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Jazz Cruise Conversations

Podcast

Podcast #31 Lalah Hathaway with Marcus Miller

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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 [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #30 Kenny Barron, Gerald Clayton & James Francies with Don Was

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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.

Podcast #29 Marcus Miller, Eric Marienthal & Michael Lazaroff on Blue Note at Sea

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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 [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #28 Road Stories with Brian Simpson

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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 [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #27 Tommy Igoe with Eulis Cathey

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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 [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #26 Pianists Roundtable with Mark Ruffin

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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 [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #25 Marcus Miller with Alonzo Bodden

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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 [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #24 Veronica Swift & Emmet Cohen with Shelly Berg

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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 [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #23 Vocal Rap with Mark Ruffin

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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 [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #22 The Women’s Hour with Candy Dulfer

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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 [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #21 Mary Stallings with Dick Golden

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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 had a long hiatus from full-time singing while she raised her daughter, but has been releasing acclaimed albums since [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #20 Keyboardists Talk with Robert Glasper

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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. [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #19 Guitarists Talk with Marcus Miller

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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 [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #16 Lalah Hathaway with Marcus Miller

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The daughter of the influential soul and R&B singer Donny Hathaway, Lalah Hathaway has made her own way through a long career as one of the more accomplished vocalists of her generation, eventually earning five Grammy awards and recording with everyone from Joe Sample to Snarky Puppy. During one of the two sailings of the [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #14 Vocalists Roundtable with Mark Ruffin

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Four vocalists on Blue Note at Sea ’19 – Kurt Elling, Niki Haris, Kandace Springs and Ivan Peroti – sat down with Mark Ruffin of the Real Jazz channel on Sirius/XM in front of a live audience during the cruise. During this lively panel discussion, the four singers talked about their repertoire, their approach to [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #13 Lee Ritenour with Marcus Miller

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Guitarist Lee Ritenour has recorded more than two dozen albums as a leader since his debut “First Course” in 1976, as well as countless recordings as a studio player. A founding member of the contemporary jazz group Fourplay, Ritenour has been nominated for 16 Grammy awards. During one of the two sailings of the Smooth [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #11 Horn Talk From Blue Note at Sea

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Panel discussion featuring saxophonists Candy Dulfer and Nubaya Garcia as well as trumpeters Russell Gunn and Marquis Hill, from Blue Note at Sea 2019. This conversation was ably moderated by Sirius XM’s Mark Ruffin and includes an interesting cross-section of players from very different backgrounds. They each talked about their early experiences and exposure to [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #9 Ken Peplowski with Eulis Cathey

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Clarinetist and saxophonist Ken Peplowski has been an important part of The Jazz Cruise family for many years. Widely considered one of the greatest living jazz clarinetists, the very witty musician has served as programmer, music director and host for the cruise. During The Jazz Cruise 2019, Peplowski sat down with Sirius/XM host Eulis Cathey [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #8 Michael Cuscuna & Don Was with Mark Ruffin

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Michael Cuscuna and Don Was have a lot in common. Both produced Bonnie Raitt, albeit 20 years apart, and more importantly both have played a large part in the legacy of Blue Note Records, with Cuscuna working closely with Bruce Lundvall to produce both new releases and reissues during the 80s and 90s and with [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #7 Dave Grusin with Marcus Miller

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Pianist and composer Dave Grusin has had a long and successful career not only as a recording artist and performer but also as a scorer in film and television. Winner of both Grammy and Oscar awards, Grusin has contributed to the scores and soundtracks of more than 100 films and dozens of TV shows. In [Read More & Listen]

Podcast #1 Marcus Miller with Alonzo Bodden

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In this interview from Blue Note at Sea 2019, bassist-bandleader-composer-producer Marcus Miller talks with comedian Alonzo Bodden about his early years working with Miles Davis and Luther Vandross, his favorite episode of South Park, and why he didn’t play fusion jazz in the 70s. This episode is sponsored by Blue Note Records. The podcast is [Read More & Listen]