I have read stories about chefs who prefer peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to their haute cuisine dishes. Many athletes famously refuse to watch games involving their professional sport. And countless actors and actresses avoid watching their movies or television shows.
I guess being around those subjects and items all day long tempers, if not extinguishes, their passion for the very thing that they do for a living.
As one who spends every day in some pursuit of jazz, whether that be signing talent, programming shows or just making sure that our guests have the information they need, I can report that my proximity to the music only stimulates my desire and need for live music.
Our business advisor refers to this as the Baking Pies syndrome. There was a woman who loved baking pies. She was so skilled at doing so, that she went into business selling her product. The packaging, marketing, promoting and rules and procedures that accompany a pie selling business were more than she wanted. She quit the business.
All she wanted to do was bake pies.
At Jazz Cruises, our passion is music. We spend a lot of time engaged in the business of music, but, unlike the pie lady, we will continue to balance our work with listening to live music, which is why last Wednesday night and tomorrow night are so precious to us.
Wednesday night was the opening of JazzSTL, which is St. Louis’ “straight ahead” jazz forum. The first night is usually some type of gala with special guests and fundraising. This year’s offering was Paquito D’Rivera and Chucho Valdés. The evening included a Cuban style dinner, rum and a “meet and greet” with the musicians.
Paquito and Chucho have performed on many of our cruise programs over the years. For years they presented separately, but, on The Jazz Cruise ’24, they shared the stage for several sets and it was magical. As many know, they have been friends and colleagues for decades, back to the early days of the famous Cuban band, Irakere.
Irakere, founded in 1973, combined Cuban rhythms with American jazz, and, in doing so, created a sound that defined Cuban popular music. Chucho was the musical director, and the band included both Paquito and Arturo Sandoval. You can see and hear Arturo on The Jazz Cruise ’25. Due to the testy relationship between Cuba and the United States, Irakere was prevented from performing in the United States, though they did make a landmark appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1979.
In the past, relations among Chucho, Paquito and Arturo have been strained due to differing views as to how to respond to Fidel Castro and the regime in Cuba. Today, not only do they interact, but the three of them are performing together. Sort of like The Three Tenors, only rather than singing, they play instruments.
After the show, we were able to hang with Chucho and Paquito for a moment or two. Both are at the top of the list of gentlemen and ambassadors of our music. When Paula, my wife, was walking with them in Miami earlier this year, she told me that fans came up to them as if they were rock stars. In our world, they are!
Tomorrow night, we will be attending a Chris Botti concert in St. Louis. The venue will be The Factory, where we have presented George Benson, Boney James, Gregory Porter, Samara Joy, Brian Culbertson and many others in the past few years. Most of the Jazz Cruises’ team will be front and center for the show.
Hopefully, we will have a chance to chat with Chris about a few programming plans for Botti at Sea ’25. The star power of that program is amazing. After 25 years of producing cruises, I believe that we are more excited about presenting Diana Krall on that cruise than almost any other performer.
Note: Remaining Inventory for Botti at Sea ’25 includes only 15 Veranda Staterooms, a few Ocean View Staterooms and some Inside Staterooms. The runway to reserve a stateroom is dwindling.
Our world of music is a gift, one that I cherish as it not only allows me to enjoy the best musicians in the world, but it also affords me the opportunity to hang with fellow jazz fans. With two exceptions, I have never met a jazz fan that I did not like…a lot.
Both of you know who you are. No, I am not ready to forgive and forget.
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 [email protected].
Introducing Christian McBride’s World at Sea!
Be the first to get the details on our newest program, Christian McBride’s World at Sea! Details will be announced soon for this cruise which will be sailing in late January/early February ’26. Sign up to be among the first to receive the cruise lineup, destinations and reservation information!
Catch Chris Botti at The Factory
in Chesterfield, MO on September 22!
Soon, Chris Botti and his amazing band will be headed off to South Africa for Joy of Jazz 2024. But, before doing so, there’s one more wonderful opportunity to see him.
The entire Jazz Cruises’ team will be attending the September 22 show as it will be presented at the same suburban St. Louis venue that we have used for many of our own shows. Join us for an amazing night of great music with Chris Botti.
Chris resumes a robust US schedule in October. Check out chrisbotti.com/tour/#/
Ron Carter in Residence at Birdland
During the month of October, Ron Carter will be featured at Birdland Jazz Club in NYC as an artist-in-residence, performing each week with a different group.
The legendary bassist kicks off the month on October 1-5 with shows featuring his new trio of Donald Vega and Donald Harrison (who replaces the late Russell Malone). His Foursight Quartet (featuring Renee Rosnes, Jimmy Greene and Payton Crossley), who will be performing during Journey of Jazz ’25, take the stage October 8-12, followed by his Great Big Band (October 15-19), and a series of duo performances with pianist Bill Charlap (October 22-26).
Monterey Jazz Festival is This Weekend!
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.
LA Jazz Society Salutes Renowned Bassist Marcus Miller
with Lifetime Achievement Honors
GRAMMY® Award-winning bassist and frequent Jazz Cruise performer Marcus Miller will receive the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Jazz Society. Miller will be honored at the 2024 Jazz Tribute Concert & Awards on Saturday, October 5th hosted by the multi-talented comedian Alonzo Bodden. This exciting two-hour event is the annual celebration of jazz and the talented musicians who have made this extraordinary music their life’s passion. Special guests include Stanley Clarke, Michael Lazaroff, John Clayton, Joe LaBarbera and the CSUN Jazz Band plus many more.
Marcus will be recognized for a 30+ year career as recording artist/performer, composer and producer, including collaborations with dozens of artists from Luther Vandross to David Sanborn to Wayne Shorter. In addition, he also hosts and headlines multiple sold-out Jazz Cruises each year including The Smooth Jazz Cruise.
LAJS will also honor Oscar and Emmy award-winning composer, pianist and documentary director Kris Bowers with the Jazz Composer/Arranger Award and artist and songwriter Veronica Swift who will receive Jazz Vocalist honors.
The annual Tribute is the key Jazz Society fundraiser of the year which supports annual jazz education programs benefitting thousands of young people in LAUSD schools every year. Jazz in Schools provides free educational concerts in elementary schools for 25,000 students and the Bill Green Mentorship Program provides free training in advanced musical techniques from professional musicians for young aspiring jazz musicians.
Jazz Cruises’ Programs
The Jazz Cruise ’25
FULLY RESERVED
Celebrating it’s 25th Anniversary
The Jazz Cruise ’26 To Be Announced Soon!
The Jazz Cruise ’25 is fully reserved. Since the cruise does not sail for several months, there will be cancellations and staterooms will become available. Stateroom vacancies are filled from the Waitlist, which is not lengthy right now. If you wish to sail on The Jazz Cruise ’25, we urge you to JOIN WAITLIST now.
Stay tuned for the launch of The Jazz Cruise ’26. Most of the lineup has been secured, so we should be announcing the details of the cruise in mid to late October.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2
Lineup Just Announced!
’25 Sailings Fully Reserved
Both sailings for 2025 are fully reserved and the Waitlist has more than 4,000 entrants.
We are now focused on reservations for the ’26 Sailings. On Thursday, the first wave (210 holders) of guests with Pre-Sale Reservations became eligible to reserve a stateroom. By early Friday, every holder had completed their stateroom selection and reservation.
The next wave will be activated on Tuesday, September 24, and we will continue to activate holders in groups until all those holding Pre-Sale Reservations can book. Open Booking begins on October 17, but, if you want to act sooner, there is still time to go to The Smooth Jazz Cruise website and complete a Pre-Sale Reservation for The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’26.
Stay tuned for the announcement of the 3rd sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise in ’26!
Botti at Sea ’25
Every Night is a Night on the Town
New Performers Announced – Diana Krall and Peter Cincotti
Botti at Sea ’25 is more than 90% reserved. Act NOW to reserve one of the remaining staterooms. Veranda, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms are available in limited quantities.
Journey of Jazz ’25
Jazz Life at Sea & On Land
Reserve Now – Excursions Menu Available Soon
Jazz Cruises’ West Coast program, Journey of Jazz, hosted by Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter, is in Open Booking. Though not sailing for 12 months, the cruise is more than 65% reserved.
The menu of land-based excursions in Victoria and San Francisco has been announced. Check out Jazz Cruises’ curated trips to Wine Country, Special Shows and more HERE. Reserve your stateroom now to be eligible for events when they become available to reserve.
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 [email protected].