and is currently in Open Booking, which means that anyone may reserve any available stateroom. The remaining inventory, totaling 90+ staterooms, includes Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms.

BOOK NOW

The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd 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 ’25
Every Night is a Night on the Town
New Performer – Diana Krall!

Botti at Sea II 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 just 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

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 Circle of Jazz appeared first on Signature Cruise Experiences.

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.

STL Jazz Fest 1-Day Tickets Available 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

Labor Day Weekend Jazz Festivals

Vail Jazz Party

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.

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

Jazz Cruises’ ’25 Programs

The Jazz Cruise ’25
Celebrating its 25^th 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 ‘25.1 & ‘25.2
Starting its 3^rd 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 ’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! 

BOOK NOW

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. 

BOOK NOW

Mug Shots of the Week

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.