A jazz festival and charter, The Jazz Cruise featured Wynton Marsalis, New Orleans native and NEA Jazz Master. He and his octet came aboard the Celebrity Millennium during the ship’s port visit to Cozumel, Mexico on Monday, January 9.

New Orleans jazz flavors were prominent throughout the Marsalis show, which was preceded by an hour-long interview with Christian McBride for the bassist’s Sirius/XM series, The Lowdown: Conversations With Christian.

The octet included pianist Sean Mason, bassist Carlos Henriquez, drummer Jason Marsalis, trombonist Chris Crenshaw, reed players Ted Nash and Victor Goines and Don Vappie on banjo and guitar.

They explored “No Surrender” from trumpeter’s Integrity Suite, “Deeper Than Dreams” and “Ballot Box Bounce” from The Democracy Suite. Former sideman Wycliffe Gordon joined the festivities for “Buddy Bolden’s Blues” and “Basin Street Blues.” Alto saxophonist Wes Anderson, another Marsalis band alum, who was aboard as a passenger, joined the band on “Moscow Blues.”

After two years of pandemic-prompted cancellations, The Jazz Cruise sailed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to the Caribbean on January 6, returning a week later. More than 100 musicians were aboard. The headliners include singer Dee Dee Bridgewater, pianist Monty Alexander and Marsalis.

Pianist Sullivan Fortner, another Crescent City native, was also aboard performing late one morning in the ship’s more intimate Deck Four solo and piano trio venue, the Rendezvous Lounge. He also took part in the cruise’s “Keyboard Capers” in the Celebrity Theatre. 

The 90-minute Keyboard Capers showcase featured 14 of the cruise’s 18 pianists (Ted Rosenthal, Billy Childs, Christian Sands, Benny Green, Renee Rosnes, Christian Tamburr, Luther Allison, Emmet Cohen, Christian Jacob, Kenny Banks Jr., Axel Tosca, Tamir Hendelman, Fortner and Bill Charlap).

Each performed a solo piano piece in their style before handing it off to the next player. All were riveting.

Fortner followed Hendelman’s take on the languid ballad “Heart’s Desire” with an energetic take on Jelly Roll Morton’s “King Porter Stomp.” The session closed with an all-hands romp through Charlie Parker’s “Billie’s Bounce” as the players took turns at the shared piano.

Tamburr’s showcase tune, “I Remember You,” featured him on vibes rather than the Yamaha grand. He and Fortner teamed up on the vibes during the “Billie’s Bounce” finale, which has as many as five or six players sharing the keyboard.

Photos from the Jazz Cruise featuring Wynton Marsalis with captions appear below:

Wycliffe Gordon and Wynton Marsalis on The Jazz Cruise, January 9, 2023. Ken Franckling photo

“Sweet Papa” Don Vappie, Carlos Henriquez, Wynton Marsalis on The Jazz Cruise, January 9, 2023. Ken Franckling photo

Wycliffe Gordo, Chris Crenshaw and Wynton Marsalis on The Jazz Cruise, January 9, 2023. Ken Franckling photo

Wynton Marsalis on The Jazz Cruise, January 9, 2023. Ken Franckling photo

Saxophonists Ted Nash, Victor Goines and Wes “Warmdaddy” Anderson performed with Wynton Marsalis on The Jazz Cruise, January 9, 2023. Ken Franckling photo

Sullivan Fortner, Keyboard Capers, The Jazz Cruise, January 12, 2023. Ken Franckling photo

Keyboard Capers finale, The Jazz Cruise, January 12, 2023. Ken Franckling photo

Sullivan Fortner and Christian Tamburr share good vibes, Keyboard Capers, The Jazz Cruise, January 12, 2023. Ken Franckling photo