Overview
The Jazz Cruise is a floating jazz festival---seven days of music from about noon until 1am most days. There are four stages with concurrent acts. Two stages at the front of the ship (called forward) and two at the back of the ship (called aft). The ship has 11 floors (called decks). After all these years of being a Star Trek fan, I finally know why the bar on the Enterprise is called 10 Forward! It's on deck 10 at the front of the ship!
We left Port Everglades (in Ft. Lauderdale, FL) on Tuesday January 27th and floated around the Caribbean for 7 days. The ship made two stops, one in the Bahamas (where I didn't bother to get off the ship) and one in Puerto Rico (where I did get off and do some sight-seeing). But the purpose of this cruise wasn't to have some fun in the sun and swim and play tourist. It was to run around the ship and play jazz fan!
The Jazz Cruise is produced by Signature Cruises. They lease this ship from Celebrity Cruises.
With shows running concurrently, it's not possible to catch every show. But most of the artists have 3 or 4 shows throughout the week, so maybe it's possible to see all the artists. I didn't manage to do that. There were 107 shows total. I saw 40 shows in 7 days! Those 40 shows included 188 different artists. There were probably more artists on the ship that I never got to see.
You probably don't want to hear about 40 shows, so I'll tell you about my favorites. I could just state my preferences, but people don't always know what they really prefer. So economists invented the concept of revealed preference, which is looking at what people do instead of what they say.
Revealed Preferences
I counted up all the artists I did hear in all 40 shows to reveal my true preferences. A few of these surprised me (because they didn't match what I thought my preferences would be). These are the headliners I heard the most:
- Emmet Cohen (8 times)
- John Pizzarelli (7 times)
- Benny Benack III (6 times)
- Anat Cohen (4 times)
- Veronica Swift (3 times)
- Kurt Elling (3 times)
- Camille Thurman (3 times)
Emmet Cohen
Emmet was the "host" of the jazz cruise. Besides being the face of the 2026 Jazz Cruise, he was in a lot the shows, so no surprise that I heard him the most. And I am a huge fan, so this is no surprise to me. I heard his trio (with Philip Norris and Joe Farnsworth); I heard him in duos; I heard him sitting in with other people's shows. I heard him play the organ. I even heard him as a sideman--his trio was the backup band for one of Veronica Swift's shows.
John Pizzarelli
Since I own some guitars and have some vocal cords, I am a big fan of John's singing, guitaring, story-telling and humor. He's just a great entertainer all-around. This revealed preference was no surprise to me, as I sought out all of John's shows and made it a priority to see them. And I didn't hear him repeat a single-song all week! Most shows were with his trio (with Mike Karn and Tyler Henderson). But I also heard him in some duos settings and doing some solo pieces.
Benny Benack III
Although I am a big fan of Benny--both his trumpet playing and his singing--this one was a bit of a surprise to me. He just kept popping up in a different shows all over the ship. As a headliner, as part of the Tower of Trumpets show (7 trumpets!) and sitting in here and there. Benny's energy and positive vibes raise the fun in any show!
Anat Cohen
This one did surprise me a bit. I am a fan, for sure, but didn't realize that I had seen her 4 times. I went to two of her headliner shows, one with her quartet, Quartetino (Vitor Goncalves, Tal Mashiach, James Shipp), and her Duo show with Brazlian guitarist Marcello Goncalves. She said that she likes Choro (the father of Samba and the grandfather of Bossa Nova) because the clarinet is often a featured instrument in Choro. She said she often felt pressure in jazz groups to play saxophone instead of clarinet. I don't think I've ever heard her play the saxophone. She is a master of the clarinet!
Veronica Swift
No surprise here. Even after hearing Veronica a few weeks earlier during my 6 Days in New York, I still sought out all her headliner shows on the cruise. Her passion and creativity always grab me. She did repeat a few songs across shows--songs from her upcoming new album. But it was mostly 3 different shows. She did two Dave Frishberg tunes in one show, "I'm Hip" and "The Sports Page". She likes to always end all her shows with "Sing" by Brian Viglione (drummer/guitarist with the band The Dresden Dolls). It's a moving song that implores the audience and the world to "just sing".
Kurt Elling
This one surprised me because Kurt is so low on the list. Before the cruise started I was most excited about hearing Kurt! But after hearing his first headliner show on Day 2 of the cruise, I apparently had other priorities. His first show was fabulous. His latest album project is the music of Weather Report. He sang a wordless scat on a tune called "Black Market" and got a standing ovation for that in the middle of the set! I really wish I had heard more of him. I did hear him in the "Sing Sing Sing" show with all 6 singers on the cruise together!
Camille Thurman
Another surprise was that I saw Camille 3 times. I'm definitely a fan and have heard her before. I enjoyed both her singing and saxophoning. She did do the same show 3 times. Well, I didn't stay till the end of the 3rd show, so maybe that was different. She did have the honor of being the last show of the cruise!
Stated Preferences
If I were to state what I thought I liked the most, it would be:
- Kurt Elling
- Veronica Swift
- John Pizzarelli
- Emmet Cohen
- Monty Alexander - I heard him twice. Great shows. And I liked his stories too.
- Sullivan Fortner - I heard him once. Powerful. Creative. And he won a grammy during the cruise!
- Jeff Hamilton - Always fabulous. Love the arrangements and the intensity.
- Benny Benack III
- Bria Skonberg - Another singer/trumpeter - she has two albums coming out later this year, one trumpet album and one vocal album. I'm looking forward to both.
- The "Sing Sing Sing" show with all 6 vocalists.
And that is just headliners. There were some great accompanists (sidemen) worth mentioning:
- Mathis Picard - a great young pianist who accompanied many shows.
- Tyler Henderson - another super talented young pianist - mostly appeared with John Pizzarelli, but heard in a few other contexts also.
- Joe Farnsworth - fabulous drummer, with an intensity that keeps him always in the moment.
Photos
I won't bore you with 40 photos, but I did take at least one picture at every show. Instead I'll share one photo of each stage.
The Theatre - Deck 4 Forward
This was the only permanent stage on the ship, the rest appeared to be pop-up stages just for the Jazz Cruise. This was also the largest, holding about 1200 people. All the seats were comfortable and had good visibility.
Sky Lounge - Deck 11 Forward
This was the worst stage for visibility. In at least 25% of the room you could barely see the stage at all. But there were some great seats if you got there early.
Cosmopolitan Room - Deck 4 Aft
This is the main dining room. It was reconfigured as a stage in between meals. This stage was sponsored by the New York jazz club, Birdland.
Rendezvous Lounge - Deck 4 Aft
This was one of the bars on the ship. Probably the largest bar. Like the Sky Lounge there were a few good seats and lots of obstructed view seats.
The Forty Shows
For those of you who really want all the details. Read on.
Day 1 - Tuesday
The Jazz Cruise Welcome Show
Artists:
Anat Cohen
Catherine Russell
Emmet Cohen
Eric Marienthal
Herlin Riley
John Clayton
John Pizzarelli
Ken Peplowski
Kurt Elling
Lewis Nash
Paquito D'Rivera
Randy Brecker
Sean Jones
Shelly Berg
Wycliffe Gordon
No notes
Jeff Hamilton Trio
Artists: Jeff Hamilton, Jon Hamar, Tadataka Unno
No notes
Sullivan Fortner Trio
Artists: Sullivan Fortner, Tyrone Allen, Kayvon Gordon
No notes
John Pizzarelli Trio featuring Jessica Molaskey
Artists: John Pizzarelli, Jessica Molaskey, Tyler Henderson (p), Mike Karn (b)
Theme: Songs performed by married couples in jazz
Highlights:
Jackie & Roy (Mountain Greenery)
Les Paul & Mary Ford (How High the Moon?)
Bobby Troupe & Judy London (Route 66?)
Joao Gilberto & Astrud Gilberto
Day 2 - Wednesday
Emmet's Place
Artists: Emmet Cohen, Reuben Rogers, Anat Cohen, Terell Stafford, Joe Farnsworth
Highlights:
Anat - Lullaby of the Leaves
Terrell - Old Folks
trio - Jitterbug Waltz
Monty Alexander
Artists: Monty Alexander, Jason Brown, Luke Sellick
Highlights:
James Bond Theme (He mentioned that "Dr. No", the first James Bond film, was filmed in Jamaica where he grew up.)
House is not a Home
Alfie
We've Only Just Begun
Deo / God Bless America
What a friend we have in Jesus / Battle Hymn of the Republic
Ken Peplowski & Gary Smulyan
Theme: Music from the Silver Screen
Artists: Shelly Berg, Mike Karn, Joe Farnsworth
No notes
Kurt Elling
Artists: Kurt Elling, Julius Rodriguez, Marcus Finnie, Clark Sommers, Troy Roberts
Theme: Music of Weather Report
Black Market (This was a wordless scat and he got a standing ovation in middle of the set after this song)
Time to say goodbye (original instrumental version title: "A Remark You Made")
Bria Skonberg
Artists: Bria Skonberg, Reuben Rogers, Herlin Riley, Mathis Picard
Highlights:
Watch What Happens
In The House
Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?
Dolly Jones
Beautiful Boy / Lil darlin
Tell Him I Said Hello
Camille Thurman Band
Artists: Camille Thurman, Darrell Green, Matthew Parrish, Lafayette Harris
Highlights:
Evidence
I Think I’m Going Out Of My Head
Detour Ahead
You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To
Benny Benack III
Artists: Benny Benack III, Herlin Riley, Mathis Picard, Philip Norris
Set:
Sunday in New York
I’ll Never Fall In Love Again
Pure Imagination
Sugar and Spice (contrafact)
The Gravy Waltz (duo bass/voice)
Crazy She Calls Me (duo piano/voice)
(Some New Orleans tune I didn't recognize) (Julius Rodriguez sitting in on piano)
The Ghosted Blues
Day 3 - Thursday
Emmet Cohen's Hammond B3 Band
Artists: Emmet Cohen, Benny Benack III, Joe Farnsworth, Dan Wilson
Spiral staircase
More Today Than Yesterday / Old Devil Moon
(first tune is the 1969 hit by Spiral Staircase)
(Old Devil Moon used the Killer Joe bass line and had a Killer Joe vibe. Cool!)
Vamped from that into.. Old devil moon with Killer Joe bass line/vibe
I Surrender Dear
Short Story (by Kenny Durham)
I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
My Little Suede Shoes (by Miles Davis - mambo groove)
Hey Lock / Body & Soul (both of these have the same changes)
"Benny's Corner" Vol. 3 - Benny Green's Solo Piano
Benny sounded great. He did these solo tunes:
Don’t Blame Me
Grooveyard (Carl Perkins)
Here’s That Rainy Day
Virgo (Horace Silver)
Chant (Duke pearson)
Even though it was billed as a solo piano show, he had some guests sit and do piano duets on the same piano. Sometimes switching sides of the piano bench when switching who was comping and who was soloing.
(a Benny original I didn't recognize) (with Matthew Wittaker)
You And The Night And The Music (with Helen Sung)
The Man I Love (with John di Martino)
It Could Happen To You (with Mathias Picard)
This show was one of the highlights for me. Just a piano and some very talented musicians. Very off-the-cuff an in-the-moment. They were having fun making music together more than they were putting on a show for an audience.
Sing, Sing, Sing
Artists:
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Niki Haris
Benny Benack III
Catherine Russell
John Pizzarelli
Kurt Elling
Janis Siegel
Shelly Berg
The band was piano (Shelly Berg) and guitar (John Pizzarelli).
Each vocalist was asked to pick a favorite lyricist and 2 of their songs to perform. There wasn't actually enough time to hear 2 tunes from everyone.
John - Johnny Mercer's "I Got Out of Bed on the Right Side"
Catherine - Andy Razaf's "Porter's Love Song to a Chambermaid"
Benny - Jon Hendrick's "Social Call"
Janis - Dave Frishberg's "You Are There"
Kurt - Kurt Elling's "Did You Call Her Today" (Yes, one of Kurt's favorite lyricists is himself!)
Niki - Alan and Marilyn Bergman's "How Do You Keep The The Music Playing?"
John - Johnny Mercer's "Jamboree Jones" (Shelly asked John to do a 2nd tune to break up the ballads)
Dee Dee - Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life"
The most memorable song to me was "Porter's Love Song to a Chambermaid" probably because I had never heard it before and it's a playful lyric using cleaning tools as metaphors for love. Check out this video where Catherine sings it:
Modern Lions
Artists: Tal Ronen, Domo Branch, Mathis Picard, Michael Dease, Godwin Louis
No Notes
John Pizzarelli Trio
Theme: "Dear Mr. Bennett" A Tribute to Tony Bennett
Artists: John Pizzarelli, Jessica Molaskey, Tyler Henderson, Mike Karn
Watch What Happens
The Best Is Yet To Come
It Amazes Me
Firefly
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Rags to Riches
Put on a Happy Face / Get Happy / I Want to be Happy
Fly Me to the Moon
Just in Time (with a cool verse I hadn't heard before)
Shadow of your Smile
I Wanna Be Around
Waltz For Debbie
We’ll Be Together Again
The Touch Of Your Lips
Young And Foolish
When in Rome
Love Scene
It Don’t Mean A Thing
Day 4 - Friday
Wycliffe Gordon & Terell Stafford
Theme: Cone & T-Staff
Cone is supposed to be a nickname for Wycliffe, I'm not sure why. He didn't seem to know either. T-Staff is obviously Terrell Stafford.
Artists: Wycliffe Gordon, Sullivan Fortner, Jon Hamar, Terell Stafford, Joe Farnsworth
Cheeky
Ruth’s Blues
Toast my Bread (ballad by Cone, love song)
I've Never Been In Love Before (trio)
Everything Happens To Me (T-Staff and trio)
Stars Fell on Alabama (Cone and trio)
James Morrison
Artists: Shelly Berg, Mike Karn, Joe Farnsworth, James Morrison
Just The Way You Look Tonight
The Boy Next Door (in Bb) / Girl Next Door (Eb)
But Beautiful
I've Never Been In Love Before (trio)
Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans (duo with piano)
Autumn Leaves
I’ll Be Seeing You
John Pizzarelli
Artists: John Pizzarelli, Tyler Henderson, Mike Karn
(I had to chose between John and Kurt. Tough call. I guessed Kurt would do his Weather Report show again and John would probably do something different, which he did. I don't know what Kurt did.)
Three Little words
Rhode Island si Famous for You
They Can’t Take That Away From Me
I Got Rhythm
It's Easy To Remember / These Foolish Things / This Will Make You Laugh
Pick Yourself Up
(with Matt Unisteria sitting in on guitar):
- Little Coquette
- Honeysuckle Rose
(Solo guitar tunes):
- This Nearly Was Mine
- You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught
- Last Train Home (by Pat Metheny)
Oklahoma Suite: Oh what a beautiful morning / I’m Just a Girl Who Can’t Say No / People Will Say We’re in Love / Surrey with the Fringe on Top
Anat Cohen Quartetinho
Artists: Anat Cohen, Vitor Goncalves, Tal Mashiach, James Shipp
Trinkle Tinkle (by Monk)
(on the last tune Matthew Whittaker sat in and they played a blues I didn't recognize)
Dan Wilson Organ Trio
Artists: Ben Paterson (o), Jason Brown (b), Dan Wilson (g)
(Troy Roberts was also in the band on tenor sax, so it was really a quartet)
Highlights:
(a Joey D Franceso tune that I didn’t recognize)
Juggernaut (by Chris Potter)
Blues Walk
Cry Me a River (Organ Feature)
November 15th (by Kenny Garrett)
Day 5
Ron Carter Quartet
Artists: Renee Rosnes, Payton Crossley, Jimmy Greene, Ron Carter
Highlights:
Elegy to a Cactus (Original tune? Sounded like a contrafact to Autumn Leaves. Killer Joe intro and vamp between solos)
All Blues
My Funny Valentine (duo with piano)
(Noticed him plucking open strings with his left hand)
You are my sunshine (solo bass)
You and the night and the music (Swing up tempo)
Emmet Cohen Trio
Artists: Emmet Cohen, Joe Farnsworth, Philip Norris
Our Delight (by Tadd Dameron - Up tempo - lots of hits)
Lion Song (by Emmet - a bit classical)
The Crave (Jellyroll Morton)
Trolly Song (crazy fast!)
Everlasting (by Emmet)
When You’re Smiling (bass feature)
My Favorite Things
(a ragtime piece I didn't recognize)
Anat Cohen Duo
Artists: Anat Cohen, Marcello Goncalves
Marcello Goncalves is a Brazlian guitarist (7-string)
They seemed to be doing set arrangements of Choro songs for guitar and clarinet.
Anat said she likes Choro music because the clarinet often has the melody. She never has to apologize for playing clarinet.
Anat described Choro as the father of Samba and the grandfather of Bossa Nova.
Highlights:
Otra Coiza (Other thing)
Cohelteza (Currents - Jobim & Bonfa)
Waiting for Amalia
Maria, Maria
Spanish Dance #2 in Cm
I like to be in America
Piano Duets
Artists: Emmet Cohen, Shelly Berg, Benny Green, Tyler Henderson, Mathis Picard, John di Martino, Julius Rodriguez
They had 2 pianos on the stage for piano duets.
Benny/Shelly you and the night and the music
Shelly/Tyler Emily
Tyler/John How deep is the ocean
John/Mathis Body and Soul
Mathis/Emmet (Rag) Carolina Shout
Emmet/Sullivan Sweet Lorraine / it might as well be spring
Sullivan/Benny Phoebe’s Samba
Julius Rodriguez/Benny Something in Common
All - Scrapple from the Apple (trying to have 8 people playing 2 pianos was crazy!)
Nicki Parrott
Artists: Nicki Parrott, Julius Rodriguez,
Marcus Finnie
Her name is pronounced par-ROT. She's Australian, so I'm guessing it's an Asutralian name.
Come Rain or Shine
Destination Moon (bessie smith 62)
This guys in love with you / Walk on by
Invitation (crazy fast-no vocals just trio)
La Mer (Beyond the Sea)
I Will Wait for You
All I do is think about You (Stevie Wonder)
Misty (instrumental)
New York Winter? (Original)
The Man I Love (up tempo swing)
I am a woman W O M A N (blues) - she changed the words to talk about the cruise and thank her band. Fun tune!
Got started singing because of Les Paul
Veronica Swift
Artists: Joe Farnsworth, Mathis Picard, Philip Norris, Veronica Swift
I think this was the same set she did at Dizzy's in New York. (Link to 6 days in NYC). Except for Social Call, which she didn't do in New York, but did do hear since Benny was on the boat. Benny wrote the arrangement which they recorded a few years ago.
(When I think of) Home
No More Blues
I’m coming, Virginia (Benny on Trumpet)
This House (by David Ross?)
Wishing you were somehow here again
We’ll Be Together Again
Look up look down (that lonesome road)
Someone to watch over me (duet with Shelly Berg)
Led Zeppelin tune (Herbie Hancock groove - Maiden Voyage?) title might be tomorrow or today or it’s not as hard as it seems
Home Blues (from An American in Paris?)
Social Call (with Benny Bennack III & Emmet Cohen)
Sing
Day 6
Monty Alexander
Artists: Monty Alexander, Jason Brown, Luke Sellick
Smile
James Bond Theme
Strangers in the night (on melodica!)
Come Fly With Me
When Somebody needs you / Wee Small Hours
Fly Me To The Moon
Niki Haris
Artists: Niki Haris, Matt Munisteri, Ben Paterson, Tal Ronen, Domo Branch
Theme: Honor the L.A.D.I.E.S. of Jazz (L=Lena Horne, A=Abbey Lincoln, D=Dinah Washington, I=Irene Kral, E-Ella Fitzgerald, S=Shirley Horn)
Stormy Weather (L)
Music is the Magic (A)
What A Difference A Day Made (D)
Where Is Love (I)
They All Laughed (E)
The Lady’s In Love With You (S)
Save Your Love For Me
Sway
The Good Life
Just in Time
Camille Thurman
Artists: Camille Thurman, Darrell Green, Mathew Parrish, Lafeyette Harris
Evidence (trio only no sax)
Book’s Bossa
I Think I’m Going Out Of My Head (sang)
Walk On By (sang)
Three Views of a Secret (Jaco P) duo with bass (just sang)
The Masquerade is Over (just sang) request
Won’t You Open Up Your Senses (H Silver - sang)
Our Day Will Come
Veronica Swift
Artists: Joe Farnsworth, Mathis Picard, Philip Norris, Veronica Swift
I Miss the Mountains
No More Blues
Things Ain’t What They Used To Be
The Show Must Go On (Queen) with opera aria
Going to California (Zeppelin) Maiden Voyage groove
Look Down…
Dreamer’s Ball (Queen)
Home Blues (from American in Paris)
John Pizzarelli Trio
Theme: "Because of You" The Music of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Paul Simon & Michael Franks
Artists: John Pizzarelli, Tyler Henderson, Mike Karn
Come Fly With Me
You Make Me Feel So Young
Straighten Up And Fly Right
That Sunday That Summer
Falling In Love With Love (instrumental)
Walk Between The Raindrops (Donald Fagen/Steely Dan)
Eggplant
Rene & Georgette Magrite With Their Dog After The War
Oh How My Heart Beats For You
I Wouldn’t Trade You For The Whole Big Apple
Carolina Wren
Headed out to Vera’s
Sweet Kentucky Ham
Another Song about Paris
I like Jersey Best
Formal Night Jam hosted by Emmet Cohen
Artists: Emmet Cohen, Bria Skonberg, Benny Benack Ill, Eric Marienthal, Reuben Rogers, Joe Farnsworth, Nicole Glover, Mathis Picard, Michael Dease, Bruce Harris, Godwin Louis
Without a Song
In a Mellow Tone (Benny/Bria singing)
Four (Veronica/Kurt)
Blues (Catherine Russell)
Night in Tunisia
Day 7
John Pizzareli's Guitar Gathering
Artists: John Pizzarelli, Marcos Robinson, Matt Munisteri, Tyler Henderson, Mike Karn, Darrell Green
(blues)
Blue Bossa - Marcos lead with John
Some Of These Days - Matt lead with John
Tea for Two - John sang
Lady Bird - Marcos & trio
Little Heightchair Man - Matt solo: guitaring and sang
Some other time. Solo guitar Piz
Long Ago and Far Away - Piano trio feature
(rhythm changes)
Tower of Trumpets
Artists: Bria Skonberg, Benny Benack III, Sean Jones, Randy Brecker, Herlin Riley, Helen Sung, Tal Ronen, Terell Stafford, James Morrison, Bruce Harris
? All 7
Joy Spring (3)
All Blues (4)
If I were a bell (7)
Someday my Prince will come (4)
Ballad time: My Ideal (James) I Can’t Get Started (Randy), Skylark (Terell)
Mr. P. C.
Sean Jones,
Bria Skonberg,
James Morrison,
Randy Brecker,
Terell Stafford,
Bruce Harris
Benny Benack III,
Nicole Glover Trio
Artists: Tyrone Allen, Kayvon Gordon, Nicole Glover
Cool Eyes
Number Two
The A Side (by bass player)
One for Amos
You Go To My Head
March (by Miki Yamanaka)
Resilience/ Equanimity
Veronica Swift with Emmet Cohen Trio
Artists: Emmet Cohen, Joe Farnsworth, Philip Norris, Veronica Swift
Getting To Know You
Dat Dere (changed the words to “take a big handkerchief over there)
The Man I Love
Guess Who’s in Town
The Show Must Go On
Lover Come Back to Me - burnin scat solo
A Little Taste
Prisoner of Love
I’m Hip
The Sports Page (by Dave Frishberg)
As Long As He Needs Me
Twisted
Janis Siegel
Artists: Janis Siegel, Dan Wilson, John di Martino, Boris Kozlov, Vince Cherico
It’s Always 4 A.M.
Lover
Everything I’ve Got Belongs to You
Last Night When We Were Young
Love Won’t Let Me Wait
Don’t Get Scared
Herlin Riley Quintet
Artists: Emmet Cohen, Herlin Riley, Philip Norris, Bruce Harris, Godwin Louis
Highlights:
Harlem shuffle (By Emmet)
A Time For Love
Spring Fantasy
All Stars #6
Artists: Benny Benack Ill, Helen Sung, Hannah Marks, Shirazette Tinnin, Matt Munisteri, Ada Rovatti
Highlights:
Up Jumped Spring (trio)
Bye Bye Blackbird
Camille Thurman
Artists: Camille Thurman, Darrell Green, Matthew Parrish, Lafeyette Harris
(same first 3 songs as her earlier sets)
(didn't stay for the whole concert. This was the last show of the week and I was tired! And we had to get up early the next day to get off the ship.)
