Botti at Sea III

Cruise Director for Signature Cruise Experiences

After 30 years in comedy and over 30 jazz cruises, Alonzo Bodden has been able to marry his two passions: comedy and jazz. “There is nothing like the cool and creativity of the jazz world, I love it,” says Alonzo. His big break was “New Faces of Comedy” at the Just for La... Read More →

By age 31, Emmy-nominated trumpeter and singer Benny Benack III has proven to be that rarest of talents: not only a fiery trumpet player with a stirring command of the post-bop trumpet vernacular in the vein of Kenny Dorham and Freddie Hubbard, but also a singer with a sly, mature, naturally expressive delivery in the post-Sinatra mold, performing... Read More →

Dutch saxophonist Candy Dulfer has earned her place in music history — with her GRAMMY®-nominated debut album Saxuality (over 2.5 million copies worldwide copies sold), performances with the greatest names in music (including Prince, Van Morrison and Maceo Parker) and her worl... Read More →

An instrumentalist who can play straight-ahead as well as smooth jazz with his own personal sound and not a small amount of charisma and stage presence, Chris Botti is truly a star in the world of jazz and beyond. The trumpeter has thoroughly established himself as one of the imp... Read More →

Upon arriving in the United States in 1994, Colombian-born Edmar Castañeda has made a name for himself as the preeminent jazz harp virtuoso. Castañeda brings forth a brilliance that beautifully merges the jazz tradition with a diverse set of styles and genres while bringing unbridled attention to a somewhat unfamiliar instrument: the harp. Singlehandedly... Read More →

Multifaceted American jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen is one of his generation's pivotal figures in music and the related arts. Leader of the Emmet Cohen Trio and creator of the Masters Legacy Series, he is an internationally acclaimed jazz artist, a dedicated educator, the winner of the 2019 American Pianists Awards and a finalist in... Read More →

Born in French-speaking Switzerland and based in New York, harmonica player, composer and GRAMMY winner Grégoire Maret is known for his virtuoso technique and emotional interpretations.
Over the past decade, Grégoire Maret has emerged as a unique new voice for his instrument in the broad spectrum of the modern jazz world. In doing so, he has done nothing less than redefine the role of the harmonica in a multitude of musical styles. The list of musical heavyweights... Read More →

John Splithoff is a songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist who splices together throwback soul, modern production, and laid-back pop. A native of Chicago, Splithoff began gaining momentum following the independent release of his breakout single, “Sing to You.” Driven by a hypnotic howl... Read More →

Morgan James has a voice that needs to be heard; even when she was just a fifth grader belting out standards on a karaoke machine. After her grandmother heard her sing, the matriarch footed the bill for James’ voice lessons, positive that her granddaughter had the mysterious “it... Read More →

Sy Smith has long since solidified her place in the world of underground soul music (she's often called “the hardest working woman in underground soul”). This Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and producer helped cultivate the nu-soul scene in that city more than 10 years ago, a scene... Read More →

Veronica Swift's new eponymously titled album is a masterful coming-out story. On her previous albums, Confessions and This Bitter Earth, she ascended to the upper echelon of early 21st century jazz singers because of her virtuosic brilliance, interpretive ingenuity, bracing songwriting and keen arrangements. Simply put, Swift is not only one of the most dazzling singers to emerge in her generation, she's one of the... Read More →

Violinist Caroline Campbell has appeared as soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony, Boston Pops and many other symphony orchestras. She has soloed in prestigious venues from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center and Madison Square Garden, and in exotic locations... Read More →

An instrumentalist who can play straight-ahead as well as smooth jazz with his own personal sound and not a small amount of charisma and stage presence, Chris Botti is truly a star in the world of jazz and beyond. The trumpeter has thoroughly established himself as one of the imp... Read More →

Dan “Chimy” Chmielinski is a New York Times critically-acclaimed, award-winning bassist, composer, synthesist, sound designer and bandleader. Currently based in Los Angeles, Dan maintains a bi-coastal schedule comprised of live performances, film scoring and music production. Dan founded and leads several groups of his own... Read More →

The story behind Fernando Varela begins and ends with a voice. Carole Bayer Sager aptly described it as “a voice touched by God.” Fernando's powerful voice tells the tale of a breathtaking tenor whose spirit and determination has defied the odds. Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, he discovered his exceptional... Read More →

Born in French-speaking Switzerland and based in New York, harmonica player, composer and GRAMMY winner Grégoire Maret is known for his virtuoso technique and emotional interpretations.
Over the past decade, Grégoire Maret has emerged as a unique new voice for his instrument in the broad spectrum of the modern jazz world. In doing so, he has done nothing less than redefine the role of the harmonica in a multitude of musical styles. The list of musical heavyweights... Read More →

John Splithoff is a songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist who splices together throwback soul, modern production, and laid-back pop. A native of Chicago, Splithoff began gaining momentum following the independent release of his breakout single, “Sing to You.” Driven by a hypnotic howl... Read More →

Julian “J3PO” Pollack is a Los Angeles-based pianist/keyboardist and producer described by Timeout New York as a musician who “deftly balances virtuosity with tenderness.” Julian is known for his innovative use of keyboards and synthesizers in jazz, fusion, hip-hop and electronic styles of music. He has toured extensively with the legendary Marcus Miller, as well as Chris Botti, and... Read More →

Lee Pearson is known as one of the most vibrant and electrifying drummers of today. He plays with some of the finest names in music. From Broadway to Jazz, Hip-Hop and R&B, he maintains the classic vocabulary of percussion.
Lee, a Baltimore native, began playing drums at the age o... Read More →

“For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver,” a recording by the Christian McBride Big Band featuring Mark Whitfield and Joey DeFrancesco, received the 2022 GRAMMY Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble. This is the most recent collaboration between Whitfield and McBride, a musical relationship that began over 30 years ago when they were both featured members of the Jazz Futures, an All-Star Jazz Band... Read More →

Sy Smith has long since solidified her place in the world of underground soul music (she's often called “the hardest working woman in underground soul”). This Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and producer helped cultivate the nu-soul scene in that city more than 10 years ago, a scene... Read More →

Veronica Swift's new eponymously titled album is a masterful coming-out story. On her previous albums, Confessions and This Bitter Earth, she ascended to the upper echelon of early 21st century jazz singers because of her virtuosic brilliance, interpretive ingenuity, bracing songwriting and keen arrangements. Simply put, Swift is not only one of the most dazzling singers to emerge in her generation, she's one of the... Read More →

Violinist Caroline Campbell has appeared as soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony, Boston Pops and many other symphony orchestras. She has soloed in prestigious venues from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center and Madison Square Garden, and in exotic locations... Read More →

An instrumentalist who can play straight-ahead as well as smooth jazz with his own personal sound and not a small amount of charisma and stage presence, Chris Botti is truly a star in the world of jazz and beyond. The trumpeter has thoroughly established himself as one of the imp... Read More →

Dan “Chimy” Chmielinski is a New York Times critically-acclaimed, award-winning bassist, composer, synthesist, sound designer and bandleader. Currently based in Los Angeles, Dan maintains a bi-coastal schedule comprised of live performances, film scoring and music production. Dan founded and leads several groups of his own... Read More →

The story behind Fernando Varela begins and ends with a voice. Carole Bayer Sager aptly described it as “a voice touched by God.” Fernando's powerful voice tells the tale of a breathtaking tenor whose spirit and determination has defied the odds. Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, he discovered his exceptional... Read More →

Born in French-speaking Switzerland and based in New York, harmonica player, composer and GRAMMY winner Grégoire Maret is known for his virtuoso technique and emotional interpretations.
Over the past decade, Grégoire Maret has emerged as a unique new voice for his instrument in the broad spectrum of the modern jazz world. In doing so, he has done nothing less than redefine the role of the harmonica in a multitude of musical styles. The list of musical heavyweights... Read More →

John Splithoff is a songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist who splices together throwback soul, modern production, and laid-back pop. A native of Chicago, Splithoff began gaining momentum following the independent release of his breakout single, “Sing to You.” Driven by a hypnotic howl... Read More →

Julian “J3PO” Pollack is a Los Angeles-based pianist/keyboardist and producer described by Timeout New York as a musician who “deftly balances virtuosity with tenderness.” Julian is known for his innovative use of keyboards and synthesizers in jazz, fusion, hip-hop and electronic styles of music. He has toured extensively with the legendary Marcus Miller, as well as Chris Botti, and... Read More →

Lee Pearson is known as one of the most vibrant and electrifying drummers of today. He plays with some of the finest names in music. From Broadway to Jazz, Hip-Hop and R&B, he maintains the classic vocabulary of percussion.
Lee, a Baltimore native, began playing drums at the age o... Read More →

“For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver,” a recording by the Christian McBride Big Band featuring Mark Whitfield and Joey DeFrancesco, received the 2022 GRAMMY Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble. This is the most recent collaboration between Whitfield and McBride, a musical relationship that began over 30 years ago when they were both featured members of the Jazz Futures, an All-Star Jazz Band... Read More →

Sy Smith has long since solidified her place in the world of underground soul music (she's often called “the hardest working woman in underground soul”). This Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and producer helped cultivate the nu-soul scene in that city more than 10 years ago, a scene... Read More →

Veronica Swift's new eponymously titled album is a masterful coming-out story. On her previous albums, Confessions and This Bitter Earth, she ascended to the upper echelon of early 21st century jazz singers because of her virtuosic brilliance, interpretive ingenuity, bracing songwriting and keen arrangements. Simply put, Swift is not only one of the most dazzling singers to emerge in her generation, she's one of the... Read More →

Cruise Director for Signature Cruise Experiences

After 30 years in comedy and over 30 jazz cruises, Alonzo Bodden has been able to marry his two passions: comedy and jazz. “There is nothing like the cool and creativity of the jazz world, I love it,” says Alonzo. His big break was “New Faces of Comedy” at the Just for La... Read More →