FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Rick Scott 310.306.0375
greatscottproductions@earthlink.net
The
"Love It Live" mantra has made Jazz Cruises into one of the
world's top jazz concert promoters on land and sea
St. Louis, Missouri (8 September 2011): Three weeks of sold-out
Caribbean cruises showcasing dozens of the biggest stars in contemporary and
straight-ahead jazz established Jazz Cruises
as the preeminent jazz promoter on water, but a full slate of concert
sponsorships on land in 2011 has made the St. Louis-based company one of the
world's top jazz promoters on land and sea.
This year, Jazz Cruises, the largest private music ship charter company
in the world, quietly adopted the "Love It Live" manta, a
philosophy with a specific purpose. "Our goal is to make sure that jazz
continues to be a vital and vibrant part of the national music scene,"
said Jazz Cruises executive director Michael
Lazaroff.
With that goal in mind, Jazz Cruises aggressively placed themselves
wherever jazz music is played live. Either under the company name or their
contemporary jazz cruise brand, The Smooth
Jazz Cruise: The Greatest Party At Sea, they became the title
sponsor of the Seabreeze Jazz Festival
and three October festivals: Rehoboth Beach
Jazz Festival, JW Desert Ridge
Jazz Festival andSedona Jazz on
the Rocks. Lazaroff conceived the highly successful summer concert
tour by a super group of legends ' George
Duke, Marcus Miller and
David Sanborn ' that toured
under the DMS moniker on a
coast-to-coast trek sponsored by Jazz Cruises.
Jazz Cruises also sponsors the Chicago
Smooth Jazz Series, St. Louis
Smooth Jazz Series, Vail Jazz
Festival, Jazz St. Louis,
and a land tour by the Vista All-Stars
comprised of a collective of musicians who perform on the company's The Jazz Cruise excursion. On September 15th,
The Smooth Jazz Cruise: The Greatest Party At Sea will sponsor an all-star
benefit concert in
On sea, Jazz Cruises produced two sold-out sailings of The Smooth Jazz:
The Greatest Party At Sea in January followed by a sold-out 10th
anniversary sailing of The Jazz Cruise, the latter of which is already sold-out
for 2012. The seven-day floating festivals sail in luxury aboard Holland America vessels to exotic Caribbean
destinations while featuring stellar live jazz performances in theatre and more
intimate club-size venues. The cruises are experiential musical
vacationsallowing passengers passage behind the velvet rope to interact with
the musicians in unique settings.The luminous talent lineups that performaboard
The Smooth Jazz Cruise and The Jazz Cruise include Grammy winners, legends,
chart-toppers as well as rising stars.
For Lazaroff, his passion for jazz came naturally. "I grew up in
household where music played all the time, with jazz and the standards reigning
supreme. My father was a very good amateur alto saxophonist and my mother
(Jazz Cruises founder Anita Berry)
was the first person in the world to charter an entire ship for a jazz cruise,
so my love for the music and interest in cruisingis genuine. ‘Love
It Live,' is how music should be played and heard, and as a company, Jazz
Cruises will do anything that we can to insure that live music - particularly
jazz - prospers, grows and is heard and understood by as
many people as possible."
About Entertainment Cruise
Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises)
The largest private music ship charter company in the world, St. Louis,
Missouri-based Entertainment Cruise
Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises) owns, produces and promotes The
Smooth Jazz Party:Greatest Party At Sea (www.thesmoothjazzcruise.com) and The
Jazz Cruise (www.thejazzcruise.com),
and is proud to partner with Time Life
for The Malt Shop Memories Cruise (www.maltshopcruise.com) and an
R&B/soul music cruise to be announced later this month. Entertainment
Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises) prides itself on providing first-class
musical vacation experiences featuring marquee stars from their respective
genres for loyal passengers, many of whom make the cruises an annual affair. With
its current slate of excursions, Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz
Cruises) will have produced 35 full-ship charter cruises. Additional
information is available at www.jazzcruises-ecp.com.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Rick Scott 310.306.0375
greatscottproductions@earthlink.net
The
Smooth Jazz Cruise making waves on water and land
Brian
Culbertson, Kirk Whalum and Euge Groove join star-studded 2012 lineup;
'The
Greatest Party at Sea' is sponsoring major jazz festivals and concert
tours
'It was fun to enlist the help of our guests to book the lineup
for The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2012. After all, the cruise is for them, about
them and only exists if they are pleased,' said Michael Lazaroff, executive director of
Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises), producer of The Smooth
Jazz Cruise, which in 2012 will sail from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau, St.
Thomas, St. Barth's, and the private island of Half Moon Cay.
Grammy winner Whalum and chart-toppers Culbertson and Groove bolster a robust
lineup of headliners including David Sanborn,
Marcus Miller, Gerald Albright, Jonathan Butler, Boney James,
Rick Braun, Candy Dulfer, Eric Darius, DW3,
Jeff Golub, Rahsaan Patterson, Patrice Rushen, Joe Sample, Brian Simpson
and Peter White. Also added to
the list of talent are Larry Braggs,
Tom Braxton, Ellis Hall and Patches Stewart. On the heels of a recently premiered Showtime standup
comedy special, comedian Alonzo Bodden
returns to the ship to keep things light while Dane Butcher and Pat
Prescott will be back to serve as cruise hosts of what is billed as
'The Greatest Party at Sea.' With this much star power aboard a
luxurious musical vacation, it's no wonder the cruises sell-out each year
with more than 60% of the guests being repeat cruisers. Already the cabins for
2012 are over 75% sold.
Not content with presenting the finest jazz musicians with top notch
sound and production values on the sea, The Smooth Jazz Cruise will be the
title sponsor of the 2011 Rehoboth Beach Jazz
Festival, which marks its twenty-second year. Jazz Cruises will be
the presenting sponsor of the DMS
concert tour comprised of George Duke,
Miller and Sanborn, a concept that was initially sparked by Lazaroff. Commencing
May 28th at the House of Blues near
Lazaroff explained, 'Jazz Cruises is dedicated to bringing jazz to
our guests throughout the country. Besides our sponsorship of the
Seabreeze Jazz Festival, The Vista All-Stars Series, Chicago Smooth Jazz Series
and St. Louis Smooth Jazz Series, we are proud to be the title sponsor the
first DMS tour, featuring George Duke, Marcus Miller and David Sanborn, who are
frequent collaborators aboard The Smooth Jazz Cruise. We are also excited
about being the title sponsor of the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival. At
Jazz Cruises, our commitment to jazz is second to none.'
The Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, like the Seabreeze Jazz Festival, features
a number of the artists who appear on The Smooth Jazz Cruise along with other icons
from the genre. The Delaware-based event, slated for October 12-16, attracts
contemporary jazz fans from the Tri-State area as well as up and down the East
Coast. Lineup and ticket information is available at www.rehobothjazz.com.
In addition to providing guests with the best musical experiences
possible, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, which sailed upon its maiden voyage in 2004,
is an experiential vacation that offers passengers a wealth of opportunities to
meet and interact with their favorite artists off-stage in an
out-of-the-ordinary setting. While sailing in luxury to picturesque ports of
call in the
About Entertainment Cruise
Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises)
The largest private music charter company in the world, St. Louis,
Missouri-based Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises) owns,
produces and promotes The Smooth Jazz Cruise and The Jazz Cruise (www.thejazzcruise.com),
and is proud to partner with Time Life
for The Malt Shop Memories Cruise
(www.maltshopcruise.com). Entertainment
Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises) prides itself on providing first-class
musical vacation experiences featuring marquee stars from their respective
genres for loyal passengers, many of whom make the cruises an annual affair. With
its current slate of excursions, Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz
Cruises) will have produced thirty-two full ship charter cruises. Additional
information is available at www.jazzcruises-ecp.com.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rick Scott 310.306.0375
greatscottproductions@earthlink.net
The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2013 is officially The Greatest Party At Sea
Special guest George Benson to make his cruise debut as part of the
all-star lineup on the 7-day Caribbean cruise
St. Louis, Missouri (22 August 2011): Anyone who has ever sailed upon The Smooth Jazz Cruise knows why it has earned the moniker 'The Greatest Party At Sea.' Beginning with the 2013 sailings - January 13-20 and January 20-27 - the week-long music theme cruise to the Caribbean featuring the brightest contemporary jazz stars will officially be renamed The Greatest Party At Sea. George Benson will be the special guest headliner, which will be the first time the iconic guitarist-singer has ever performed aboard a ship.
Departing from Fort Lauderdale aboard Holland America's m/s Westerdam, The Greatest Party At Sea will cruise in luxury to Belize, Cozumel, and Key West. Guests will be treated to an extended stay in Cozumel, allowing the time to fully explore its exotic beauty and enjoy the full complement of excursions on offer.
But the primary lure to this cruise is the extraordinary music. In addition to Benson, legendary pianist Bob James, R&B vocalist Angie Stone and jazz violinist Ken Ford will make their debut aboard the full-ship charter previously known as The Smooth Jazz Cruise, which has been sailing annually since 2004, selling out many months in advance. Grammy winners David Sanborn and Marcus Miller will host the cruise while Jonathan Butler and Candy Dulfer will serve as special event hosts. Adding more star power to the list of performers are Rick Braun, Brian Culbertson, Richard Elliot, Jeff Golub and musical director Brian Simpson. Funny man Alonzo Bodden will provide comic relief. Cruise director Dane Butcher and radio personality Pat Prescott will also host the festivities.
'Our vision for The Smooth Jazz Cruise has never wavered. The name change simply reflects the broad and diverse talent that takes the stage as well as the wide and exciting array of opportunities presented to passengers. We promise to present the finest music and cruise experience in the world. Seeking and signing the very best artists in this genre may be the most important facet of that pledge. The lineup for The Greatest Party At Sea 2013 clearly reflects our dedication to excellence and our commitment to the most amazing people we have ever known - our loyal guests,' said Michael Lazaroff, executive director of Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises), producer of The Greatest Party At Sea.
The Greatest Party At Sea is an experiential vacation that offers passengers a wealth of opportunities to meet and interact with their favorite artists off-stage in an out-of-the-ordinary setting. While sailing to picturesque ports of call in the Caribbean, guests enjoy nightly headline concerts with unique artist pairings in a large showroom theatre as well as in more intimate lounges that foster spontaneous collaborations. More laidback shows happen poolside day and night, and many guests dance until dawn in the ship's nightclub. Daytime activities aboard the ship include cocktail parties hosted by the musicians, autograph and question & answer sessions, informative panels, sporting events, and contests. While in port, guests can indulge in a wealth of sun and fun relaxation and recreation choices as well as some of the finest shopping options in the world. The ship contains an abundance of opportunities for pampering in the spa and salon or to get a workout in at the health club. And with all the fine dining rooms, restaurants and room service available, cruisers often sign up for one of the many different fitness classes offered.
Since approximately 60% of the passengers are returning guests, special rates are offered for their loyalty with the steepest discount provided to those who have sailed with the program four or more times. To reserve a cabin from the U.S. and Canada, guests can call toll-free 888.8JAZZ.US (888.852.9987). International guests ' and there are usually two dozen countries represented on each sailing - can call toll-free 800-8JAZZ.USA (800.852.99872). For more information about The Greatest Party At Sea, please visit www.thesmoothjazzcruise.com.
About Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises)
The largest private music charter company in the world, St. Louis, Missouri-based Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises) owns, produces and promotes The Greatest Party At Sea (The Smooth Jazz Cruise) and The Jazz Cruise (www.thejazzcruise.com), and is proud to partner with Time Life for The Malt Shop Memories Cruise (www.maltshopcruise.com) and an R&B/soul music cruise soon to be announced. Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises) prides itself on providing first-class musical vacation experiences featuring marquee stars from their respective genres for loyal passengers, many of whom make the cruises an annual affair. With its current slate of excursions, Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises) will have produced 35 full-ship charter cruises. Additional information is available at www.jazzcruises-ecp.com.
# # #
Peace, love & joy,
Rick Scott
Great Scott P.R.oductions
310.306.0375
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rick Scott 310.306.0375
greatscottproductions@earthlink.net
The Jazz Cruise unveils
perhaps its finest lineup of straight ahead jazz stars for
2012
The eleventh edition is
already sixty-percent booked
St. Louis, MO (14 March 2011): After celebrating its
tenth anniversary earlier this year with another sold-out sailing, The Jazz Cruise, the first and only
full ship charter dedicated to straight ahead jazz, has assembled a stellar
lineup of musicians for the eleventh edition taking place January 29-February 5,
2012. With already sixty-percent of
the ship sold, returning and new guests are booking cabins at a record pace for
the
Striving to live up to its motto “The Greatest Jazz Festival at Sea,” the talent slated to perform aboard The Jazz Cruise 2012 showcases a dynamic mix of venerable legends, Grammy winning headliners and rapidly rising stars. Making their cruise debut are John Pizzarelli, Carmen Bradford, Kurt Elling, Kirk Whalum, Scott Hamilton, Joe LaBarbera, Heath Brothers and Benny Golson. Regulars scheduled to perform are Randy Brecker, Renee Rosnes, Houston Person, Clayton Brothers, Freddy Cole, Jeff Hamilton, Jay Leonhart, Ken Peplowski, Shelly Berg, Tom Kennedy, Ernie Adams, Wycliffe Gordon, Bill Charlap, John Allred, Ann Hampton-Callaway, Ted Rosenthal, Bucky Pizzarelli, Terell Stafford, and Rickey Woodard along with sophomore performers Tommy Igoe and Anat Cohen. John Fedchock will lead The Jazz Cruise Big Band, which also adds Dick Oatts, Bobby Shew, Jerry Dodgion, Rodney Whitaker, Andy Martin, George Rabbai and Pete Christlieb to an already formidable ensemble consisting of Gary Smulyan, Bob Millikan, Butch Miles, Terell Stafford, and Jennifer Wharton.
“Every year, we aim to make The Jazz Cruise lineup reflect the most active and proficient musicians who perform standards-based, straight ahead jazz. The lineup for The Jazz Cruise 2012 may very well be our very best effort towards achieving that goal,” said Michael Lazaroff, executive director of Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises), producer of The Jazz Cruise. “We provided guests a glimpse of the 2012 lineup on this year’s cruise and we’re excited about the enthusiastic reaction reflected in the early bookings. Like our 2011 sailing, The Jazz Cruise 2012 will sell-out.”
In addition to providing guests with the best musical
experience possible by showcasing jazz’s finest musicians presented with top
notch sound and production qualities, The Jazz Cruise, which sailed upon its
maiden voyage in 2001, is an experiential vacation that offers passengers a
wealth of opportunities to meet and interact with their favorite artists
off-stage in an out-of-the-ordinary setting. While sailing in luxury to picturesque
ports of call in the
About Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz
Cruises)
The largest private music charter company in the world,
St. Louis, Missouri-based Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises)
owns, produces and promotes The Jazz Cruise and The Smooth Jazz Cruise (www.thesmoothjazzcruise.com), and is proud to partner with Time Life for The Malt Shop Memories Cruise
(www.maltshopcruise.com).
Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises) prides itself on
providing first-class musical vacation experiences featuring marquee stars from
their respective genres for loyal passengers, many of whom make the cruises an
annual affair. With its current
slate of excursions, Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (Jazz Cruises) will
have produced thirty-two full ship charter cruises. Additional information is available at
www.jazzcruises-ecp.com.
# #
#
The Smooth Jazz Cruise
becomes title sponsor of the
2011 Seabreeze Jazz
Festival
The Seabreeze Jazz
Festival, which has long been regarded as one of the most prestigious events on
the smooth jazz calendar, and The Smooth Jazz Cruise, known as “The Greatest
Party at Sea,” share the goal of creating a three-day gathering of stellar live
music, comedy, fun and fellowship.
Among the hosts of the thirteenth edition of the land-based festival will
be The Smooth Jazz Cruise’s comedian Alonzo Bodden. Dane Butcher, the cruise director of
The Smooth Jazz Cruise, will serve as the primary event announcer.
Held last April in the
Florida pan handle, over 22,000 people attended this year’s Seabreeze Jazz
Festival, which featured concert performances by such chart-toppers as Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Fourplay, Marc Antoine, The Sax Pack, Nick Colionne and Jackiem Joyner. The festival, which takes place at the
Pier Park Outdoor Amphitheatre in
“We are proud to have The Smooth Jazz Cruise, the premier
smooth jazz cruise in the world, as a presenting sponsor,” said Mark
Carter who produces The Seabreeze Jazz Festival with Renee Carter,
Jeffrey A. Wolfe and Grace Perz. “We hope that those
familiar with their cruise programs who have not yet visited our event will do
so. Our festival strives to deliver
the same quality and class as the cruise.”
“The Seabreeze Jazz Festival is a natural partner for us
and we are enthused about sponsoring the event,” stated Michael Lazaroff
of Jazz Cruises, LLC. “This festival is one of the elite land-based smooth
jazz events of the year and it will be a thrill and an honor to be a part of
it.”
The original cruise in the
genre, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, which sailed upon its maiden week-long voyage in
2004, showcases nightly concerts by icons including David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Gerald Albright, Jonathan Butler, Boney James and Peter White. While sailing to exquisite ports of call
in the
For further information
about the Sea Breeze Jazz Festival, please visit www.seabreezejazzfestival.net.
About Jazz Cruises,
LLC
St. Louis, Missouri-based
Jazz Cruises, LLC owns, produces and
promotes The Smooth Jazz Cruise and The
Jazz Cruise (www.thejazzcruise.com). Jazz
Cruises, LLC prides itself on providing first-class, week-long musical vacation
experiences featuring marquee stars from their respective genres for loyal
passengers, many of whom make the cruises an annual affair. The Jazz Cruise, which will celebrate
its tenth anniversary when it sails January 30-
# #
#
Smooth
sailing in the
Star-studded lineup for The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2012
includes Smokey Robinson
Other stars that will
perform aboard the Holland America M/S Westerdam to Nassau, St. Thomas, St.
Barths and the private island of Half Moon Clay are Boney James, Rick Braun, Candy Dulfer, Eric Darius, Jeff Golub, Rahsaan Patterson, Patrice Rushen, Joe Sample, Brian Simpson, Peter White and DW3, the official party band of The
Smooth Jazz Cruise. Alonzo Bodden will provide comic relief
on the cruise while Pat Prescott and
Dane Butcher will serve as event
hosts and emcees.
“We are very proud and
excited to announce the 2012 lineup.
It is a very special lineup because we asked our guests who they’d most
like to see perform on The Smooth Jazz Cruise and that’s who we booked. Our guests are our number one priority
and we do everything we can to provide them with a fun, first-class experience
and an unforgettable musical vacation,” said The Smooth Jazz Cruise’s executive
director Michael Lazaroff. “In addition to the impressive array of
instrumental and vocal talent that will sail with us, we’re thrilled about
including a living legend, Mr. Smokey Robinson, in our cruise experience.”
The cruise attracts
extraordinary repeat business: nearly sixty-percent of the guests return to sail
aboard The Smooth Jazz Cruise again.
In recognition of this remarkable loyalty, for the first time, a special
rate will be offered for the 2012 cruise for guests who have sailed with the
program four or more times. Due to
popular demand, The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2011 marks the first time two sailings
are offered: January 16-23 and January 23-30. Both excursions are virtually sold-out
nine months ahead of the departure dates.
The original cruise in the
genre, The Smooth Jazz Cruise, which sailed upon its maiden voyage in 2004,
presents a wealth of opportunities to meet and get to know the artists
personally off-stage in an out-of-the-ordinary setting. While sailing to exquisite ports of call
in the
About Jazz Cruises,
LLC
St. Louis, Missouri-based
Jazz Cruises, LLC owns, produces and
promotes The Smooth Jazz Cruise and The
Jazz Cruise (www.thejazzcruise.com). Jazz
Cruises, LLC prides itself on providing first-class, week-long musical vacation
experiences featuring marquee stars from their respective genres for loyal
passengers, many of whom make the cruises an annual affair. The Jazz Cruise, which will celebrate
its tenth anniversary when it sails January 30-
# #
#
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rick Scott 310.306.0375
“The Greatest
Party at Sea” docking in Chicago &
The star-studded lineup for The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2012
will be unveiled April 30th
Two-time Grammy nominee Jonathan Butler, a special surprise
guest and DW3, the official party
band of The Smooth Jazz Cruise, will take the stage at Spaghettini Grill & Jazz Club near
Los Angeles to preview the talent that will be aboard the ship’s two 2012
sailings (January 15-22 and January 22-29). Cruise personalities Dane Butcher and comedian Alonzo Bodden will host. In
“We’re thrilled about
announcing the 2012 lineup, which will be our best yet, at the launch
celebrations with our guests in
The original cruise in this
genre, which made its maiden voyage in 2004, The Smooth Jazz Cruise embarks on
week-long vacations aboard Holland America ships to alluring ports of call in
the Bahamas (Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Barths, and the private island of Half Moon
Cay) while showcasing the finest artists in the genre. The cruise presents a wealth of
opportunities to meet and get to know the artists personally outside of the
spotlight in a unique setting. The
Smooth Jazz Cruise 2011 marks the first time two sailings are offered: January
16-23 and January 23-30. Both
sailings are nearly sold-out nine months before the departure dates. Additional information is available at
www.thesmoothjazzcruise.com.
About Jazz Cruises,
LLC
St. Louis, Missouri-based
Jazz Cruises, LLC owns, produces and
promotes The Smooth Jazz Cruise and The
Jazz Cruise (www.thejazzcruise.com). Jazz
Cruises, LLC prides itself on providing first-class, week-long musical vacation
experiences featuring the biggest stars in their respective genres for loyal
passengers, many of whom make the cruises an annual affair. The Jazz Cruise, which will celebrate
its 10th anniversary when it sails January 30-
# #
#