Jazz Cruise Set for November–Guests Include Andy Bey, Regina Carter and More

The Jazz Cruise from Jazz Cruises LLC will have more than 100 musicians and vocalists on board during the eighth annual sailing from Nov. 9-16.

Among the many artists for cruise guests to hear are Grammy-nominated jazz ensemble the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra with vocalists Andy Bey (pictured), Regina Carter and Grammy-nominated Nnenna Freelon.

Other acts on board include trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, pianist Benny Green, hard bop jazz group the Heath Brothers, clarinetist Ken Peplowski, tenor saxophonist Houston Person, the Tom Scott Quintet with pianist Shelly Berg, pianist Johnny O’Neal and Grammy-nominated vocalist Tierney Sutton.

“The Jazz Cruise is defined, first and foremost, by its music,” says cruise founder Anita Berry in a press release. “Every year we have brought our guests the finest musicians, vocalists and performers in the world of straight ahead jazz.”

Berry began the Jazz Cruise in 2001. Since then, Jazz Cruises LLC has grown to be a leader in music cruises worldwide, with three other annual luxury cruises devoted to jazz.

“Other than the time we are in port, virtually every hour is filled with music and related activities,” she continued. “Like jazz, the mood is laid back, with no tickets, no lining up for seats and no identification cards. Musical ‘grazing’ is encouraged and some evenings there is music in four or five venues at a time.”

Guests have the opportunity to meet musicians in personal discussion groups entitled “Conversation with the Stars.”

This fall, the Jazz Cruise on the Holland America MS Westerdam departs from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with stops in four Caribbean ports: Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Belize.

Prices range from $1,600 to $7,500, according to the Web site. More information is available at JazzCruise.com.

Originally Published August 4, 2008