Jazz Cruises Conversations

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 b...

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 Entert...

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. Send us Fan Mail Listen to more episodes of Jazz Cruises Conversations on Spotify, iTun...

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 re...

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...

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 sponsor...

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 ab...

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 pr...

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 Entertainm...

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 C...

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. Send us Fan Mail Listen to more episodes of Jaz...

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 a...

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 pro...

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...

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...

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...

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 episo...

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 wor...

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...

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 sinc...

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 F...

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 spons...

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 legal...

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....