Talk about a legend. None bigger than Roy Haynes, a true original American drummer, who died this week at 99. He sailed with us twice on The Jazz Cruise years ago, each time we believed would be the last time and each time we thought he would simply go through the motions.
Wrong and dead wrong. Rolling Stones’ iconic drummer, Charlie Watts, when hearing that Roy, at 83, was voted Best Contemporary Jazz Drummer by Modern Drummer in 2006, conjectured that “age is not a part of Roy’s life.” For someone who performed for nine decades and is called a pioneer in jazz drumming, at the very least, age had little impact on his life and career.
He played with almost everybody: Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan, Bud Powell and Stan Getz. Famous for celebrating his birthdays at the Blue Note Jazz Club (NYC), Roy was a bit of a clothes horse. In 1960, Esquire named him along with fellow jazzman, Miles Davis, as one of America’s Best Dressed Men. If you think that only jazz musicians were winners, Fred Astaire, Clark Gable and Cary Grant were also named.
With nine GRAMMY® Nominations, three GRAMMY® Awards and 14 DownBeat Critics Poll Best Drummer Awards, his being named an NEA Jazz Master in 1995 by the National Endowment of the Arts, the highest award in jazz, should come as no surprise.
Even though his time on The Jazz Cruise was at the latter stages of his career, he was always dapper, sophisticated and dynamic. You could not take your eyes off him playing the drums. Like all great drummers, the drums and cymbals seemed to be extensions of his arms and legs.
Known to tap dance during gigs, Roy joins a long line of great drummers who have dancing backgrounds and skills. Ever see Buddy Rich tap dance? It is amazing. Check out this YouTube site (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwE6ukSz69c). Great drumming is a full body activity. The player is almost like an octopus, moving his arms and legs in various directions yet maintaining a beat and a purpose.
Even though I play drums, I am not a big fan of the long drum solo. I am not sure how that fits into the “music,” but there are exceptions. Check out some of Roy’s videos or either his, Buddy’s or Gene Krupa’s performances of “Sing, Sing, Sing” or “Caravan.” In those instances, the drums are the music!
Like all great athletes, great drummers, regardless of their training or style, have one thing in common. They make it look effortless. The better they are, the easier they make it appear.
Hard to believe that we will ever see another musician like Roy Haynes perform so late in life. Whenever I say that, I think of Dick Hyman who is performing now at 97! He and I share the same birthday, so it is easy to remember him.
No! We share the same month and day. The birth years are different. There will be one fewer pillow gift for anyone who believes otherwise.
By Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of The Jazz Cruise, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, Chris Botti at Sea, Christian McBride’s World at Sea and Journey of Jazz. Feel free to express your views or pose questions to him at [email protected]
Christian McBride’s World at Sea ’26: Cruise Details on Tuesday!
Ready to learn the details of Christian McBride’s World at Sea ’26? We are!
Check your email early on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. You will receive an announcement letter, access to the website and complete instructions of the Reservation Procedure.
We are very excited about this cruise…”Once you enter Christian McBride’s World, your world will never be the same.”
GRAMMY® Nomination: Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
In the 11.13.24 edition of Jazz Notes, we outlined many of “our” musicians who have been nominated for GRAMMY®s this year. The list was outstanding and confirmed our belief that the musicians on our jazz cruises are the very best in the business.
We held back one name, Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, as we wanted to highlight their nomination for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album for their “And So It Goes” recording. There have been no greater friends, supporters or stars of our cruise programs than John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton, so it is particularly exciting to see them receive this type of recognition.
Perhaps coincidentally, Journey of Jazz ’25 features CJHO as a special guest when we overnight in San Francisco on September 15, 2025. John and Jeff will also be featured on that cruise as the bassist and drummer for Diana Krall, a vocalist whose career began with those musicians at her side.
No mention of CJHO would be complete without remembering Jeff Clayton, a founder, leader and saxophonist of the group. His smile, talent, sense of humor and all-encompassing humanity were driving forces for the group and our cruises.
Jazz Cruises is Now Signature Jazz Cruises
In most respects, Jazz Cruises becoming Signature Jazz Cruises is nothing more than a change of name. Yet, by doing so, we are acknowledging two points. First, adding “Signature” is our way of saying that we are signing our name on every jazz cruise program we produce. Second, Signature Jazz Cruises takes its place alongside Signature Event Cruises as the two cruise divisions managed and produced by Signature Cruise Experiences.
In English, we are now producing non-jazz programs owned by Signature Events Cruises and our time-honored team at the Jazz Cruises’ office are now under the employment of Signature Cruise Experiences.
Yes, there is some substance here, but, if Shakespeare were the author of this transition, it would be called….yes, Much Ado About Nothing!
What is important is that our email address is no longer @jazzcruisesllc.com. To reach me or our staff, use our first name and @scecruises.com (i.e., [email protected]).
Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra’s Crescent City Jewels
Trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis celebrates his hometown heroes of New Orleans with his latest album, Crescent City Jewels, released on Troubadour Jass Records. The recording features his group the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, along with vocalist Tonya Boyd-Cannon, as well as special guests and fellow Crescent City mainstays Branford Marsalis, Kermit Ruffins, Davell Crawford, Maurice “Miracle Meaux” Trosclair and Herlin Riley. Delfeayo said that the album is like a Gratitude Journal in song. “What the jazz community needs right now are bands that can bring joy and optimism,” he explained. “We not only need it for the audiences, but other bands need to hear it. There are so many bands that play what they consider to be ‘modern’ music which may not be the most uplifting experience for the audience. I feel very fortunate that I have a band, especially coming out of New Orleans, that can bring emotion and joy.”
Oscar Peterson’s City Lights
Mack Avenue Records, in partnership with Two Lions Records, has just released the fourth recording by Oscar Peterson from their collaboration with Oscar’s wife Kelly Peterson. City Lights: The Oscar Peterson Quartet – Live in Munich, 1994 captures the fourth concert in Oscar’s first tour following his recovery from what turned out to be a “minor” stroke that occurred during a performance in May of 1993. The legendary pianist with ties to so many of the artists on The Jazz Cruise was joined by bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, drummer Martin Drew and guitarist Lorne Lofsky. Oscar’s daughter Celine said that the live recording captures a very different Oscar than in previous releases. “He knew he was not walking on stage with the same power he had a decade earlier, so he didn’t try to pretend or compare,” she explained. “He leaned into what the present was offering him, ran with it and introduced us to a new Oscar Peterson. There was an umbrella of vulnerability over performances which made them even more intimate.”
Donate to the Future of Jazz with Monterey Jazz Festival
With the season of giving upon us, Monterey Jazz depends on you for the future of jazz! When you support their education programs, you are making an indelible impact on the lives of the young people they serve by providing world-class, comprehensive music education, mentorship and performance opportunities, like their Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, directed by Gerald Clayton. Now more than ever, your contribution is needed for young musicians to have access to world-class musicians and the opportunity to advance their passion for jazz. For more information on the various ways you can support Monterey Jazz, please visit www.montereyjazzfestival.org/contribute.
Signature Jazz Cruises’ Programs
The Jazz Cruise ’25 – FULLY RESERVED! The Jazz Cruise ’26 to be Announced Soon!
The Jazz Cruise ’25 is fully reserved. Rooms will become available due to cancellations and vacancies are filled directly from the Waitlist. If you wish to sail on The Jazz Cruise ’25, we urge you to JOIN WAITLIST now.
Stay tuned for details about The Jazz Cruise ’26 – to be announced in Late November!
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & 26.2 – Reserve Your Stateroom Today!
Both sailings for ’25 are fully reserved and the Waitlist has more than 4,000 entrants.
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.1 & ‘26.2 are in Open Booking (anyone may reserve any available stateroom) and are over 80% reserved.
Reserve your stateroom today!
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3 is Here – New West Coast Sailing!
For the first time in many years, The Smooth Jazz Cruise will sail on the West Coast, embarking in Vancouver, sailing to Victoria and San Francisco before disembarking in Los Angeles. Exciting land excursions will be available in the ports-of-call!
The Smooth Jazz Cruise ‘26.3 is in Open Booking! Anyone may now reserve any available stateroom.
Botti at Sea ’25 FULLY RESERVED! Botti at Sea ’26 JUST ANNOUNCED!
Sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver, with calls on San Francisco and Victoria, BC, Botti at Sea III (’26) is moving to the West Coast in September ’26!
The website for the cruise will be available later this year and the amazing lineup will follow shortly. Join the Pre-Sail today!
Christian McBride’s World at Sea – JUST ANNOUNCED!
Christian McBride will be hosting a new Jazz Cruises’ program, Christian McBride’s World at Sea!
Christian McBride will be hosting a new Signature Jazz Cruises’ program, Christian McBride’s World at Sea!
The cruise will set sail from Fort Lauderdale in early ’26 with stops in CocoCay and San Juan. The full lineup and website will be announced on November 15, but you can establish your priority for reserving a stateroom NOW by joining the Pre-Sail.
Journey of Jazz ’25 – Excursions Available to Book Now!
Hosts Marcus Miller & Gregory Porter will take you on an incredible musical journey onboard Journey of Jazz. The cruise will also feature a special show from the one-and-only Diana Krall while the ship is in-port in Victoria!
Land-based excursions are now available to book! Check out Signature Jazz Cruises’ curated trips to Wine Country, Special Land Based Concerts and more HERE.
Mug Shots of the Week
California
Georgia
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].