Today, I confirmed my attendance at the 30th Anniversary of the Vail Jazz Party and spoke with John Ernesto about his new position with the Berks Jazz Fest. The world is in a good place. It is not clear to what extent these new developments are permanent or to what extent the “good old days” have returned, but even if the Vail Jazz Party only extends through this Labor Day weekend and even if John Ernesto’s run with Berks Jazz Fest lasts only a few years, the postponement of the demise of those two relationships makes me smile. As any good tax attorney would tell you, deferment of a bad result is almost as good as forgiveness.

The Vail Jazz Party has always been the mountainside version of The Jazz Cruise. With John Clayton, Lewis Nash, Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts, Bill Cunliffe, Wycliffe Gordon, Obed Calvaire, James Morrison and Niki Haris on the upcoming schedule, you have years and years of performance by stars of The Jazz Cruise to savor. Plus, there are many patrons of the Vail Jazz Party that you see year after year on The Jazz Cruise. It is a cross between a reunion and a pre-cruise planning party.

I have learned that the decision to present the 30th Anniversary edition of the Vail Jazz Party was made, of course, by Cathy Stone herself! One of the calls to arms to be there is directly related to her participation. Cathy is one of those people whose presence alone can insure full participation by others. Neither Paula, nor me would feel good if we missed a Cathy-prompted event. I understand that tickets remain available for each of the days of the festival.

John Ernesto’s return to the Berks Jazz Fest is a bit more complicated. Apparently, the efforts of a new guard with the festival did not pan out as hoped. Applying strong measures and rules to an event that has been successful due to its warmth and sincerity can be a risky tactic. Not everyone in the world around Reading, PA was happy with the new system, so out with the new and in with the…well, the more seasoned group of leaders.

John is not returning to his former chief cook and bottle washer role, but he will be heavily involved in the talent selection process and programming. While speaking with him on the phone, you could hear his smile as he recounted the series of events that have returned him to the event that, more than anyone, he has nurtured and propelled to be a worldwide event. Like hot dogs and beer, you cannot imagine a Berks Jazz Fest without the presence of John Ernesto.

As I have shared before, John’s jazz palate is broad. He can talk about and present musicians in the “straight ahead” world, the “smooth jazz” world, and that vast worldwide world in the middle. The programs he has produced under the Berks Jazz Fest banner reflect this approach to jazz. Brilliantly presented with love and care, John leaves it up to the fan to choose which events and shows fit their particular jazz tastes. A very similar approach to our family of jazz cruises. Our mutual friendship stems from that shared view.

Sadly, you cannot turn back the clock and undo every loss in your life. Sometimes all you can do is cope. We are assisting in the planning and presentation of land events honoring David Sanborn and will have our own remembrance on the cruises. That reality still stings. On the positive side, Houston Person, who missed The Jazz Cruise for the first time since its inception (2001), will be returning just in time for The Jazz Cruise’s 25^th Anniversary. Only 30 or so staterooms remain for that special sailing, by the way.

As each of us age, there is a realization that not everything we do, say, or know is vital to our well-being. Some things are trivial, frivolous, or just plain noise. When juxtaposed against the truly important and meaningful people, things, and events that help define and enrich your life, it becomes easier to discard the outer layers and hold onto the kernels firmly. 

At Jazz Cruises, we know that we cannot be perfect and that, from time to time, mistakes and miscues will occur. But we will never relinquish our love for the music, the joy we feel in serving our guests, and the thrill of presenting our programs. Other emotions come and go, but those three feelings will be ours to share with you forever.

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

The 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 of The Smooth Jazz Cruise (’26 Cruises) right before Labor Day of the year immediately before (’24) the upcoming sailings (’25 Cruises). With more than 4,000 people on the Waitlist for the ’25 Cruises, doing so provides fairness and certainty for those wishing to secure reservations for the ’26 Cruises. 

The details of the ’26 Cruises will be shared with you on 8.14.24, fewer than two weeks from now. On 8.15.24, the Reservation Process for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 or ‘26.2 begins. As that date becomes closer, more information will be sent to you, but below is a quick overview of the process.

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 Cruises.

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 opportunity to rebook their current stateroom on their respective sailing at the rate consistent with their Signature Cruise Experiences’ sailing history at any time between 8.15.24 through 9.15.24. A modest deposit is due at that time with no further payments required until after the ’25 Cruises have sailed.

Again, those guests will receive information about the ’26 Cruises and instructions as to how to rebook their current stateroom by email in advance of 8.15.24, including instructions for those seeking a different stateroom or week for sailing.

Guests Not Sailing on The Smooth Jazz Cruise in ’25
If you are not a guest on a ’25 Cruise, you may initiate your reservation procedure and establish your priority for selecting a stateroom and completing a reservation by submitting a Pre-Sale Reservation starting 8.15.24. Your priority in the system is dependent upon your sailing history and the date upon which you completed your Pre-Sale Reservation.

Full instructions for completing a Pre-Sale Reservation will be available to you before 8.15.24. A modest deposit, fully-refundable if no stateroom is reserved, will be required as part of the process.

Shelly Berg’s Alegria

Shelly Berg, who has been an anchor for The Jazz Cruise for so many years as a host and artistic director, has released his latest album, a unique trio project featuring bassist Carlitos Del Puerto and drummer Dafnis Prieto, along with special guest, tenor saxophonist Melvin Butler. The album spotlights brand new originals by Shelly, and fresh takes on classics from Leonard Bernstein and The Beatles. But the record’s true hallmark is its intentional closeness and sharing between creator and listener. “It’s really important that there’s a relationship between artist and audience,” says Shelly. “The more the audience feels included in the music, the better time everybody has — the more opportunity for the music to do what music does — to reach them and move them. When music is at its best, it can create a deep connection between performers and listeners.” 

Bria Skonberg’s What It Means

Bria Skonberg, another favorite of guests of The Jazz Cruise, has also released a new album, What It Means, with the title taken from the standard, “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?” The album features the great New Orleans drum legend Herlin Riley, bassist Grayson Brockamp, pianist Chris Pattishall and horn players Aurora Nealand, Rex Gregory, Ethan Santos and Ben Jaffe. Vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa joins on one track as well. By evoking that standard, the trumpeter immediately aligns the album with the history and tradition of that great musical city. Moreover, by shortening the title to simply state What It Means, Skonberg turns the shortened title into a broader statement and call to her audience to recognize that which is important to each person. “I am affirming ‘what it means’ to me,” she says. “I care about family, I care about getting to make music that brings joy with other people, from a place that reveres its roots, and that looks forward to brighter days.”

Long Beach Jazz Festival

This festival, celebrating its 35th anniversary, will be held August 9-11 at the Marina Green Park on the waterfront of Long Beach, CA. Among the headliners are several artists who have sailed with us over the years on The Smooth Jazz Cruise, including Jeffrey Osborne, Gerald Albright, Jonathan Butler, Kirk Whalum, Keiko Matsui and Jeff Lorber & Everette Harp.

Signature Cruise Experiences’ ’25 Programs

1-Day Tickets to STL Jazz Fest
Are Now On 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: Reviving Our Jazz Traditions 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.

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.