Jazz Cruises supports students, children and musicians

Jazz Cruises is very happy to participate in the support of various organizations in our communities. At the core of our charitable work are our three focal points … college education for all, medical care for children and insurance for musicians. Each and every charity that we support and endorse fulfills one or more of those missions and goals.

Over the years, Jazz Cruises has contributed to the BB Jazz Foundation, International Association of Jazz Educators, Wayman Tisdale Foundation, Haiti Relief Fund, The Starlight Foundation, St. Jude’s Hospital, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and other similar charitable causes.

For 2010-11, we are expanding our horizons to include two new charities, both of which appeal to our desire to make higher education available for everyone, and we have set up two endowment funds to benefit musicians in need.

St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation. It was just too exciting to pass up the chance to combine our talents for producing jazz events with raising money for scholarships for needy and deserving students. So when the St. Louis Gateway Classic came calling and asked us to produce a jazz show on the evening before its annual St. Louis Gateway Classic Football Game, we jumped at the opportunity.

This event has been a staple of the St. Louis charitable scene for many, many years. Each year, two historically black colleges meet on a fall Saturday for a football game that attracts 25,000 folks from all over the country. Rich Gray, president of the event and a frequent cruiser on The Smooth Jazz Cruise, decided that he wanted a jazz show on the Friday night before the big game. We put our heads together, and The Night Before Jazz Show was born.

For its inaugural show in St. Louis on September 24, 2010, we will feature one of our very favorite performers, Jonathan Butler, and St. Louis’ own, saxophonist Tim Cunningham. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to www.gatewayclassic.org. Jazz Cruises is so proud to be contributing its time and resources to make this program successful.

Jackie Robinson Foundation. Pat Prescott is the reason that The Jazz Cruise is now a sponsor and contributor to the Jackie Robinson Foundation’s 5^th Anniversary Jazz on the Grass benefit. This Los Angeles-based event will be held on October 2, 2010, with all proceeds going to provide scholarships for needy and deserving children. The event is honoring Pat, who has served as a cruise host, interviewer and so many other roles for Jazz Cruises over the years, for her contribution to the foundation. Though we are not privy to everything that Pat has done for them, suffice it to say that if Pat approached this event with the fervor and dedication that she brings to all her efforts, then we are sure that she has been a godsend to the foundation.

At this time, we are offering a cabin on The Jazz Cruise 2011 for the event, and our hope is that Jazz Cruises will continue to participate for years to come. For anyone interested in attending this wonderful event to honor Pat, and to have a really great time, you can register right here. To learn more about the Jackie Robinson Foundation, visit www.jackierobinson.org.

Jazz Foundation of America Endowments. Establishing a fund to provide resources for medical care for musicians was at the core of some of our work with IAJE over the years. With the demise of IAJE, that program has also been lost. But we have approached the Jazz Foundation of America with regard to the funding of two endowments. First, the Harold Lazaroff Endowment Fund, which will provide retired musicians with the basics of life. Second, the Anita E. Berry Endowment Fund, which provides catastrophic care benefits to working musicians who, by reason of their incapacitation, need assistance.

As many of you know, Harold Lazaroff was the father of Jazz Cruises’ executive director, Michael Lazaroff, and The Jazz Cruise directors Richard and Robert Lazaroff. Harold Lazaroff was an alto saxophonist in his own right and played gigs, largely as an amateur, right up until his death a few years ago.

Anita E. Berry is the mother of the Lazaroff sons, founded The Jazz Cruise 10 years ago after many years promoting the NCL Jazz Cruise and continues today to be the chairperson of Jazz Cruises and The Jazz Cruise. Her contribution to jazz will be recognized by the Los Angeles Jazz Society this fall.

The Jazz Cruise 2011 highlights
George Wein and Anat Cohen

When The Jazz Cruise was fortunate enough to coax George Wein to perform on The Jazz Cruise 2011, we knew that we were securing one of the true legends of jazz. As a combined performer, producer, promoter and impresario of jazz, there is no equal. Not now. Not ever.

Though a truly remarkable jazz pianist, George is known best for his creation of the Newport Jazz Festival and for starting other events, such as the Playboy Jazz Festival and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. He has been called the “most important jazz impresario in the world.” With that moniker, how could anyone really concentrate on his music? The Jazz Cruise 2011 will allow all of us to enjoy the full George Wein. He will perform his beautiful music and will regale us with stories of the past and present jazz world and allow us to gaze into his jazz crystal ball to see the future of our passion.

But, always the promoter and producer, George does not come onto the ship empty-handed! His group is among the very best ever, including The Jazz Cruise Hall-of-Famer bassist Jay Leonhart, drummer Herlin Riley and guitarist Howard Alden. The Jazz Cruise 2011 was particularly excited to see that Clarinetist Anat Cohen will be part of the group as well. For years now, we have wanted to include Anat on the cruise, but it has never worked out. We are sure that you will be as thrilled as we are to see her perform. Recently named the No. 1 clarinetist in the world by Downbeat, Anat is clearly one of the most sought-after performers in the genre.

There is a seabreeze 
in the air

Last month, we announced that The Smooth Jazz Cruise was the new presenting sponsor for the Seabreeze Jazz Festival. Since that time, we have had numerous questions about tickets, lineup, hotel arrangements and other information. So as not to confuse anyone or have mixed messages, from this day going forward, please consult www.seabreezejazzfestival.net for the official word.

At this time, the lineup has not been announced, but Mark and Renee Carter, the owners of the festival, always put together an amazing lineup, so you should feel comfortable in purchasing your tickets and making your reservations now. The Carters believe that in the next month or so the lineup will be announced. It may be sooner or slightly later, but that is the target date. We will be sure to alert you once the lineup has been posted on their website.

The Smooth Jazz Cruise is honored to be a part of this wonderful event. The Smooth Jazz Cruise Presents The Seabreeze Jazz Festival … it just has a great ring to it!

The Jazz Cruise invites you to attend the CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival

The Jazz Cruise and Jazz Cruise artist George Wein invite you to the CareFusion Newport Jazz Festival at historic Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI, on August 7 and 8. Subscribers to Jazz Cruises’ Notes will receive $10 off general admission tickets. Simply follow this link, and use promo code “JCLLC” for the discount.^*

Founded by Wein in 1954, the festival is referred to as the granddaddy of music festivals. This year's lineup features jazz stars Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea, Jamie Cullum, Maria Schneider, Chris Botti, Ahmad Jamal and Anat Cohen, plus many others. The festival has three stages of music, plus crafts and food booths. For information, visit www.newportjazzfest.net. See you at the fort! … and may the “fort” be with you …

_{* Discount offer ends August 5, 2010. Offer good while supplies last. Not valid on previously purchased tickets or at gate.}

The Smooth Jazz Cruise presents Guitars & Saxes at Chicago’s Navy Pier on August 15

Jazz Cruises’ commitment to presenting the very best smooth jazz shows on land extends beyond its home town of St. Louis. On Sunday, August 15, 2010, join Jazz Cruises as they, along with Live Nation, present the amazing Guitars & Saxes at Chicago’s Navy Pier. Gerald Albright, Jeff Golub, Kirk Whalum and Peter White combine for one of the best touring shows in the genre. An outdoor concert at Navy Pier on a Sunday evening in Chicago – what could be better? Buy tickets now.

Michael Lazaroff will be representing Jazz Cruises at the event.  Be sure to stop by and say hello.

DJ Jonathan Phillips – he’s back!

LA’s DJ Jonathan Phillips is returning to his nightly role as the chief operating officer of the Crow’s Nest, our late-night venue on The Smooth Jazz Cruise. For two seasons, DJ Jonathan ruled the roost, so to speak, doing his thing and then some for the late night crowd. Though always entertaining, getting DJ Jonathan to adhere to our nightly themes and games was a bit of a challenge. Can anyone say, “free spirit”?

Teams of negotiators were brought in to reconcile DJ Jonathan’s need to be himself with our need to follow our program and events. We think now we have the best of all worlds, and we look forward to seeing how this new arrangement will pan out. As we told DJ Jonathan, it is a very short distance between the Crow’s Nest and the water! We do not know how well DJ Jonathan can swim, but hopefully that will only be tested on the beaches during the cruise.

When you go up to the Crow’s Nest, be sure to tell DJ Jonathan how happy you are to see him. It will be a lot of fun …