Jazz Cruise Conversations: Recent Episodes
Lee Mergner
Jazz Cruise Conversations features full length interviews with jazz artists done on The Jazz Cruise, Blue Note at Sea and The Smooth Jazz Cruise.
Bria Skonberg has a confession: she's releasing two albums this year, one all-trumpet and one all-vocal, partly because she still hasn't figured out how to make the two coexist. "I'm always trying to find or write material that highlights them both in their best light," she says in this wide-ranging conversation with fellow trumpeter-vocalist Benny Benack III, recorded live aboard The Jazz Cruise.
The two have toured together, finished each other's sentences, and find themselves facing versions of the same creative questions: how do you balance two voices, build a discography with intention, and keep making music that matters?
Recorded on The Jazz Cruise 2026, the conversation covers the pair's prolific recording approaches (and the producer who keeps Bria from releasing six albums a year), the particular challenge of the trumpet as a lifelong pursuit, and what happens when the audience always wants more of whichever thing you just did less of. The episode also opens into a genuine conversation about jazz education and arts advocacy, sparked by audience questions, with both artists speaking from real experience in classrooms and clinics, not talking points.
A candid, energetic hour with two of the most compelling younger voices in jazz today.
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- Listen to more episodes of Jazz Cruises Conversations on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts. The back catalog contains more than a hundred interviews from past sailings.
- Theme Music: Provided by Marcus Miller from his song "High Life" on his album Afrodeezia on Blue Note.
No moderator required. John Pizzarelli and Jeff Hamilton have been friends since 1984, and it shows — in the stories they finish for each other, the ones they've clearly been waiting to tell, and the ones that arrive sideways in the middle of something else entirely.
This Season 7 opener, recorded live on The Jazz Cruise 2026, is the kind of conversation that could only happen when two people have shared enough bandstands to stop performing for each other. Hamilton takes you back to his first night playing with Oscar Peterson, the Ray Brown philosophy of career preparation, and what it actually takes to pack a bag when you've been on the road since 1974. Pizzarelli traces his unlikely path to singing back to a Nat King Cole reissue, a last-minute Stash Records session, and a father who never missed a teaching moment — even when the lesson arrived as a one-liner. Stories about Bucky, Paul McCartney, James Taylor, and the future of straight-ahead jazz fill out the second half, with audience questions that are as good as the answers.
Pull up a chair. Piz and the Hammer have plenty more where this came from.
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- Listen to more episodes of Jazz Cruises Conversations on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts. The back catalog contains more than a hundred interviews from past sailings.
- Theme Music: Provided by Marcus Miller from his song "High Life" on his album Afrodeezia on Blue Note.
Recorded live on the Journey of Jazz cruise, this episode of Jazz Cruises Conversations features an in-depth discussion on the legendary Dizzy Gillespie. Host Lee Mergner is joined by trumpeter Sean Jones and tap artist Brinae Ali to explore Dizzy’s physical trademarks, his deep spirituality, and his enduring influence on the evolution of jazz.
Key Takeaways
- The Myth of the Bent Trumpet: Sean Jones clarifies that while the most common story is that Dizzy sat on his instrument, the signature upward bend was purely cosmetic and did not change the sound of the horn.
- The Truth Behind the Cheeks: Dizzy’s iconic puffed cheeks were actually caused by a musculature disease that progressed over time, rather than incorrect playing technique.
- A Master Pedagogue: Despite his visual trademarks, Dizzy was a serious student and one of the greatest trumpet pedagogues in human history.
- Musical Versatility: Dizzy’s sound extended far beyond bebop; he lent his voice to everything from large orchestras to gospel and soul records like Soul’ed Out.
- Spirituality and Unity: A devout follower of the Bahá'í faith, Dizzy’s music—including his work with the United Nations Orchestra—was driven by a spiritual mission to bring people together.
- The "Dizzy Spellz" Project: Brinae Ali explains her "brainchild" project, which reimagines Dizzy’s music through the lens of Afrofuturism, incorporating tap dance and a turntablist to parallel the "good, bad, and ugly" of his times.
- Lorraine Gillespie’s Influence: Dizzy’s wife, Lorraine, was a professional tap dancer from Queens who played an instrumental role in his life and creative evolution.
- Spontaneous Composition: Jones describes improvisation not as "making stuff up," but as spontaneous composition where the musician uses years of harmonic awareness to create in real-time.
- The Lineage of Jazz: Jones argues there is no "separation" in the music, only extensions: Miles Davis is an extension of Dizzy, who was an extension of Louis Armstrong.
Sean Jones explains the history of jazz as a single, growing tree rather than a collection of separate plants. In this view, every new genre or legendary player is simply an "extension" of the same root system—where the sounds of the past, like those of Louis Armstrong, provide the essential nutrients for the "spontaneous compositions" of the future.
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- Listen to more episodes of Jazz Cruises Conversations on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts. The back catalog contains more than a hundred interviews from past sailings.
- Theme Music: Provided by Marcus Miller from his song "High Life" on his album Afrodeezia on Blue Note.
Lee Mergner hosted a Listening Party with Bria Skonberg who played tracks from her recent album, "What It Means," and then talked about the making of the recording. The album blends many different influences, but it has a decidedly New Orleans flavor thanks to contributions from Herlin Riley, Don Vappie and Ben Jaffe.
Send us Fan Mail
- Listen to more episodes of Jazz Cruises Conversations on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts. The back catalog contains more than a hundred interviews from past sailings.
- Theme Music: Provided by Marcus Miller from his song "High Life" on his album Afrodeezia on Blue Note.
Host Lee Mergner interviews brothers Chris and Dan Brubeck during the sailing of The Jazz Cruise '25, where they provide a deep, intimate look at the life and immense legacy of their father, jazz legend Dave Brubeck. The conversation spans Dave Brubeck’s surprising upbringing as a ranch cowboy, his transformative experience leading an integrated army band during World War II, the controversial and vital history of the musical The Real Ambassadors, and the origins of their family's distinct approach to jazz. The episode also features tracks from recordings the brothers did with their father.
Key Takeaways
• Dave Brubeck’s Cowboy Roots: Dave Brubeck grew up working on a 45,000-acre ranch, where his father, Grandpa Pete, was the foreman. Dave’s musical ideas, such as thinking in seven or developing polyrhythms (like three against a certain time), were inspired by his ranch duties, such as riding a horse or listening to the one-stroke engines powering the water pumps for the cattle.
• The Real Ambassadors Project: Dave and Iola Brubeck, who were strong proponents of the civil rights movement, wrote the musical The Real Ambassadors to highlight the hypocrisy of segregation in the United States, especially since jazz musicians were touring globally representing American democracy.
• Star-Studded, Controversial Cast: Louis Armstrong, Carmen McRae, and the innovative vocal group Lambert, Hendricks & Ross starred in the recording. Louis Armstrong, who Joe Glazer (his manager) tried to protect from controversy, loved the character he played because it was closer to what he felt about racism but wasn't usually allowed to express publicly.
• The Monterey Regret: The musical was performed live only once, at the Monterey Jazz Festival, with the full cast. Dave Brubeck considered it one of his biggest regrets that a camera crew was prevented from filming the performance for a small fee, due to the interference of manager Joe Glazer, who wanted to wait for a major TV special.
• Integrated WWII Band: While serving as a rifleman in Patton’s army during World War II, Dave Brubeck was spotted playing piano in the mud. Colonel Brown pulled him from combat and tasked him with forming a band called the Wolfpack, specifically recruiting musicians who had been wounded (Purple Heart recipients). Due to their remote location and being "under the official radar," the Wolfpack was the first integrated band in the army.
• Iola Brubeck’s Lyrics: Dave's wife, Iola Brubeck, wrote the clever and politically relevant lyrics for The Real Ambassadors, as well as lyrics for many of Dave's other tunes, including "Ode to a Cowboy" and "My One Bad Habit".
• The Brubeck Waltz: Dave Brubeck and drummer Joe Morello innovated the jazz waltz by having the high hat play on every other beat (one, two, three, one, two, three) instead of the standard two and three. This allowed soloists, including Dave, to play in three, four, or halftime, and to stretch the time.
• The Disney Connection: Dave developed the album Dave Digs Disney (which included "Someday My Prince Will Come") after hearing Disney records softly through the wall from his children, Chris and Dan, who were listening to them while their father slept during the day.
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- Listen to more episodes of Jazz Cruises Conversations on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts. The back catalog contains more than a hundred interviews from past sailings.
- Theme Music: Provided by Marcus Miller from his song "High Life" on his album Afrodeezia on Blue Note.
This episode of Jazz Cruises Conversations features an interview by Michael Lazaroff with Journey of Jazz'25 co-hosts Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter. The session evolved into a candid conversation where the three shared memorable cruise stories, discussed their musical influences (including Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, and Nat King Cole), recounted their extensive work in scoring films, and debated the double-edged sword of technology in the creative process. Marcus and Gregory were praised not only for being brilliant musicians but also for being two of the most wonderful, thoughtful, and caring men.
Key takeaways in bullet form
- Gregory Porter's Influences: Gregory draws inspiration from artists spanning the musical space between Nat King Cole and Donnie Hathaway, as well as local singers like Pastor Richardson. Gregory noted that standards are "community builders".
- Cruise Anecdotes: Marcus recounted the time he had to deal with McCoy Tyner's displeasure over performing on a Fazioli piano on the North Sea Jazz Cruise. He also shared a story about Joe Sample pausing a smooth jazz concert to scold the band for their tempo and lack of leadership.
- Film Scoring Careers: Both guests have notable careers in film scoring. Gregory Porter was scheduled to record a song for a movie featuring Kate Winslet. Marcus Miller detailed his film scoring start with Miles Davis, who passed off a movie score (completed in two and a half weeks) to him. Marcus has since scored films like House Party, Boomerang, and Marshall (a 1939-set film for which Wynton Marsalis provided music using the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and studio, refusing payment).
- Creative Process: Gregory Porter shared the deeply personal inspiration behind his song "Take Me to the Alley," which was written to express how his mother lived her life by running church missions in the "worst part of town."
- Technology in Music: The conversation addressed how technology has negatively impacted music by reducing the need for musicians to play with each other and fostering "deception" through manipulated recordings. Marcus noted that producers can now "fix" vocals to the point where singers don't sound like the record live. Gregory stated he dislikes the practice of fixing "the pimples" in his recordings, valuing organic expression.
- Future Plans: Marcus expressed a strong desire to produce music for Gregory Porter, calling him "the real".
Host and guest info and relevant links
- Host: Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of Signature Cruise Experiences.
- Co-host/Guest: Marcus Miller (Bassist, bandleader, composer).
- Co-host/Guest: Gregory Porter (Vocalist, songwriter).
- Future Cruise (Journey of Jazz '26): Marcus Miller and Gregory Porter return as co-hosts. The cruise sails January 24th through the 31st, departing from Tampa and includes two days in the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans. Wynton Marsalis will be performing for guests while the cruise is in New Orleans.
- Learn More: Sign up for updates at journeyofjazz.com.
Send us Fan Mail
- Listen to more episodes of Jazz Cruises Conversations on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts. The back catalog contains more than a hundred interviews from past sailings.
- Theme Music: Provided by Marcus Miller from his song "High Life" on his album Afrodeezia on Blue Note.
110: Remembering Ella Fitzgerald & Oscar Peterson w/Cecile McLorin Salvant, Sullivan Fortner & Kelly Peterson
This episode of Jazz Cruises Conversations, hosted by Lee Mergner, is drawn from a "Jazz on Film" session on the Journey of Jazz Cruise. The session focuses on the lives, careers, and close relationship of jazz titans Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson. The episode includes the reading of a poem Oscar Peterson wrote about Ella, audio excerpts from Oscar Peterson's 1980 BBC television show appearance with Ella, and a post-screening discussion featuring contemporary artists and Oscar's widow.
Key Takeaways
- Content Overview: The session featured clips of Ella Fitzgerald, including the earliest known film footage of her from 1957, and an excerpt from her 1980 appearance on Oscar Peterson’s BBC television show.
- Oscar Peterson's Dedication: The episode includes the reading of a poem Oscar Peterson wrote about Ella Fitzgerald, read by Christian McBride, which emphasizes her unique talent, stating she sings "with a voice quite beyond belief."
- The 1981 Interview and Performances: The featured audio comes from Oscar Peterson's television show appearance with Ella, recorded around 1981 when Ella was 64 years old,. During this segment, Ella and Oscar perform "Mellow Tone," "Baby Won't You Please Come Home," and the Vincent Youmans tune, "More Than You Know",,,.
- Ella's Early Career: Ella Fitzgerald initially wanted to be a dancer. She began singing after winning an amateur contest in Yonkers by trying to sing like Connie Boswell and performing "The Object of My Affection," earning the first prize of $12.50,. She joined the Chick Webb Orchestra after an unsuccessful attempt to join Fletcher Henderson’s band, who deemed her "real skinny" and "not the glamour type",.
- The Song Books: Oscar Peterson described her work on the Song Books as an "almost monumental project". Ella noted that the first one, the Cole Porter Song Book, was completed in only about three weeks,. Cécile McLorin Salvant views this project as a foundational part of American music history, archiving the standards and setting Ella as a "historic Mount Rushmore figure."
- The Accompanist's Role: Pianist Sullivan Fortner affirmed Oscar Peterson's observation that Ella's singing creates a "harmonic need" within the accompanist, thus making the players better. For an accompanist playing with a singer, Fortner stresses that the lyric and the message behind the song must be the priority over the melody, tone, or the piano player's input,.
- Ella and Oscar's Relationship: Kelly Peterson, Oscar’s widow, described the relationship between Ella and Oscar as a deep, loving friendship,. She recounted the story of Oscar’s elaborate fake ink spill prank on Ella's new white fur coat. Kelly also shared a moving anecdote about Oscar wearing the heavy gold lion pendant (his "medal" gifted by Ella) on the morning he instinctively felt she had died.
- Vocal Evolution: When comparing early and later clips of Ella's performances, Cécile McLorin Salvant noted that while her voice quality changed (becoming deeper with a wider vibrato, often singing in lower keys), her fundamental concepts remained "spot-on".
- Preferred Configuration: Cécile McLorin Salvant shared her preference for the quartet configuration when performing.
Send us Fan Mail
- Listen to more episodes of Jazz Cruises Conversations on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts. The back catalog contains more than a hundred interviews from past sailings.
- Theme Music: Provided by Marcus Miller from his song "High Life" on his album Afrodeezia on Blue Note.
Ravi Coltrane with Marcus Miller
Marcus Miller interviews Ravi Coltrane about his musical evolution and the dual legacy of his parents, Alice and John Coltrane. This insightful and candid talk, recorded live on the Journey of Jazz cruise, covers the challenges of growing up under the shadow of a jazz icon and finding one's own voice through the music.
Key Takeaways
- The episode is a conversation between host Marcus Miller and guest Ravi Coltrane, focusing on Ravi's development as a jazz saxophonist.
- Ravi's father, John Coltrane, passed away in 1967 when Ravi was 2 years old, leaving Ravi to be raised by his mother, Alice Coltrane. Ravi notes that his father’s instruments are currently in his stateroom.
- Ravi began his musical journey playing the clarinet throughout junior high and high school. He switched to the soprano saxophone at age 16 after his mother gave it to him for his birthday as a hint, later moving to the tenor saxophone.
- Ravi did not initially feel pressure from his famous last name because, during the 1970s in the San Fernando Valley where he grew up, John Coltrane was still considered "underground" or "counter culture".
- The death of Ravi’s older brother, John Jr., in an automobile accident when Ravi was 17, caused a "void" that Ravi later filled by studying his father's music. Ravi began listening to his father's records to gain answers for questions asked at parties, and through this, the music "hit" him.
- Ravi worked with key members of the John Coltrane Quartet, including joining drummer Elvin Jones's band in 1991 (though he felt he was "prematurely" ready) and later working with pianist McCoy Tyner in the 2000s.
- Ravi and Marcus discuss the meaning of being "ready" to perform at a high level, noting that it means being "prepared to do the job properly" and recognizing that evolution and learning are continuous processes.
Host and Guest Info
Host: Lee Mergner (introduction), Marcus Miller (interview).
Guest: Ravi Coltrane.
This talk was recorded during the Journey of Jazz cruise.
Marcus Miller provided the theme music, which is a clip from his song "High Life" on his album Aphrodesia on Blue Note.
The talk was captured by Brian Ratchkco and his production team.
Send us Fan Mail
- Listen to more episodes of Jazz Cruises Conversations on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts. The back catalog contains more than a hundred interviews from past sailings.
- Theme Music: Provided by Marcus Miller from his song "High Life" on his album Afrodeezia on Blue Note.
Pianist Emmet Cohen sits down with his longtime friend, trumpeter and singer Benny Benack III, for a conversation recorded during the recent Journey of Jazz cruise. This interview tracks Cohen's journey from a college student to becoming a celebrated artist and future host of The Jazz Cruise. Cohen discusses the inspiration behind his acclaimed "Masters Legacy Series" and the creation of his globally popular "Emmet's Place" online concert series.
Key Takeaways
The episode features an interview of pianist Emmet Cohen by his friend, Benny Benack III.
- Cohen and Benack III have known each other since they were both in high school.
- Cohen began his association with the cruises as part of a student group from the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, where he studied with mentor Shelly Berg.
- His early performances on the cruise included playing passenger jams. He later performed with the New York Voices and the legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb (who played on Kind of Blue).
- Cohen created the "Masters Legacy Series" as a concept to bring his generation closer to jazz masters, since the traditional bands of legends like Art Blakey or Miles Davis no longer existed.
- The Masters Legacy Series includes five recorded albums spotlighting collaborations with elders such as Jimmy Cobb, Ron Carter, George Coleman, Benny Golson, Tudy Heath, and Houston Person.
- The "Emmet's Place" online concert series began on March 20, 2020, when a gig was canceled, and the venue offered to pay his fee if he performed from his apartment.
- The first concert, set up simply with an iPhone on a stack of books, garnered 40,000 views on Facebook.
- Cohen felt a sense of historical continuity with the "Harlem Rent Party" tradition of the 1920s during Prohibition, which mirrored the lockdown environment.
- Benack III noted that Cohen was always one step ahead in the jazz community, being the first to stream successfully with good sound and organization.
- Cohen and Benack III emphasized that the future of jazz revolves around community, and being a "master musician" means uplifting others and making everyone around you sound great.
- Cohen will be hosting The Jazz Cruise next year.
Host and Guest Info
Host: Benny Benack III.
Guest: Emmet Cohen.
This conversation was recorded on the Journey of Jazz cruise.
The podcast theme music is by Marcus Miller from his song "High Life" on his album Aphrodesia on Blue Note.
Send us Fan Mail
- Listen to more episodes of Jazz Cruises Conversations on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts. The back catalog contains more than a hundred interviews from past sailings.
- Theme Music: Provided by Marcus Miller from his song "High Life" on his album Afrodeezia on Blue Note.
Show Notes: 107: Wycliffe Gordon with Sean Jones
This episode of Jazz Cruises Conversations, recorded live on the recent Journey of Jazz cruise, features trumpeter and educator Sean Jones interviewing fellow brassman Wycliffe Gordon about his remarkable life and storied career in music. Jones and Gordon share a similar background, both having Georgia roots and musical beginnings in the church and gospel tradition. The candid conversation covers Wycliffe Gordon's formative years, his pivotal experiences playing with Wynton Marsalis, and his successful solo career.
Key Takeaways
- Early Musical Roots: Wycliffe Gordon grew up in rural Georgia, in towns like Westboro and Augusta. His musical exposure at home was classical piano music (Beethoven, Mozart, Schuman, Schubert) played on a reel-to-reel recorder by his father, who studied classical music but performed in churches. Gordon's "musical syntax" is rooted in the music of the church.
- Introduction to Instruments: Although his first calling was drums, which his parents forbade, Gordon was introduced to the trombone in the seventh grade (age 12). His introduction to jazz came around age 13 or 14 from a five-record compilation set called an "anthology of jazz, 10 sides.” He was captivated by the music of Louis Armstrong, particularly the tune "Keyhole Blues.”
- High School Experience: Gordon participated in the McDonald's All-American High School band in the summer of 1984, during his senior year. This experience provided many "firsts," including his first time on an airplane and his first trip to New York. His future wife was also a member of this band.
- Work with Wynton Marsalis: Gordon was the seventh member to join Wynton Marsalis’s Septet. He was later part of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO).
- The Wynton Connection: Wycliffe first met Marsalis during a workshop at Florida A&M, where he impressed Marsalis by creating a spontaneous riff in the call-and-response tradition of the church. Although he was initially sent home after a trial gig for not being ready, he returned after dedicated practice. His first recording with Marsalis was Crescent City Christmas Card in 1989.
- Solo Career and Education: Gordon decided to leave Wynton's band (around 2000) to pursue his own interests, including taking a teaching position at Michigan State. He later started his own record company because a Blue Note executive told him that the "trombone just doesn't sell.”
- Multi-Instrumentalism: Gordon plays all trombones (tenor, bass, alto) and the slide trumpet, noting that the one he likes most is the one he is playing at the time. Sean Jones highlighted that Gordon is also an "amazing trumpet player," citing his tribute album, Hello Pops.
- Education Philosophy: Wycliffe stresses the importance of accountability in his students and the necessity of creating material that makes practicing interesting, especially given the challenges young people face with attention and critical thinking skills. Sean Jones shared a moment during the National Youth Orchestra of Jazz (NYO) program where allowing students to be vulnerable and emotionally expressive created a lasting tradition of connection.
Send us Fan Mail
- Listen to more episodes of Jazz Cruises Conversations on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts. The back catalog contains more than a hundred interviews from past sailings.
- Theme Music: Provided by Marcus Miller from his song "High Life" on his album Afrodeezia on Blue Note.
This episode features a moving and candid listening party session with vocalist Niki Haris, recorded live during the Journey of Jazz cruise. Host Lee Mergner sets the scene as Niki plays and discusses several tracks from her deeply personal and spiritual album, Lift Thine Eyes. Niki reveals the challenging circumstances, including personal loss, her daughter’s diagnosis, and housing struggles, that led her to create this "inspirational record" as a form of self-encouragement and anchoring.
Key Takeaways
- The Album's Inspiration: Niki Haris's album, Lift Thine Eyes, is described as an "inspirational record" or her "latest spiritual release," created before the pandemic. The music served to encourage Niki through personal struggles, including moving to Georgia and facing intrusive questions about her "people" at the bank, her mother's illness, her daughter's diagnosis, and losing her house after returning from a trip to Russia. The album's title references the Bible verse, "I will lift my eyes to the hills from which cometh my help and my help cometh from the Lord".
- Track Spotlights:
- "Optimistic" (first track on the album) is Niki's arrangement, featuring Eric Marienthal (who is the music director for all Jazz Cruises) as the musical director and Trey Mclofflin. The song encouraged her to "keep your head to the sky".
- "It is Well with My Soul" is an arrangement by Mitch Foreman on piano. Niki shares the tragic history of the 1813 song, written by a man who lost his five daughters and home in the Chicago fires.
- "Time After Time" is a cover of the Cyndi Lauper song, chosen because a friend, Cindy Looper, used Niki's music as an opener for her tour. The song's lyrics spoke to Niki's feeling of being alone until a couple (her daughter's pediatrician's parents) stepped in to offer support, reminding her that "the universe is conspiring for your good". Eric Marienthal also played on this track.
- "I Got Lost" is an Irving Berlin song that Niki found spiritual. It features Mitchell Foreman on piano, whom Lee Mergner notes played in Wayne Shorter's electric band.
- "Just Keep Going On" is a song written by Eric Bib (the blues guy), which has a slight southern influence as Niki had moved to Augusta, Georgia.
- The final song played was the Blind Faith song (sung by Steve Winwood and featuring Eric Clapton on guitar) "Can't Find a Way to Live" (referred to as "Blind Faith song," or "In the presence" or "Find a new way to live").
- Family Background: Niki’s father was the great jazz pianist Gene Harris.
- Grandmother's Influence: Niki's paternal grandmother was adopted by a Jewish family in Chicago after her Native American and African-American mother passed away in a brothel in Pinebluff, Arkansas, around 1913. Her grandmother told Niki, "Everybody's my cousin," which is how Niki walks through life.
- Music Career and Housing: Niki worked with pop artists for nearly 20 years, including Madonna. She has a song opening for Cyndi Lauper's final tour, and she performs dance music and other genres, in addition to jazz and gospel. Niki still maintains a home in St. Joseph Benton Harbor, Michigan (where Al Capone used to vacation) and rents out property to golfers in Michigan (near a golf course built by Jack Nicklaus) and in Augusta, Georgia, which she calls "mailbox money"
Send us Fan Mail
- Listen to more episodes of Jazz Cruises Conversations on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts. The back catalog contains more than a hundred interviews from past sailings.
- Theme Music: Provided by Marcus Miller from his song "High Life" on his album Afrodeezia on Blue Note.
Show Notes: 105: John Clayton & Jeff Hamilton with Marcus Miller
This episode of Jazz Cruises Conversations, recorded live on the Journey of Jazz '25 cruise, features an interview conducted by co-host Marcus Miller with John Clayton (bassist/arranger) and Jeff Hamilton (drummer), the longtime co-leaders of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (CHJO). The conversation focused on the formation and 40-year history of their Grammy Award-winning big band, which performed on the cruise and also backed Diana Krall.
- Formation and Longevity: Clayton and Hamilton first discussed starting a big band in 1972 while in college at Indiana University, but officially began the orchestra in 1985. Keeping the band together for 40 years involved delegating tasks: John was responsible for writing the charts and arranging, while Jeff managed the finances and knew which musicians in Los Angeles to call and who would "get along together and played great".
- Musician Selection and Personality: The CHJO intentionally seeks out musicians who bring personality and "gravy" to their playing, rejecting the "clean studio precision" typical of many Los Angeles "reading bands" and "rehearsal bands". John Clayton's arrangements are often written specifically for the personalities of the musicians, much like Duke Ellington did.
- Integration and Inclusivity: The co-leaders were determined to have a "rainbow colored band" and were both vocal about wanting an integrated band, contrasting with the predominantly white or all-white bands historically prevalent in jazz. They continue to be open to musicians regardless of sex or definition, provided they maintain the band’s quality.
- Working with Vocalists: The band has successfully collaborated with singers such as Joe Williams, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Barbara Morrison, and Ernie Andrews. When arranging for a vocalist like Diana Krall, John Clayton writes for the individual person.
- Program Selection: The CHJO prioritizes playing music that makes the band happy, rather than catering to audience requests.
- Big Band Challenges: The challenges for big bands have changed over the decades. Unlike the past where touring was common via bus, big bands now rely on opportunities like music series in concert halls across the US and may fly to do single concerts.
- Drummer's Role: Jeff Hamilton (the drummer) adheres to the philosophy of Mel Lewis that a musician should not change their style for the group but rather "serve the music" and invite others into their beat. John Clayton praised Jeff's ability to achieve a sound that is "not loud but it's full," allowing the music to reach all parts of the bandstand without monitors.
- Arranging Style: To keep his compositions contemporary and avoid being in a "rut," John Clayton actively seeks out different resources to expand his writing vocabulary, colors, and ideas. The CHJO's arrangements include John's unique sound, or "gravy," often written with specific musicians in mind, like Mel Lewis's loose relaxation or Oscar Brashear's personality.
- Mentorship and Education: Both Clayton and Hamilton actively teach and share their knowledge. John Clayton received guidance from Ray Brown when he was 16, who instilled the responsibility of "passing it on" to others. Jeff Hamilton noted that they had a CHJO youth orchestra for about three years in Los Angeles and have mentored many successful musicians, including Diana Krall, Sullivan Fortner and Benny Benack III, who were also on the cruise.
Send us Fan Mail
- Listen to more episodes of Jazz Cruises Conversations on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts. The back catalog contains more than a hundred interviews from past sailings.
- Theme Music: Provided by Marcus Miller from his song "High Life" on his album Afrodeezia on Blue Note.
This episode captures a coffee talk session from the recent Journey of Jazz Cruise, where host Lee Mergner interviews the great pianist Sullivan Fortner ("Sully"). Since Fortner does not enjoy talking about himself, the interview uses prompts featuring names of influential people in his life. Fortner, an adept mimic and great storyteller, shared profound lessons from his mentors and even played the piano for the audience in the mode of Oscar Peterson.
Key Takeaways
- Musical Beginnings: Fortner's mother was his first music teacher. He and his two younger sisters were "weaned on gospel music" and learned ear training by singing in three-part harmony. His father, who played trumpet in high school, taught him about responsibility.
- A Stern Mentor: Fortner attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). During a lesson with Ellis Marsalis, after playing "Lush Life" and making a mistake, Marsalis retrieved the sheet music, threw the chart in his face, and asked, "Any questions," ending the lesson.
- The Oberlin Shift: Fortner studied at Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio. He describes the food as a "culture shock" but the experience as the best thing he could have done, as he "wasn't ready for place like New York". He had to "pretty much relearn how to play the piano" in Ohio. His teacher, Dan Wall, was his "musical father".
- Learning from Masters:
- Jason Moran instructed him to focus on stride, boogie woogie, rag time, and solo piano, rather than the more common influences of Herbie Hancock or Keith Jarrett.
- Barry Harris's workshop, which he attended every Tuesday, was held in the Baroness Pannonica's old house. Fortner recounts the story of receiving his first and only 30-minute lesson from Harris after playing a Thelonious Monk tune on Thelonious Monk's piano (which Harris refused to touch).
- Seven Years with Roy Hargrove: Fortner spent seven years in Roy Hargrove's band, describing the experience as a "doctor's diploma and road chops". He witnessed Hargrove's dedication despite intense physical struggles, including an incident in Italy where a "geyser of blood" shot out of Hargrove's arm during a gig, yet Roy continued to play.
- Vocal Collaborations: He met Samara Joy as a scared freshman at Barry Harris's class and contributed to her Grammy-winning holiday album. He has played with Cécile McLorin Salvant for 10 years. Salvant's repertoire is wide, including music from 500 BC and songs sung in five languages. He described Dee Dee Bridgewater as "fearless" and a "triple quadruple threat".
- The Oscar Peterson Challenge: Fortner participated in a tour playing Oscar Peterson's music with John Clayton and Jeff Hamilton, noting that Oscar's playing was "demanding," "relentless," and "very complicated and complex".
- Awards and Albums: Fortner's albums include the Grammy-nominated Solo Game (the one with the upside-down cover) and Southern Nights. He recently received the inaugural Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award ($300,000 over four years).
Host and Guest Information
Guest | Sullivan Fortner | Pianist, Grammy-nominated artist, recent recipient of the Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award. Named Peter Martin (founder of Open Studio) as his first piano teacher.
Interviewer/Host | Lee Mergner | Host of Jazz Cruises Conversations.
Collaborators Mentioned | Roy Hargrove | Fortner spent seven years in his band.
| Cécile McLorin Salvant | Fortner has worked with her for 10 years.
| Dee Dee Bridgewater
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- Theme Music: Provided by Marcus Miller from his song "High Life" on his album Afrodeezia on Blue Note.
This conversation came from the recent Journey of Jazz cruise on the West Coast. The co-host of that cruise, Marcus Miller, interviewed the charismatic and expressive Dee Dee Bridgewater, who shared stories from her remarkable career of more than five decades. Dee Dee talked about how she approaches singing a song, about her love for Nancy Wilson, about living in Paris for many years, about her unique connection to Josephine Baker, about the career of her daughter China Moses, about working with Thad Jones, and finally, about the mentoring organization for women that she ran called the Woodshed Network. If there is a theme throughout the interview, it’s about facing challenges and overcoming adversity.
This freewheeling conversation between two longtime friends, bassist Marcus Miller and comedian Alonzo Bodden, took place on the Journey of Jazz cruise that sailed from Vancouver to Los Angeles with stops in Victoria, BC and San Francisco. The two decided to interview each other, with Alonzo asking Marcus about music and Marcus asking Alonzo about comedy.
This interview with guitarist Dan Wilson by his friend and mentor Christian McBride was taped during The Jazz Cruise for broadcast on the radio show “The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian” on SiriusXM’s Real Jazz channel. This LEARN session covers their joint history, as well as Dan’s early musical development, playing in church. In keeping with the format of Christian’s show, the two also play some improvised music together.
This conversation was recorded during The Jazz Cruise earlier this year, and it featured a conversation between two of our longtime favorite performers – vocalist Catherine Russell and guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli, with Catherine taking on the interviewer role. For the last few years, John and Catherine have been performing together in a project they call 'Billie and Blue Eyes,' spotlighting the music of Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra. John talked about coming up in the jazz and music world and hanging (and playing) with legends like Benny Goodman, Les Paul, Joe Venuti, Zoot Sims, Slam Stewart, Clark Terry, George Shearing, and of course, his father Bucky. Plus, John shared some stories about working with pop icons James Taylor and Paul McCartney.
This conversation was recorded during The Jazz Cruise '24 and it features an interview with multi-instrumentalist James Morrison, who talked with the cruise's music director Eric Marienthal about the challenges of playing multiple instruments at a high level. James also discusses his experiences as an airplane pilot, who does in fact fly himself and his bandmembers to many of his gigs.
This conversation with saxophonist Mindi Abair, hosted by Talaya of "Watercolors" on SiriusXM, was recorded on the second week of The Smooth Jazz Cruise earlier this year. The two talked about Mindi's storied career and her interests off the bandstand.
In this conversation recorded during Botti at Sea '24, as part of the Jazz on Film series hosted by Lee Mergner, we showed a bit of Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, Stanley Nelson’s 2019 documentary about the great trumpeter. To talk about Miles’ life and legacy, we asked another great trumpeter, Randy Brecker, who has always been a marvelous story teller. Perhaps no other artist lends themself more to stories than Miles Davis. Randy not only put Miles' singular influence in perspective, but shared some of his personal encounters with Miles, including their exchange about who discovered the wah wah peddle first.
This conversation was recorded on The Jazz Cruise earlier this year and it featured a talk with Jazzmeia Horn and Cyrille Aimee, moderated by fellow vocalist Catherine Russell, who is also one of the hosts of The Jazz Cruise. The two talked about their unique musical roots – Jazzmeia’s in gospel and Cyrille’s in French gypsy music and how they first got into jazz. They also share their creative process for recording and composing. And there’s lots more, including questions from our discerning guests.
This conversation with three of our artists was recorded on the first sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise earlier this year. It features a talk with Rick Braun, Richard Elliot and Peter White, moderated by one of our hosts, Talaya from Sirius XM. The three old friends talked about the first time they met, mostly going back to the 80s, when fusion was at its peak and Smooth Jazz was just emerging as a genre. Then, Rick talked about working with Sade, Peter explained why almost every British band sings with an American accent, and Richard recalled his formative time with Tower of Power. But there’s lot’s more in this very engaging and often funny conversation.
As part of the Jazz on Film series on Botti at Sea '24, host Lee Mergner showed a bit of the documentary "Still Bill" about Bill Withers. Jose James, who paid tribute to Bill with his album "Lean on Me," then talked with Lee about the great singer-songwriter's music, life and legacy.
This conversation recorded on the Jazz Cruise earlier this year is from one of our LEARN sessions held during the day. James Morrison interviewed fellow trumpeters Bria Skonberg and Benny Benack the third. They talk plenty of brass of course, but also about how they balance playing and singing. And the two talk about how their own style and sound evolved. Finally, they take a bunch of interesting questions from the audience.
In this episode, two of our longtime cruise hosts and headliners—Alonzo Bodden and Marcus Miller—talk music, comedy and life in a free-wheeling and entertaining conversation recorded on The Smooth Jazz Cruise. Although Alonzo kicks it off as the interviewer, in reality any session with these two longtime friends is bound to go back and forth, with one turning the tables on the other, and with a healthy dose of good-spirited razzing along the way.
This conversation was recorded on the inaugural sailing of Botti at Sea in 2024 and it featured an interview with the great vocalist Samara Joy, as part of the Jazz on Film series Lee Mergner hosted that week. Samara talked in depth about Sarah’s incredible legacy and about her own evolution as a jazz singer in this candid conversation.
This conversation was recorded during the most recent sailing of The Jazz Cruise and it featured an interview of NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron by our artistic director Shelly Berg. Kenny talked with Shelly about his early formative years growing up in Philadelphia, as well as about lessons learned from playing with jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Yusef Lateef, Charle Haden and Stan Getz. Kenny and Shelly also geek out about both the piano and teaching piano.
This conversation with vocalist Jeffrey Osborne was recorded during a recent sailing of The Smooth Jazz Cruise. Jeffrey talked with Marcus Miller about his rigorous health regimen and about his early years as a vocalist and his time with LTD, which started as a back up band for Sam and Dave. Did you know that Jeffrey actually started out as a drummer? With the O’Jays, no less. You’ll learn even more interesting aspects about Jeffrey’s music and career during this fascinating talk. Oh, and a fellow vocalist makes a late but funny cameo appearance during the interview.
This conversation was recorded during the most recent sailing of The Jazz Cruise and it featured an interview with two longtime friends and colleagues—Paquito D’Rivera and Chucho Valdes. Going back to their native land of Cuba, Paquito played in Irakere, a band founded in 1973 by Chucho who led that band for more than four decades. The two recently reunited for an album called I Missed You Too as well as for a tour with their sextet. The Jazz Cruise All-Star James Morrison handled the moderator duties in this very animated conversation filled with wit and wisdom.
This conversation was recorded on the inaugural sailing of Botti at Sea and it featured an interview with the great vocalist Gregory Porter by Lee Mergner, as part of the Jazz on Film series he hosted that week. This episode is about the legendary Nat King Cole. Most people know about Gregory’s professional affinity for Nat and his music, but may not know just how personal that affinity is. He explains his deep love for Nat and even sings a few tunes that make that connection clear.
In this conversation recorded on The Smooth Jazz Cruise 24.1, saxophonist Mindi Abair talks with cruise host Talaya from SiriusXM. . Mindi talked about collaborating with other artists on The Smooth Jazz Cruise. And about breaking into the music business when she first moved to LA where she was discovered by Bobby Lyle. She also reflects on partnering with guitarist Randy Jacobs in the band The Boneshakers. And of course she discusses her wine and jazz adventures.
In this one-on-one conversation from Botti at Sea earlier this year, Alonzo Bodden, our longtime comedian in residence, sat down with Keb' Mo' to talk about his storied career in music. And that career has truly been storied, starting with the fact that Keb' released his first album way back when, billed by his given name of Kevin Moore. Of course, that became grist for material for our friend Alonzo.
Make no mistake, Keb' is a humble yet gifted guitarist, singer and songwriter. Someone who has earned every bit of his remarkable success.
As is often the case, the audience got into the act at the end with informed questions and comments.
In this conversation from The Jazz Cruise '24, Catherine Russell interviewed pianist Renee Rosnes about her upbringing in Canada as a student of classical music who was introduced to jazz by an important mentor. Renee also reflected on working with jazz legends like Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson and James Moody. She also talked about her own music as a longtime bandleader and her very special collaborations with her husband, fellow pianist Bill Charlap. And, of course, about Artemis, the super group she founded that performed on the cruise.
In this interview from Blue Note at Sea '23, noted record producer Don Was spoke with the great percussionist and bandleader Sheila E. Sheila talked with Don about her unique musical relationship with her father Pete Escovedo and her brothers. She shared stories of working with legendary artists such as Ringo Starr, Marvin Gaye, George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Michael Jackson and Prince. She also explained the mission for her Elevate Oakland community organization. And she told us about her practice regimen.
This episode features a very special interview with jazz icon Wynton Marsalis by his old friend Christian McBride from The Jazz Cruise earlier this year. The two have a long history going back to 1984 when Christian was a 14-year-old bassist in Philadelphia and Wynton took him under his wing. He even assured Christian’s mother that we would watch over Christian when he moved to NYC a few years later. Given their relationship and how they both became mentors to so many musicians across multiple generations, it should come as no surprise that the theme of their conversation here was about mentorship and inspiration. Wynton discussed his unique relationship with the late jazz writer and provocateur Stanley Crouch and with Betty Carter, as well as his connection to so many greats, not only in jazz, but in Black American culture, like Ralph Ellison, August Wilson and Albert Murray.
Christian also gave Wynton a three-song Blindfold Test, featuring trumpeters. You can guess how that went. The two also played a couple of duets. But throughout their talk, it’s the stories about their elders that resonated.
This episode features an interview with keyboardist/trombonist/bandleader Brian Culbertson by Talaya from The Smooth Jazz Cruise in 2023. Brian talks about recording his first album in his apartment when he was in college at DePaul in Chicago. He also explained how he came to develop his streaming show The Hang and how he recorded numerous albums during the pandemic. Along the way, Brian shares his creative process for writing, arranging and producing.
In this conversation recorded during Blue Note at Sea '23, saxophonist David Sanborn talks with his old friend and colleague Marcus Miller about his storied life and career in music.
In this conversation from Blue Note at Sea '23, host Don Was interviews Christian McBride about his practice regimen for the bass, his early years growing up in Philadelphia, his love of James Brown and how he handles his many roles as a musician, composer, bandleader, radio host and educator.
This episode recorded on The Smooth Jazz Cruise features an interview with saxophonist Candy Dulfer by one of our hosts Talaya. Candy talked about her very musical upbringing in the Netherlands with her father Hans, a noted jazz saxophonist, as well as her own unique journey, crossing paths and collaborating with Dave Stewart, Prince and Van Morrison, and establishing herself as a solo artist.
This episode features a true 1:1 conversation between two old friends, comedian Alonzo Bodden and bassist/bandleader/composer Marcus Miller. Recorded on Blue Note at Sea '23, the two talked about music and comedy and everything in between.
In this conversation recorded during The Jazz Cruise '23, Shelly Berg interviewed vocal jazz sensation Samara Joy for his "Generation Next" show on SiriusXM's Real Jazz channel.
This week’s episode of the Jazz Cruises Conversations podcast features a very special interview by Marcus Miller with Michael McDonald, recorded on The Smooth Jazz Cruise earlier this year.
Marcus talked with Michael about his long and storied career, which started out in St. Louis, playing and singing in local cover bands. The rest is history, which you’ll hear about in this engaging and entertaining talk. How about this little fact? Michael’s local young band backed Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry back in the day. And he explains the origin of the band name The Doobie Brothers. And Michael tells how he came to duet famously with Patti LaBelle on their smash hit “On My Own.” And now they’re doing a cruise together, the McDonald Labelle Cruise with us April 10-13 to Nassau in the Bahamas.
In this one-on-one conversation from Blue Note at Sea earlier this year, Christian McBride interviewed Chris Botti for an episode of his Sirius XM radio show “The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian.” Chris talked about the rewards and challenges of his long-running residency at the Blue Note in New York City. The two also talked about Chris’ beginnings in Portland, Oregon, as well as the impact of the music program at the University of Indiana. Chris explained why the trumpet is such a difficult instrument to master. He talked about the impact of working with Paul Simon and Sting. And he even told a Frank Sinatra story. Finally, Christian gave Chris a little Blindfold Test with three trumpeters.
In this episode of the newly renamed Jazz Cruises Conversations podcast, pianists Renee Rosnes and Billy Childs talked with host LeRoy Downs about their common history and inspirations.
This conversation from Blue Note at Sea '23 featured the acclaimed singer and songwriter Cecile McLorin Salvant, who was interviewed by David SanbornThe two talked about Cecile’s passion and gift for the visual arts, and they dug very deep on her recent album Ghost Song, which he clearly listened to a lot. And they got into Cecile’s multi-genre project Ogress and her latest album Melusine. Throughout it all, Cecile candidly deconstructs her unique creative process.
Sullivan Fortner sits down with fellow pianist Emmet Cohen to talk about coming from New Orleans to New York City and his emergence on the jazz scene. Sullivan and Emmet talk about the various piano competitions they entered together. Sullivan also discusses his musical relationship with vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant. And he shows Emmet some of his practice regimen on the piano.
In this episode from our live conversation series on Facebook and YouTube, the noted pianist Monty Alexander talks with bassist and former bandmate John Clayton about his storied life in music. It’s a reunion of sorts because back in the mid-70s, Monty led a trio with John and drummer Jeff Hamilton. The three road warriors performed about 300 days a year and recording two albums including the seminal "Montreux Alexander ’76." Monty reminisces about growing up in Jamaica and learning from people like Ray Brown and Oscar Peterson. We also surprised Monty with a special guest who dropped into the conversation for the last 15 minutes. This episode was sponsored by Vail Jazz.
In this Before & After listening session, co-presented on Zoom with JazzTimes, Ken Peplowski plays a dozen tunes for his friend and colleague John Clayton, who shows off his very acute ears. Besides going deep on the cuts, the two talk about a wide range of topics, including the nuance of the beat, the dangers of the metronome, and why fake books hurt rather than help young musicians.
In a recent conversation streamed online, bass trombonist Jennifer Wharton interviewed trumpeter and singer Bria Skonberg about her life in music. The two discussed everything from choosing the right mutes to balancing the professional demands of playing music with the personal demands of family life.
This singer-on-singer chat was streamed live at part of Jazz Cruise Conversations Live series on social media. Niki Haris talked with fellow vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway about her colorful and unique career from singing and touring with Madonna to performing jazz at festivals and venues all over the world. Niki also talks about growing up as the daughter of legendary jazz pianist Gene Harris. And the two share memories of their time together on The Jazz Cruise.
Paquito D’Rivera spoke with fellow clarinetist (and saxophonist) Ken Peplowski in this chat that was streamed live on Facebook and YouTube. The two voluble favorites of The Jazz Cruise talk clarinet of course, but they also discuss Paquito growing up in Cuba, his introduction to music and jazz, his affinity for Brazilian music and his long musical relationship with trumpeter Claudio Roditit, who passed away recently.
Bassist/bandleader/composer/radio host/educator/artistic director Christian McBride talks with comedian Alonzo Bodden about social issues, sports, comedy, jazz and of course, the bass. We also surprise Christian with some special guests who show up about 45 minutes in and who kept the conversation going for another half hour.
The multi-faceted bassist AND singer Nicki Parrott talks with fellow bassist John Clayton about growing up in Australia and about how and why she took up the bass. The two share their memories of Ray Brown, a mentor to John and a big influence on Nicki. They also discuss their common appreciation for cooking and Nicki shares a short clip from her well-produced web series Chez Nicki Jams, in which she shares a favorite recipe and performs a short number while the dish cooks.
The virtuoso trombonist Wycliffe Gordon talks with Sirius XM radio host Eulis Cathey about his long and storied career, which began in Augusta, Georgia. Wycliffe explains the impact of playing music in the church there in Augusta. He also discusses his introduction to jazz, as well as the far-reaching influence of his mentor, Wynton Marsalis.
Noted trumpeter and educator Terell Stafford talks with Sirius XM radio host Eulis Cathey about his background as a classical musicians and how he made the transition to become an accomplished and influential jazz musician. Terell talks about some of his mentors and also about what he tries to teach his students in his role as head of the music department (including classical and jazz) at Temple University.
Ann Hampton Callaway talks with fellow singer and songwriter Kurt Elling about growing up in Chicago and she shares insight into her creative process for choosing and writing songs. The two talk about the legacy of Freddy Cole whom they both got to know well during sailings of The Jazz Cruise over the years. Ann even performs a song in memory of their old friend Freddy.
Jazz drum great Jeff Hamilton talks with his longtime friend and colleague Ken Peplowski about his life's journey in music, including how he got started on drums, his work with legends like Ray Brown and Oscar Peterson, and leading his own groups, such as his two trios and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.
In this edition of Jazz Cruise Conversations Live, the noted organist (and multi-instrumentalist) Joey DeFrancesco talks with comedian Alonzo Bodden about his lifelong love of the Hammond B-3, as well as about how he was "discovered" by Miles Davis with whom he would play when he was a teenager.
Legendary trumpeter Randy Brecker and saxophonist Ada Rovatti talked with their friend and colleague Eric Marienthal about how they've balance their marriage and their music. They also discuss the legacy of the Brecker Brothers and how they've strived to keep that music alive.
Guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli sits down in a virtual chat online with his friend Ken Peplowski to talk about the legacy of John's father, Bucky Pizzarelli, the session guitarist, jazz player and bigger than life personality.
This conversation with the noted bassist/arranger/bandleader John Clayton was streamed live to thousands of jazz fans. Comedian Alonzo Bodden handled the moderator duties and talked with John about the impact of various mentors in his life, including Ray Brown, Count Basie and Monty Alexander. John also explained what it's like to lead and conduct a big band or orchestra.
Jazz vocal great Kurt Elling sits down for a virtual chat and play with pianist Shelly Berg and they discuss Kurt’s most recent recording, playing with the Branford Marsalis Quartet, moving back to his hometown Chicago and their mutual appreciation for Al Jarreau.
This conversation with saxophonists Mindi Abair and Eric Marienthal took place online last week. Eric, who is the music director for The Smooth Jazz Cruise, interviewed Mindi about her unique and remarkable career—from studying at Berklee to playing in the band on “American Idol” to touring with Aerosmith and to her own successful run as a recording artist and bandleader.
Oscar Peterson's widow and the executor of his estate Kelly Peterson is joined by pianist Benny Green and radio host Dick Golden for a discussion of Peterson's legacy in jazz history. The conversation was recorded on The Jazz Cruise '20 during which Green performed with his trio. This episode is sponsored by SiriusXM's Real Jazz channel.
The singer and songwriter Melody Gardot talks with Mark Ruffin from SiriusXM about growing up in the Philadelphia music scene, about her long recovery from a nearly fatal bike accident and how living in Paris has inspired her personally and creatively. This episode is sponsored by the Monterey Jazz Festival.
The noted jazz and pop vocalist Catherine Russell talks with Eulis Cathey from SiriusXM about her evolution as a singer in this conversation from The Jazz Cruise ’20. Catherine has had a unique double career both as an accomplished backing singer for pop stars and as a leader of her own performing jazz at clubs, theaters and festivals all over the world. This episode is sponsored by SiriusXM’s Real Jazz channel.
In this interview from Blue Note at Sea ’20, saxophonist David Sanborn talks with our comedian-in-residence Alonzo Bodden about his life and music – from his childhood growing up in St. Louis to his time as the first-call sax soloist on pop records to his career playing his unique brand of soul jazz. He even shares his feelings about the term Smooth Jazz. This episode is sponsored by Berks Jazz Fest.
Organist and bandleader Joey DeFrancesco talks with SiriusXM host Mark Ruffin in an interview from Blue Note at Sea '20. DeFrancesco talks about growing up in Philadelphia, how he met and worked with Miles Davis and his lifelong love affair with jazz organ. This podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
The legendary pianist Ramsey Lewis turned 85 last week, and although he had retired from touring, he did make the trip to Ft. Lauderdale to sail and perform on The Smooth Jazz Cruise in 2020. Ramsey sat down with bassist and cruise host Marcus Miller to talk about his storied career, from his early years recording jazz hits with his trio to his later years as a radio and TV broadcaster. This episode is sponsored by Sirius XM's Watercolors channel.
Two of Dave Brubeck’s sons, Chris and Dan, sat down with Sirius XM host Eulis Cathey during The Jazz Cruise in 2020 to discuss their father’s legacy in jazz and American culture. Chris and Dan lead the Brubeck Brothers Quartet who performed on the cruise. This year marks the centennial of Dave Brubeck's birth. This episode is sponsored by SiriusXM. The podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
In this freewheeling conversation Alonzo Bodden, comedian-in-residence for The Smooth Jazz Cruise, interviews his friend, the bassist and bandleader Marcus Miller about everything from what instruments he plays to how he almost replaced Jaco Pastorius in Weather Report. This episode is sponsored by the Blue Note Jazz Clubs. The podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
In this conversation from The Jazz Cruise in 2021, organist Joey DeFrancesco interviews his friend and bandmate—the legendary jazz drummer Billy Hart—about his long and illustrious career. Billy talks about growing up in Washington, DC and the influence of some of the elder jazz drummers. Naturally, they had to talk about Billy’s stint with the legendary organist Jimmy Smith. Billy is truly a drummer’s drummer and so the audience for this session was filled with just about every other drummer from the Cruise. This episode is sponsored by SiriusXM. The podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
In this conversation from Blue Note at Sea ’20, Kamasi Washington talks with fellow saxophonist David Sanborn about growing up in South Central LA and how the jazz and music community there shaped him as an artist. Kamasi also discusses the influence of his father, saxophonist Ricky Washington, who still plays with his son today. This episode is sponsored by SiriusXM. The podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
In a conversation recorded during The Smooth Jazz Cruise in 2020, the guitarist Peter White talks with fellow musician, trumpeter Rick Braun, about his early years playing with the singer-songwriter Al Stewart and how that experience changed his life and career. Peter explains how he found his own voice on his instrument and why that was so important. He also plays a little and takes question from the audience. This episode is sponsored by SiriusXM. The podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
The Cuban jazz trumpeter, pianist and sometime vocalist Arturo Sandoval talks with pianist and The Jazz Cruise music director Shelly Berg about his work composing music for films, his affinity for beautiful melodies and the dearth of jazz on television. The two play a few songs together as well. This episode is sponsored by SiriusXM. The podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
Singer and songwriter Gregory Porter sat down with veteran producer and Blue Note Records president Don Was during Blue Note at Sea. The two talked about Gregory’s evolution as a recording artist and performer. And they previewed cuts from his upcoming album “All Rise” which is now scheduled for release in late August. This episode is sponsored by SiriusXM. The podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
In this conversation taken from the Smooth Jazz Cruise in 2020, Jeff Lorber, Paul Jackson, Jr. and Everette Harp - three of the most prominent figures in the genre – talk with Eric Marienthal about their affinity for jazz fusion, funk and soul, as well as about their common experiences, as both leaders and sidemen. This episode is sponsored by the Berks Jazz Fest. The podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
The Grammy Award-winning vocalist sat down with bassist and arranger John Clayton during The Jazz Cruise in 2020 to talk about growing up in a diverse musical household and how her family shaped her musical vision. This episode is sponsored by SFJAZZ. The podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
Bassist and bandleader Christian McBride talked with Mark Ruffin in a taping of “The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian” show that Christian hosts on SiriusXM. In this conversation from Blue Note at Sea ’20, Christian and Mark talk about how they produce the show, and Christian discusses his roots in Philadelphia and his lifelong love of sports. And he tells stories about his relationship with Lou Donaldson and James Brown. This episode is sponsored by SiriusXM. The podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
Guitarist and vocalist Jonathan Butler sat down with Marcus Miller during The Smooth Jazz Cruise to talk about growing up a child star in South Africa and the challenges he faced personally and professionally as a result of Apartheid. And he explains his special relationship with Nelson Mandela. This episode, the third in our second season, is sponsored by the Real Jazz Channel on Sirius XM. The podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
The dynamic and creative jazz vocalist Kurt Elling talks with Eulis Cathey of SiriusXM about his early years in Chicago finding his own voice and career path. In this conversation recorded on The Jazz Cruise in 2020 the Grammy award-winning singer discusses the impact of some of his mentors in Chicago, including saxophone great Von Freeman. This episode, the second of our second season, is sponsored by the Sarasota Jazz Festival. The podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
In this interview recorded at the Blue Note at Sea tent at the Monterey Jazz Festival, trumpeter Chris Botti sits down with Don Was of Blue Note Records to talk about growing up in the Pacific Northwest and his evolution as a musician and performer. This episode is the first of our second season and is sponsored by Monterey Jazz Festival. The podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
One of the most popular tours on the jazz circuit in 2019 was the Double Vision Revisited with Bob James and David Sanborn, along with Marcus Miller, performing the songs from the 1986 album Double Vision. The three sat down with musician, producer and Blue Note Records exec Don Was for a conversation in the Blue Note at Sea tent at the Monterey Jazz Festival in September 2019. The three talk about their early breaks and experiences navigating through the music business and about how the album came about and about how it inadvertently created a genre of music – Smooth Jazz. This episode is sponsored by Blue Note Records. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
Legendary Cuban jazz pianist Chucho Valdes talks with Eulis Cathey from SiriusXM about growing up in Cuba in a very musical family including his father – pianist Bebo Valdes. In this interview from the Jazz Cruise in 2019, Chucho also discusses his band Irakere, the Havana Jazz Festival, Dave Brubeck and Roy Hargrove. This episode is sponsored by SFJAZZ. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
In this conversation from Blue Note at Sea in 2019, Mark Ruffin talks with four drummers and percussionists - Gene Coye, Conor Parks, Marijus Aleksa and Weedie Braimah – about their initial exposure to jazz, what drummers initially inspired them and their lives in music. This episode is sponsored by the Real Jazz channel on SiriusXM. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises
Vocalist Lalah Hathaway talks with one of her early mentors – bassist/bandleader Marcus Miller – in this conversation recorded in front of a live audience in the second of the two sailings of The Smooth Jazz Cruise in 2019. The two old friends talk about Lalah’s early days at Berklee, the importance of collaboration and much more. This episode is sponsored by the Blue Note. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
Don Was talks with pianists Kenny Barron, Gerald Clayton & James Francies in this roundtable discussion taped in the Blue Note Sea tent at the Monterey Jazz Festival. This episode is sponsored by Blue Note Records. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
Michael Lazaroff, executive director of Entertainment Cruise Productions (ECP), sat down with Eric Marienthal and Marcus Miller during the Smooth Jazz Cruise in 2019 to talk about the origins and unique aspects of Blue Note at Sea, which was created by ECP in partnership with Blue Note Records and the Blue Note. Eric serves as the music director and Marcus is one of the three hosts for Blue Note at Sea. This episode is sponsored by the Blue Note. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
Brian Simpson, keyboardist and one of the hosts of the Smooth Jazz Cruise, sat down with fellow musicians to exchange tales of being a working and traveling musician. Among the artists sharing their stories with Brian were Steve Oliver, Jerry Johnson, Nathaniel Kearney, Jr. and Third Richardson. This episode is sponsored by the Exit Zero Jazz Festival. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
In this conversation from The Jazz Cruise ’19, drummer and bandleader Tommy Igoe talks with Sirius XM Real Jazz host Eulis Cathey about growing up in a very musical household. The energetic Tommy tells stories about his drummer/educator father Sonny, who served as a model for his son. Tommy also explains how he came to host a weekly gig at Birdland in NYC and he shares his experiences as the longtime drummer for “The Lion King” on Broadway. This episode is sponsored by SFJAZZ. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
In this roundtable discussion taped on Blue Note at Sea ’19, six of the pianists performing on the cruise – Gerald Clayton, Sullivan Fortner, Ashley Henry, Stu Mindeman, Takeshi Ohbayashi and Brett Williams – sat down with Mark Ruffin of Sirius XM to talk about their entry into playing music, their influences and their creative process. They also discuss how they approach playing with singers and what they’d tell their children about pursuing a life in music. This episode is sponsored by Blue Note Records. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
This interesting 1:1 session was moderated by our comedian-in-residence Alonzo Bodden who interviewed his friend and fellow host for both the Smooth Jazz Cruise and Blue Note at Sea – Marcus Miller. The bassist and bandleader talked with Alonzo about the real chronology of his life, including EXACTLY how old he was when he started playing with Miles Davis. And about how his pork-pie hat became his professional, but not personal, look. And so much more. This episode is sponsored by the Blue Note. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
In this taping of Shelly Berg’s Sirius/XM show “Generation Next,” Shelly sat down with two rising stars in jazz: vocalist Veronica Swift and pianist Emmet Cohen, both of whom he taught at the University of Miami. In this conversation recorded on The Jazz Cruise '19, they talk about and play cuts from their latest albums and also perform an impromptu tune with Shelly. This episode is sponsored by Birdland Jazz. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
This panel from Blue Note at Sea ’19 features four vocalists who performed on the cruise: Cecile McLorin Salvant, Jose James, Kevin Whalum and Kathy Kosins, who share stories about their very different experiences in the jazz and music world. This episode is sponsored by the Monterey Jazz Festival. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
Candy Dulfer moderated this conversation with Lalah Hathaway, Lindsey Webster, Nadira Kimberly Scruggs and Honey LaRochelle about a range of topics, including how they got into music and jazz, as well as about their advice for young women entering the music business. They also addressed the issue of women being stereotyped as vocalists rather than instrumentalists in the world of jazz. Plus, they talked about a topic rarely discussed at any other panel. This episode is sponsored by the Detroit Jazz Festival. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
Vocalist Mary Stallings sat down with author and radio host Dick Golden to talk about her storied career, including her early experiences touring with Count Basie, performing with Dizzy Gillespie and hanging with Billy Eckstine. Stallings, who celebrated her 80th birthday this week, had a long hiatus from full-time singing while she raised her daughter, but has been releasing acclaimed albums since 1990. This episode is sponsored by Sirius/XM. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
Six keyboardists from Blue Note at Sea ’19 sat down with Robert Glasper to talk about their beginnings, influences and current direction. You get to hear from Geoffrey Keezer, Sullivan Fortner, Terrace Martin, Taylor McFerrin, Lawrence Fields and Kandace Springs. Plus, Robert who sits in as part of the all keyboard "band" on this one. This episode is sponsored by the Detroit Jazz Festival. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
A remarkable roundtable discussion with five stellar guitarists who performed on the Smooth Jazz Cruise in 2019: Lee Ritenour, Raul Midon, Jonathan Butler, Nick Colionne and Steve Oliver. Marcus Miller moderated this fascinating conversation about the instrument and the music. Plus, the five jam and create at least one tune on the spot together, prodded by Marcus of course. This episode is sponsored by Jazz House Kids and the Montclair Jazz Festival. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
In this taping of Shelly Berg’s Sirius/XM show “Generation Next” in front of a live audience during the Jazz Cruise '19, Shelly sat down with piano phenom Joey Alexander for a fascination conversation that includes some live performances by Joey and closes with a duet by the two. In between, they discuss Joey’s unusual journey to jazz stardom before he’s able to legally drive. This episode is sponsored by SFJAZZ. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
In this roundtable discussion from Blue Note at Sea ’19, Marcus Miller talks with fellow bassists Vicente Archer, Luques Curtis, Derrick Hodge and David Mrakpor. The five musicians talk about the unique qualities of bassists, as well as the special role of the bassist in the band. They also recommend their favorite rhythm sections in jazz and music. This episode is sponsored by San Jose Jazz. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
The daughter of the influential soul and R&B singer Donny Hathaway, Lalah Hathaway has made her own way through a long career as one of the more accomplished vocalists of her generation, eventually earning five Grammy awards and recording with everyone from Joe Sample to Snarky Puppy. During one of the two sailings of the Smooth Jazz Cruise, Lalah sat for a 1:1 conversation with Marcus Miller who was one of her earliest mentors. They talk about the influence of her father, her education at Berklee and her growth as a singer. This episode is sponsored by the Newport Jazz Festival. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
Over the last few years, Renee Rosnes has become a regular performer on The Jazz Cruise, playing with her trio or with a quartet or even solo. She’s recorded nearly two dozen albums as a leader and also played in the bands of jazz greats such as Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Hutcherson, James Moody and Ron Carter. A founding member of the SFJAZZ Collective, more recently she’s been the music director for the all-women band Artemis. During the Jazz Cruise earlier this year Renee sat down for a fascinating one-on-one conversation with Sirius/XM host Eulis Cathey. In this very interesting discussion, Renee talked about growing up in western Canada, learning to play jazz, getting her first break with Joe Henderson and the unfolding of her own very impressive career. This episode is sponsored by the Birdland Jazz Club in New York City. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
Four vocalists on Blue Note at Sea ’19 - Kurt Elling, Niki Haris, Kandace Springs and Ivan Peroti – sat down with Mark Ruffin of the Real Jazz channel on Sirius/XM in front of a live audience during the cruise. During this lively panel discussion, the four singers talked about their repertoire, their approach to performing and their influences. This episode is sponsored by Sirius/XM. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
Guitarist Lee Ritenour has recorded more than two dozen albums as a leader since his debut “First Course” in 1976, as well as countless recordings as a studio player. A founding member of the contemporary jazz group Fourplay, Ritenour has been nominated for 16 Grammy awards. During one of the two sailings of the Smooth Jazz Cruise ’19 he spoke with Marcus Miller about his life as a first-call studio musician in LA in the 70s and 80s and his transition to becoming a leader of contemporary jazz groups. This episode is sponsored by the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
Coming out of his hometown of Houston as a young singer, Steve Tyrell had an auspicious introduction to the music business as a producer working with Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and as an A&R man with Sceptor Records. He eventually turned to singing full-time and has had several hit albums. His performance of "The Way You Look Tonight" in the film "Father of the Bride" brought him to a wider audience. During the Jazz Cruise '19, Tyrell sat down with jazz author and radio host Dick Golden to talk about his career and his affinity for the Great American Songbook. This episode is sponsored by KKJZ, also known as KJazz.
Panel discussion featuring saxophonists Candy Dulfer and Nubaya Garcia as well as trumpeters Russell Gunn and Marquis Hill, from Blue Note at Sea 2019. This conversation was ably moderated by Sirius XM’s Mark Ruffin and includes an interesting cross-section of players from very different backgrounds. They each talked about their early experiences and exposure to jazz, as well as about their work with artists as diverse as Solange, Prince, Van Morrison and Wynton Marsalis. This episode sponsored by Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
Saxophonist Boney James was initially a reluctant cruiser several years ago, but these days he’s not only a regular artist, but also one of the hosts of the Smooth Jazz Cruise. During one of the two sailings of the Smooth Jazz Cruise, Boney sat down with our comedian in residence (and contemporary jazz aficionado) Alonzo Bodden to talk about how his career developed and grew from being a sideman to a leader. This episode is sponsored by the DC Jazz Festival. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
Clarinetist and saxophonist Ken Peplowski has been an important part of the Jazz Cruise family for many years. Widely considered one of the greatest living jazz clarinetists, the very witty musician has served as programmer, music director and host for the cruise. During the Jazz Cruise 2019, Peplowski sat down with Sirius/XM host Eulis Cathey to talk about his roots in Cleveland and his storied life as a jazz musician. This episode is sponsored by Vail Jazz. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
Michael Cuscuna and Don Was have a lot in common. Both produced Bonnie Raitt, albeit 20 years apart, and more importantly both have played a large part in the legacy of Blue Note Records, with Cuscuna working closely with Bruce Lundvall to produce both new releases and reissues during the 80s and 90s and with Was directing the label as its president since 2012. During Blue Note at Sea, the two sat down with Mark Ruffin at Sirius/XM to talk about their experiences with the label. This episode is sponsored by JazzTimes Magazine. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
Pianist and composer Dave Grusin has had a long and successful career not only as a recording artist and performer but also as a scorer in film and television. Winner of both Grammy and Oscar awards, Grusin has contributed to the scores and soundtracks of more than 100 films and dozens of TV shows. In partnership with the late Larry Rosen, he founded GRP Records, one of the most important record labels in contemporary jazz. During the Smooth Jazz Cruise 2019, Grusin spoke with Marcus Miller about his unique career in music. This episode is sponsored by the Monterey Jazz Festival. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
The dynamic young vocalist Cyrille Aimee wowed audiences of The Jazz Cruise 2019 with sets that mixed Gypsy jazz, mainstream jazz, and even a little beat boxing, as well as material from her latest album of Sondheim songs. She sat down with Eulis Cathey to talk about how moving to New Orleans revitalized and inspired her. This episode is sponsored by Sirius/XM’s Real Jazz channel. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
In this interview from Blue Note at Sea 2019, pianist/keyboardist Robert Glasper talks with Don Was about his creative process and how he seeks new sources of inspiration from contemporary music. Both Glasper and Was are hosts for the cruise which features contemporary jazz. This episode is sponsored by the Blue Note Jazz Clubs. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
During The Jazz Cruise 2019, the pianist Bill Charlap performed multiple times with his longtime trio of Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums. He also played a solo set. During week, he sat down with radio host and author Dick Golden and talked about his work with Tony Bennett as well as his deep appreciation for the Great American Songbook. This episode is sponsored by Birdland Jazz in New York City. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
During Blue Note at Sea 2019, Wynton Marsalis came aboard with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for two special sets. Before the performances he sat down with Blue Note at Sea host Marcus Miller for a conversation about his early years in New Orleans and the long-lasting influence of both of his parents, who were very serious about education. This episode is sponsored by Berks Jazz Festival. The Jazz Cruise Conversations podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions, the worldwide leader in music-themed cruises.
This interview with jazz legend Benny Golson took place in front of a live audience during The Jazz Cruise 2019. The saxophonist and composer turned 90 during the cruise and in this conversation with Sirius/XM’s Eulis Cathey he reminisced about growing up in Philadelphia …how he originally wanted to be a concert pianist…how he picked up the saxophone…his first encounter with a very young John Coltrane…and many other seminal experiences. This episode is sponsored by SFJAZZ. The podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.
In this interview from Blue Note at Sea 2019, bassist/bandleader/composer/producer Marcus Miller talks with comedian Alonzo Bodden about his early years working with Miles Davis and Luther Vandross, his favorite episode of South Park, and why he didn’t play fusion jazz in the 70s. This episode is sponsored by Blue Note Records. The podcast is produced by Entertainment Cruise Productions.