14 June 2010                                                                 greatscottproductions@earthlink.net

The Smooth Jazz Cruise becomes title sponsor of the

2011 Seabreeze Jazz Festival

St. Louis, MO: Jazz Cruises, LLC, the St. Louis-based producer of jazz themed cruise vacation experiences, is proud to announce that it has become the title sponsor of the 2011 Seabreeze Jazz Festival under The Smooth Jazz Cruise brand.  One of the biggest weekend festivals in contemporary jazz in the U.S., the Panama City, Florida event will be held April 15-17, 2011 under the moniker The Smooth Jazz Cruise presents The 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 Panama City Beach, also includes a golf tournament and dinner cruise.  The list of performers for 2011 will be announced at a later date.  

“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 Caribbean, the cruise presents a wealth of opportunities for guests to meet and get to know the artists personally off-stage in an out-of-the-ordinary setting.  The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2011 marks the first time two sailings are offered: January 16-23 and January 23-30.  Both excursions were sold-out nine months ahead of the departure dates and more than one-third of the cabins have already been reserved for the 2012 sailings, which will include a special performance by Motown legend Smokey Robinson.  The Smooth Jazz Cruise has presented concerts on land by Sanborn, Miller, Braun, Elliot, Butler and Eric Darius.  Additional information is available at www.thesmoothjazzcruise.com.

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-February 6, 2011, is the first and only full ship charter dedicated to straight ahead jazz.  With its current slate of excursions, Jazz Cruises, LLC will have produced over twenty-five full ship charter jazz cruises.  Additional information is available at www.jazzcruisesllc.com.

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30 April 2010                                                                greatscottproductions@earthlink.net

Smooth sailing in the Caribbean with music legends and luminaries

Star-studded lineup for The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2012 includes Smokey Robinson

St. Louis, MO:  Expect a Miracle at “The Greatest Party at Sea.”  The stellar lineup to set sail from Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean aboard The Smooth Jazz Cruise in 2012 was announced today by Jazz Cruises, LLC.  Motown legend Smokey Robinson will make his debut on The Smooth Jazz Cruise that will be hosted by David Sanborn and Marcus Miller along with special event hosts Jonathan Butler and Gerald Albright.  Reservations are now being accepted for the week-long musical voyages scheduled to depart January 15-22 and January 22-29, 2012.

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 Caribbean, guests enjoy nightly headline concerts with unique artist pairings to choose from in large showrooms as well as in more intimate lounges, cocktail parties hosted by the musicians, afternoon autograph and question & answer sessions, contests and even morning exercise classes.  Reservations can be made from the U.S. and Canada by calling toll-free 888.8JAZZ.US (888.852.9987) and internationally by calling toll-free 800-8JAZZ.USA (800.852.99872).  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 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-February 6, 2011, is the first and only full ship charter dedicated to straight ahead jazz.  With its current slate of excursions, Jazz Cruises, LLC will have produced over twenty-five full ship charter jazz cruises.  Additional information is available at www.jazzcruisesllc.com.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 Contact: Rick Scott 310.306.0375

19 April 2010                                                                greatscottproductions@earthlink.net

“The Greatest Party at Sea” docking in Chicago & L.A. for special launch events

The star-studded lineup for The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2012 will be unveiled April 30^th

St. Louis, Missouri: Don’t miss the boat, Chicago and Los Angeles.  “The Greatest Party at Sea” is heading your way.  On Friday, April 30^th, The Smooth Jazz Cruise will announce the unprecedented lineup of legends and luminaries that will set sail on The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2012 at launch party celebrations that are already nearly sold-out. 

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 Chicago, saxophonist Eric Darius will perform at Close Up 2 at a celebration hosted by The Smooth Jazz Cruise’s executive director Michael Lazaroff.

“We’re thrilled about announcing the 2012 lineup, which will be our best yet, at the launch celebrations with our guests in Chicago and Los Angeles.  The passengers voted on who they’d most like to see on the cruise and we listened to their suggestions.  Also we’re bursting at the seams to announce a special performance by a legendary recording artist who will make his debut on The Smooth Jazz Cruise,” said Lazaroff.  “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 vacation.  As a company, we take great pride in the fact that nearly 60% of our guests return to sail with us on another cruise.  In recognition of this loyalty, for the first time The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2012 will offer a special rate for guests who have sailed with us four or more times.  The loyalty our passengers have shown us is extraordinary and we go out of our way to recognize and reward it.”  

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 10^th anniversary when it sails January 30-February 6, 2011, is the first and only full ship charter dedicated to straight ahead jazz.  With its current schedule of excursions, Jazz Cruises, LLC will have produced over 25 full ship charter jazz cruises.  Additional information is available at www.jazzcruisesllc.com.

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