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Jazz Cruises Conversations — Music
Jazz Cruises Conversations

Jazz Cruises Conversations invites you to escape to the high seas for the most intimate and candid conversations in music. Go beyond the stage for full-length interviews with the biggest names in jazz and smooth jazz, recorded live on the world’s premier floating music festivals.

Guided by veteran host Lee Mergner (and other musicians, comedians, and on-board talent), hear legends open up about their careers, creative process, and lives on the road, all recorded exclusively on sailings of The Jazz Cruise, Blue Note at Sea, Botti at Sea, and The Smooth Jazz Cruise. Mergner and his crew’s knowledgeable perspectives ensure these aren’t just chats—they are engaging, entertaining, and truly informative deep dives into the music.

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Signature Cruise Experiences is the Gold Standard for Charter Theme Cruises since 2001. In that time, we have produced over 100 full ship theme charters, most of which featured a significant music theme and top performers.

Our goal has been to present the very best musicians possible and do so with authenticity and professionalism. Our music venues are the best at sea and our sound production is Performing Art Center quality. Nothing but the best for our talent which translates to the very best for our guests.

Latest Episodes:

#90: Kenny Barron with Shelly Berg Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

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.

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 Aphrodesia on Blue Note.

#89: Jeffrey Osborne with Marcus Miller Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

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.

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 Aphrodesia on Blue Note.

#88: Chucho Valdes & Paquito D'Rivera with James Morrison May 05, 2024

Show notes

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.

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 Aphrodesia on Blue Note.

#87: Gregory Porter on Nat King Cole (with Lee Mergner) Apr 14, 2024

Show notes

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.

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 Aphrodesia on Blue Note.

#86: Mindi Abair with Talaya Apr 03, 2024

Show notes

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.

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 Aphrodesia on Blue Note.

#85: Keb' Mo' with Alonzo Bodden Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

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.

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 Aphrodesia on Blue Note.

#84: Renee Rosnes with Catherine Russell Mar 13, 2024

Show notes

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.

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 Aphrodesia on Blue Note.

#83: Sheila E with Don Was Nov 12, 2023

Show notes

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.

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 Aphrodesia on Blue Note.

#82: Wynton Marsalis with Christian McBride Oct 29, 2023

Show notes

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.

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 Aphrodesia on Blue Note.

#81: Brian Culbertson with Talaya Oct 15, 2023

Show notes

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.

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 Aphrodesia on Blue Note.

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