Lineup - Blue Note at Sea

Headliners

Marcus Miller Host

Robert Glasper Host

Chris Botti

Since the release of his 2004 critically acclaimed album, When I Fall In Love, Chris Botti has become the largest-selling American instrumental artist. His success has crossed over to audiences usually reserved for pop muisc and his ongoing association with PBS has led to four #1 jazz albums, as well as multiple Gold, Platinum and Grammy Awards. His latest album, Impressions, won the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental. Performing worldwide and selling more than 4 million albums, he has found a form of creative expression that begins in jazz and expands beyond the limits of any single genre.

Over the past three decades, Botti has recorded and performed with the best in music, including Sting, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Josh Groban, Yo-Yo Ma, Michael Bublé, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, John Mayer, Andrea Bocelli, Joshua Bell, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and even Frank Sinatra. The trumpeter has also performed with many of the finest symphonies and at some of the world's most prestigious venues, from Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl to the Sydney Opera House and the Real Teatro di San Carlo in Italy.

Impressions, Botti's 2012 Columbia Records and Grammy winning release, is the latest in a stellar parade of albums – including When I Fall In Love (2004), To Love Again: The Duets (2005), Italia (2007), and the CD/DVD Chris Botti in Boston (2009) – that has firmly established him as a clarion voice in the American contemporary music scene. Playing with his uniquely expressive sound and soaring musical imagination, Botti is joined on the disc by featured artists Andrea Bocelli, Vince Gill, Herbie Hancock, Mark Knopfler, and David Foster in a warm, intimate celebration of melodic balladry.

Chris Botti has thoroughly established himself as one of the important, innovative figures of the contemporary music world and he’s making his debut on Blue Note at Sea in ‘23.

Christian McBride

A 7-time Grammy Award winning bassist/composer, Christian McBride’s music career took off shortly after moving to New York in 1989 to pursue classical studies at the Juilliard School. There, he was promptly recruited to the road by saxophonist Bobby Watson. In 2000, the lessons of the road came together in the formation of what would become his longest-running project, the Christian McBride Band, which has consistently evolved with McBride's all-inclusive, forward-thinking outlook on music.

In 2009, McBride began focusing this same energy through a more traditional lens with the debut of his critically-acclaimed Inside Straight quintet, and again with the Christian McBride Big Band, whose 2012 release The Good Feeling won the Grammy for Best Large Ensemble Jazz Album. As his career entered its third decade, McBride added the role of mentor, tapping rising stars pianist Christian Sands and drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr. for the Christian McBride Trio’s Grammy-nominated album Out Here.

He is also a respected educator and advocate. He has since served as Artistic Director of the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Sessions, co-director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, and the Second Creative Chair for Jazz of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association.

Currently he hosts and produces “The Lowdown: Conversations With Christian” on SiriusXM satellite radio and National Public Radio’s “Jazz Night in America,” a weekly radio show and multimedia collaboration between WBGO, NPR and Jazz at Lincoln Center, showcasing outstanding live jazz from across the country.

Completing the circle is his work with Jazz House Kids, the nationally recognized community arts organization founded by his wife, vocalist Melissa Walker. Exclusively dedicated to educating children through jazz, the “Jazz House” concept brings internationally renowned jazz performers to teach alongside a professional staff, offering students a wide range of creative programming that develops musical potential, enhances leadership skills, and strengthens academic performance.

Sheila E.

Cécile McLorin Salvant

The world first learned of the incredible vocal artistry of Cécile McLorin Salvant when she won the prestigious 2010 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. In just under a decade, she has evolved from a darling of jazz critics and fans, to a multi-Grammy Award winner, to a prescient and fearless voice in music today. McLorin Salvant was born and raised in Miami, Florida, of a French mother and a Haitian father. She started classical piano studies at 5, and began singing in the Miami Choral Society at 8. In 2007, Cécile moved to Aix-en-Provence, France, to study law as well as classical and baroque voice at the Darius Milhaud Conservatory. It was in Aix-en-Provence, with reedist and teacher Jean-François Bonnel, that she started learning about jazz, and sang with her first band. In 2009, after a series of concerts in Paris, she recorded her first album Cécile, with Jean-François Bonnel's Paris Quintet. A year later, she won the Thelonious Monk competition in Washington D.C. The sound of McLorin Salvant’s voice covers the gamut from breathy to bold, deep and husky to high and resonant, limpid to bluesy, with a clarity and richness that is nearly unparalleled. When she first burst onto the jazz scene, many listeners were struck by her ability to recall the sound of Bessie Smith, Sarah Vaughan, or Betty Carter. Yet with each new album, McLorin Salvant’s voice has become more her own, more singular. In 2014, her second album, WomanChild, was nominated for a Grammy. Her third album, For One To Love, won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Her fourth album, Dreams and Daggers, was nominated for the 60th Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Her newest release, The Window, an album of duets with the pianist Sullivan Fortner, explores and extends the tradition of the piano-vocal duo and its expressive possibilities.

David Sanborn

David Sanborn has released 24 albums, won six Grammy Awards, and has had eight Gold albums and one Platinum. Having inspired countless other musicians, Dave has worked in many genres which typically blend instrumental pop, R&B and traditional jazz. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school when he was inspired by the great Chicago blues artists near his hometown of St. Louis.

Having contracted polio at the age of three, Dave was introduced to the saxophone as part of his treatment therapy. By the age of 14, he was able to play with legends such as Albert King and Little Milton. Dave went on to study music at Northwestern University before transferring to the University of Iowa where he played and studied with the great saxophonist JR Monterose.

Later traveling to California on the advice of a friend, he joined the Butterfield Blues Band and played Woodstock with Paul Butterfield. Following that, Dave toured with Stevie Wonder and recorded for Wonder’s Talking Book album, played with The Rolling Stones, and toured with David Bowie. It was with Bowie that he recorded the famous solo heard on “Young Americans.” At the same time, Dave was touring and recording with the great Gil Evans, dividing his time between the two. After moving to New York City and studying with George Coleman, Dave started his solo career where he later collaborated with such artists as Paul Simon and James Taylor.

Dave’s solo release of Taking Off in 1975—still considered a classic—further solidified his career. His 1979 release of Hideaway became a popular hit and further propelled Dave’s ascent with the single, “Seduction,” being featured in the movie, American Gigolo. Veteran bassist and composer Marcus Miller joined Dave on the 1981 album, Voyeur. The single, “All I Need Is You” won Dave his first Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance. In 1983, Dave released the hit album Backstreet that included Luther Vandross as a featured guest vocalist. Later albums have included guest artists such as Jack DeJohnette, Bill Frisell, Charlie Hayden, Wallace Roney, Kenny Barron, Christian McBride, and Eric Clapton

Moving onto television, Dave hosted the show, Night Music from 1988 to 1990. Produced by Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, the show featured films of jazz legends like Thelonious Monk, Dave Brubeck and Billie Holiday, as well as banter and memorable music jams by a remarkable list of musicians including Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Joe Sample, Pharoah Sanders, and many others. Additionally, Dave has regularly hosted the After New Year's Eve TV special on ABC. During the 1980s and 1990s, Dave hosted a syndicated radio program, The Jazz Show with David Sanborn. Dave has also recorded many shows' theme songs as well as several other songs for The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder. In 2017, Dave teamed up with his nephew and brother-in-law to create a new show called Sanborn Sessions.

In his six decade (and counting) career, Dave has released 24 albums, won six Grammy Awards, and has had eight Gold albums and one Platinum album. He continues to be one of the most highly active musicians of his genre. As a whole, Dave is an artist who pushes the limits and continues to make music that challenges the mind and goes "Straight to the Heart."

Brad Mehldau

Grammy Award winning jazz pianist Brad Mehldau has recorded and performed extensively since the early 1990s, most often in the trio format. Starting in 1996, his group released a series of five records entitled The Art of the Trio. Mehldau also released a solo piano recording entitled “Elegiac Cycle” and a record called “Places” that included both solo piano and trio songs.

The Brad Mehldau Trio released “Day is Done” in 2005, an exciting double live trio recording entitled “Brad Mehldau Trio Live” in 2008, and a double-disc of original work entitled “Highway Rider” in 2010. The album was Mehldau’s second collaboration with renowned producer Jon Brion and featured performances by Mehldau’s trio drummer Jeff Ballard and bassist Larry Grenadier, as well as percussionist Matt Chamberlain, saxophonist Joshua Redman, and a chamber orchestra led by Dan Coleman.

Ode, a 2012 album of original songs from the Brad Mehldau Trio, garnered a Grammy nomination. In addition to a series of projects during this time, Mehldau’s monumental and ambitious 10 Years Solo Live eight-LP vinyl box set was released to unanimous critical acclaim in the fall of 2015. In 2016, Brad Mehldau Trio’s Blues and Ballads became the ensemble’s first new release since 2012’s Where Do You Start and the celebrated debut album of the Joshua Redman/Brad Mehldau Duo. Both albums earned a Grammy nomination for Mehldau. After several years of performing live, labelmates mandolinist/singer Chris Thile and Mehldau released their debut: Chris Thile & Brad Mehldau.

2019 saw the release of the Grammy Award winning conceptual recording Finding Gabriel — an album of harmonically rich vocal layers paired with strings, synthesizers, rock drums, and improvisation — featuring a number of high profile guests including Ambrose Akinmusire, Kurt Elling, Becca Stevens, Gabriel Kahane, and Mark Guiliana among others. The release won Mehldau his first Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Jazz Album.

Mehldau’s musical personality forms a dichotomy. He is first and foremost an improviser, and greatly cherishes the surprise and wonder that can occur from a spontaneous musical idea that is expressed directly, in real time. But he also has a deep fascination for the formal architecture of music, and it informs everything he plays. The two sides of Mehldau’s personality — the improviser and the formalist — play off each other, and the effect is often something like controlled chaos.

Chief Adjuah Formerly Christian Scott

The Baylor Project

The Baylor Project featuring the husband-wife team of Jean Baylor and Marcus Baylor specializes in music that includes the influence of gospel, blues, soul, and jazz to make its mark. Their debut CD The Journey, released on their own label, Be A Light, topped the Billboard Jazz Chart at number 8, solidifying The Baylor Project as an undeniable force.

Jean, a “Jersey Girl”, was introduced to jazz in college as a Vocal Performance major at Temple University, where she was heavily influenced by artists such as Carmen McCrae, Jimmy Scott, and Shirley Horn. She subsequently made her mark as one-half of the platinum recording duo, Zhane´. In addition to continued development of her craft, Jean has expanded into composing, arranging, producing, and band leading.

Marcus, a St. Louis native, is widely recognized as the former member and drummer of the 3-time Grammy Award winning jazz quartet, Yellowjackets. While studying and graduating from The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, he performed and recorded with musical icons Cassandra Wilson, John Scofield, and Kenny Garrett. Since then, Marcus has come into his own as a composer, arranger, producer, and bandleader.

Now together on stage, they perform original compositions and new arrangements of classic pieces. They utilize sincerity and maturity far beyond their years to deliver ballads with storied grace and elegance, and grit. And what’s more is that Marcus and Jean have the uncanny ability to bridge the gap between generations. They are relatable, they are virtuosic, and for these reasons they captivate packed houses and sold-out audiences.

Damien Escobar

Damien Escobar is a world renowned violinist, author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, hailing from Jamaica, Queens, New York. His musical career spans over a decade, and his inspiring journey of making it big, losing it all, fighting to rebuild, and getting a second chance at success is as much apart of his brand identity than being among the top violinist in the world.

The now NAACP Image Award nominee and Billboards chart topping artist was once humbled by homelessness after calling it quits from his famed group, Nuttin but Stringz. The group, comprised of Damien and his brother, Tourie — known in NYC for playing their violins on the subway—gained global recognition when they appeared as contestants on America's Got Talent. The competition helped to catapult the duo into stardom and they quickly experienced all the highs of being the most sought after musicians of their time. However, that glory was short-lived and the fall from grace was a hard hit, to say the very least; as the group disbanded and a bruised Damien made the decision to retire his violin. Looking back at his journey, Damien realizes it all needed to fall apart so he could be forced to grow while putting it back together the right way. Prevailing was a process and it started with unburying his talent — his love of playing the violin. In 2013, Damien released his first album as a solo artist, Sensual Melodies. Once thought of as a passion project, the album garnished over 200K downloads, landed on the iTunes Top 100 chart, and served as a springboard for a successful national tour that he headlined.

Back in the spotlight, Damien decided this time around he would do more with his visibility and began his entrepreneurial walk by penning and self-publishing his very first children's book, The Sound of Strings; building his very own line of custom designed violins; and establishing partnerships to develop a wine line, perfume and fragrances, and a non-profit organization that would include a music program for children.
Damien has told his inspiring story to publications like People Magazine and Huffington Post; make appearances on The Today Show and performed at notable events such as Oprah Winfrey's "The Life You Want" tour. Among his entrpeneurial projects he has penned a children's book, The Sound of Strings and built his very own line of custom designed violins. Motivated by his past and grateful for his fans and future, Damien went on to release his second album, Boundless, in 2017.

Don Was Host

One of the most significant and sought-after producers in contemporary music, Blue Note at Sea host Don Was has won multiple Grammy Awards and numerous other accolades for his work with a diverse array of artists, including The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison & Kurt Elling.

A native of Detroit, Was first came to prominence as a founding member, songwriter and bassist of the influential multi-genre band Was (Not Was) and scored commercial success in the 1980s with songs like “Walk the Dinosaur” and “Spy in the House of Love.” He has also served as music director for major motion pictures such as Thelma and Louise and Toy Story, and won an Emmy in 2014 for outstanding musical direction. In 1994 he won a Grammy as Producer of the Year for The Rolling Stones’ Voodoo Lounge. He has produced every one of their albums since.

As President of Blue Note Records since 2012, Was is both the company’s leader and ambassador for its music, presenting the label’s artists to worldwide audiences and building upon the label’s singular 77-year legacy of great recordings.

Founded in 1939 by Alfred Lion, Blue Note is the most respected and longest running jazz label in the world. Blue Note’s legendary catalog includes a true Who’s Who of jazz history: Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Jimmy Smith, Dexter Gordon, Grant Green, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Donald Byrd, Andrew Hill, Ornette Coleman and many more.

Under the leadership of current President Don Was, Blue Note has renewed its dedication to Lion’s original vision that “any particular style of playing which represents an authentic way of musical feeling is genuine expression.”

Alonzo Bodden Host / Comedian

A regular panel member on Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me, Blue Note at Sea comic and event host Alonzo Bodden has been making audiences around the country laugh for more than 20 years.

Alonzo’s first big comedy break came when he was on the “New Faces of Comedy” showcase at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal. However, it was as the season three winner of NBCʼs Last Comic Standing, where Alonzo was first introduced to America. Since then, he has starred in two comedy specials for Showtime: Historically Incorrect and Who’s Paying Attention. His television appearances include ABC’s Dr. Ken and Fresh Off the Boat, Dr. Phil, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Comedy Central’s The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore and Californication.

A car and motorcycle aficionado, Alonzo hosted Speed Channel’s 101 Cars You Must Drive and America’s Worst Driver on the Travel Channel. He’s also joined Jay Leno for several off-road trips on his CNBC series Jay Leno’s Garage. Alonzo was a field correspondent on Animal Nation with Anthony Anderson, and a contributor on the Science Channel’s How to Build Everything.

Alonzo released his fifth comedy CD titled Man Overboard in 2018. He currently hosts the podcast Who’s Paying Attention? and his own daily radio show on KBLA-AM 1580 in Los Angeles where he gives his unique take on what’s going on in the world.

In August 2019, Alonzo starred in his fourth stand-up special, Alonzo Bodden: Heavy Lightweight, which premiered exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. In the special, he touches upon a range of topics from slavery, cell phones and the #MeToo movement, to millennials, Kanye West and Taco Bell.

Alonzo has been the comic in residence for Jazz Cruises for many years now and has become one of the leaders and drivers of our program.

Featured Performers

Cyrille Aimée

Vicente Archer

Randy Brecker

Jazz trumpeter and composer Randy Brecker has helped shape the sound of jazz, R&B and rock for more than four decades. His trumpet and flugelhorn performances have graced hundreds of albums by a wide range of artists from James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen and Parliament/Funkadelic to Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, Jaco Pastorius and Frank Zappa.

Randy’s musical talent was nurtured from an early age. He moved to New York where he landed gigs with such prominent bands as Clark Terry’s Big Bad Band, the Duke Pearson Big Band and the Thad Jones Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. In 1967, Randy ventured into jazz-rock with the band Blood, Sweat and Tears. He recorded his first solo album, Score, in 1968, featuring a young, then unknown 19 year-old tenor saxophonist named Michael Brecker. Randy joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers before teaming up with brother Michael, Barry Rogers, Billy Cobham, and John Abercrombie to form the seminal fusion group Dreams.

In the early 1970s, Randy performed live with many prominent artists including Larry Coryell’s Eleventh House, Stevie Wonder and Billy Cobham. He also recorded several classic albums with his brother under the leadership of the great pianist/composer Hal Galper. By 1975, Randy and Michael were ready to front their own group, the Brecker Brothers Band. A band of immeasurable impact and influence, they released six albums on Arista and garnered seven Grammy nominations between 1975 and 1981. Their eponymous first record, which Randy wrote, arranged and produced, featured his now classic composition “Some Skunk Funk.”

Randy won his first Grammy as a solo artist for Into the Sun, featuring his impressions of Brazil, in 1997. 34th n’ Lex, won him his third Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 2003; In 2007, Randy was awarded his fourth Grammy for Randy Brecker Live with the WDR Big Band and Randy in Brasil, recorded in Sao Paulo, was chosen one of the top 10 CDs of 2008 by AllAboutJazz.com and earned him Grammy #5.

A Brecker Brothers Band Reunion tour of European festivals in the summer of 2013 re-introduced the familiar faces of Brecker Brothers Band members from the past and their special brand of music to sell-out crowds.

As a composer, performer and in-demand Yamaha clinician, Randy Brecker continues to influence and inspire young musicians around the world.

Gerald Clayton

Emmet Cohen

Derrick Hodge

José James

Julian Lage

Eric Marienthal Music Director

Saxophonist and Blue Note at Sea Music Director Eric Marienthal has won 2 Grammy Awards and has been nominated 8 times as a member of the Chick Corea Elektric Band, Jeff Lorber Fusion and Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. Having performed in over 80 countries and played on hundreds of recordings, films and TV shows, Eric also has recorded 15 solo recordings including his latest entitled "Double Dealin’” with legendary trumpeter Randy Brecker. Eric's recordings have produced several top 10 radio singles including three tunes that reached #1 on its respective chart.

Eric is the recipient of the Berklee College of Music Distinguished Alumnus Award for outstanding achievements in contemporary music and earned the highest proficiency grades in the esteemed history of that institution. Eric was also named one of the top 3 alto saxophonists in Jazziz Magazine's Reader's Poll along with Phil Woods and David Sanborn.

For the past 22 years Eric has organized an annual charity concert for the High Hopes Head Injury Program in Tustin, CA. These concerts have raised awareness for this great organization and have raised over 2 million dollars.

For the past few years, Eric has applied his vast knowledge and experience in the world of jazz to being the Music Director for The Smooth Jazz Cruise and Blue Note at Sea. In that challenging role, Eric is charged with curating the performances, schedules and support for 100’s of the top musicians in the world. His ability to perform this task with skill and professionalism has made the quality of the programming on those sailings among the very best in the world.

Damion Reid