Raves: Cruiser & Artist Testimonials

"It's not Disney World. It's about people relaxing, enjoying themselves, and spending time with others who enjoy the same kind of music as they do. It's amazing how people can really connect through the Blues and R&B. Every year you can set your clock by it."
- Taj Mahal, Multi-Grammy Award Winner

"The best gig we've ever played!" - Jimmy McCracklin (after 60+ years of performing)

"The Cruise was so great that it seems like a dream. Waiting a year is going to be really tough. It was one of the peak experiences of my life. I can be shy and it was so much easier to connect with people, especially after my programs, than it is in the "real world." And those people are always nice and friendly (Cruiser Hugs are a beautiful thing), usually affluent and love blues; how good can it get? Plus the pampering, all the old and new frienships, the often truly inspired music... it was beyond fantastic and I thank you as profusely as I can for the opportunity and hospitality!"
- Dick Shurman (Award-winning producer and writer, 25+ years)

"Losing my virginity was much more fun the second time around!"
- Nancy Essaff aka Blues'n'girl

"I want you to know that being on the Blues Cruise is one of the best experiences of my life. I had a great time and got to meet some of the coolest people. I have never enjoyed staying up, losing sleep so much. My wife Gaynielle enjoyed sharing her cooking skills in the gumbo cook off as well. I've never had so much fun. Thank you."
- Cyril Neville

"It's one of the few experiences that actually delivers as advertised. It really is as good as it gets for a serious Blues fan. The music literally never stops. As I write this, several passengers just fired up a jam next to the pool; it's 9:30 in the morning. I'm sure if I took a little walk to another part of the ship... there's more music!
- Cruiser Cathy Minke, BluesWax

"It's amazing, The cruises are probably the best thing that's happened to the blues in years. It's a shot in the arm for Blues music in general. All the musicians get together - the top blues guys from the old guard and the new."
- Tommy Castro

"This is the hippest group of white folks I've ever seen."
- Millie Jackson during her second set 'Milliology' in Jan. '06

"I was amazed and pleased by the positive interaction among fans and musicians of all races and backgrounds. This cruise easily beat any music festival experience I've ever had."
- Award-winning Filmmaker Robert Mugge

"My eyes swelled up in tears when I realized I had to get off the ship. It felt like home."
- Biscuit Miller

"For those who never sailed; believe me, it will change your life forever!" - Ana Popovic

"Why am I not on the Pacific Cruise?!!" - Rod Piazza

"One of the best musical experiences of my life!" - Anthony Gomes

"We all had an amazing experience. What a wonderful group of people you bring together, truly the best blues festival experience I have had in the 15 years of touring."
- Tim Duffy & the Music Makers

"You do the most inedible job of providing the most perfect venue, music, and people who love the blues. Every year it just gets better. All the people you work with seem to do what they do with pride and love . To make a trip like this possible with every one looking so calm and every thing always seeming to go so smoothly -- JUST INCREDIBLE. The work it takes I can't even imagine. My wife and I with our sons have a family business (4th generation) and I understand when your life-business-love all can work together. It can be real magic, and that is what you have created. We have met more wonderful REAL FRIENDS on your cruises than we have met in many years. I hope to do it for life! My best to you and be well."
- John Skalet, cruiser

"I don't even know how to describe the enjoyment of this last October cruise. The musicians and cruisers I was blessed to meet were absolutely wonderful. I, being one of only four trumpet players on board, had no idea I would be jamming with such fantastic performers as Curtis Salgado, Tommy Castro, Marcia Ball, Chico Banks, Bernard Allison, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Eden Brent (in the piano bar), Joe Louis Walker, and their band members at the pro-jams. It was a dream come true. In fact, two weeks after the cruise, Tommy Castro's band came to Seattle and performed at the 99 Club, plus asked me to play part of their second set with them. What an honor. I freelance with a number of bands, in the Seattle area, performing, writing horn parts, and recording. However, since the cruise, I have decided to start a band of my own through the encouragement of Randy Oxford. My most gracious thanks for an experience I will always treasure and hold dear to my heart. WOW."
Ron Hendee, Granite Falls, WA | myspace.com/ronhendee

***
Shortly after Jan '08 I was on a flight and scribbled this onto an airsick bag...

Dear Blues Cruise,
I miss you, the music, the ship,
The Vista, The Pool Deck, the magic of "it"

Francesca, and Howard, and Miss Peggy Lou,
Miss Judy, and Frieda, and tall Tracey too!

I miss rockin' and talkin' and drinking our wine,
Dancing our butts off -no concept of time.
Jammin' and crammin' those soulful notes in,
Changing out costumes though doubtful we'll win,
(into pirates and beads and our best Bluesin' Bling.)

Quick to the Queen's for some guy we don't know,
Agree that he's good, then rush further below
For another great favorite who'll sing play and blow,
Some strumming and drumming then up to The Crow-

The Nest is the best when your feet say No More,
Sit back and relax, let these geaks take the floor.
An Espresso Martini, by Eduardo? no less,
A delectable treat as our legs get some rest.

No tripping, just sipping along with the flow-
Admitting the wisdom of going below
To seek out our cabin, "which one was our door?"
I thought it was here -hey check out THAT decor!
(Man, that is cool but we've got the wrong floor.)

So, that dear Captain Peter, that's "Harris" to you,
Kept Westy on schedule as well as her crew.
Whether calling out Cocktails or fixing a drink,
or electrical circuits with wires on the blink.

That Saxaphone theft cinged our good reputation,
-The coconut left of unknown embarkation?
The art WAS returned for those of you wondering,
No questions asked, but- "Please, no more plundering!"

That last blurry night with Benoit in the bar,
Someone on piano, Tom on guitar,
We wore out our welcome by dancing 'til dawn,
But that "Dam" Piano Bar just went on and on...

Severely Yours...
Tracey

***

New to Bluesin'? Everyone has a first time! Check out these
testimonials from some of our Cruise "Virgins"...

"I WON a Blues Cruise and had THE TIME OF MY LIFE! I met so many great people --Carl, Gary, Don and Rosemary (aka Maryanne and the Professor) Dave and Marie, the famous Joyce and Steve and many many more! I'm really missing you guys now that I'm back in Virginia! The music was FABULOUS, I especially loved Kelley Hunt! Our ship rocked like no other cruise ship possibly could! I hope to one day be able to go on this cruise again. In the meantime, I really hope to see many of you at a Blues Festival in the not so distant future!" - Dee Dee

"My girlfriend won a trip on some kind of blues cruise that I had never heard of before and it forever changed my life, my attitude, my altitude and my CD collection. I love live music and had the time of my life on the LRBC. It was great to meet so many new friends!" - Martita

"First it's the waiting to get a room....then it's all the constant "chatting" that goes on here that will keep you revved up .........then there's decisions to make on packing ..........then the flight that just can't get off the ground soon enough ........then how soon can we get to the hotel and meet all your new friends .........then "when can we get to bed so we can get up and go to the d@#m boat" ..........then it's just the mad chaos getting to the ship, through the check-in, pictures, etc.... AND FINALLY you will set your foot on the boat and your life will change forever! WOW, it's all worth the wait just don't try to calm down between now and then...just give in to the temptation and enjoy the ride! "Life's too short to dance with ugly men and drink cheap wine", Shirley

"A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE... THE CENTER OF MY UNIVERSE..."

Don't miss this from JP:
To: All my musically-motivated friends
As you all know, I'd been a big booster of Jazzfest in the Big Easy for years. Too many terrific times have been had there for me to ever regret attending. I'd always overlook the little yet frequent pains-in -the-ass such as: shows that chronically start late, spending tons on cabs over the length of the fest, dubious/dangerous after-hours neighborhoods, jam-packed stages, long beer lines, tedious waits for restaurant tables, sloppy-drunk frat boys, sold-out shows and on and on ............etc.

Look in the mirror and ask yourself: "Self, do I REALLY love live music... The Blues, godfather to all we listen to today?" You can have terrific festing (7 days) and eliminate every problem stated above.

Cause if you answer yes----read on to hear of perhaps the greatest nine days I've reveled in over my half century spent roaming this planet. We've all seen the movie "Woodstock". Recall the stage being set up? Now picture watching a crane spend seven hours uploading tons and tons and tons of equipment up 12 stories. Building a stage, from the ground up, literally right over a pool, complete with welders' torches sparking over I-beams, electricians erecting lighting scaffolds, sound techs stringing miles of cable, buzz saws whining as carpenters scurry about. Amps/monitors/soundboards/guitars/pianos/organs--everything a music fan might desire!

ON A CRUISE SHIP!!!!!!!

Ever yearn to party only with die-hard music heads? From most all 50 states, Canada, Austria, England, Germany? Ever been envious of those sitting side-stage/backstage? (No off-limits fencing here!) Where the first time anyone asks "what you do for a living" occurs after 5 days at sea? Where not one cell phone is heard ringing? Tired of one genre, walk 5 minutes to any of other 3 locations for music? Ever sat in nearly deserted, quiet lounge sharing cigs with musician from Germany at 3 am---only to have 20-something young dude with British accent humbly approach us asking "Would you mind if I played the piano?" and promptly get blown away with 1/2 hour of boogie piano straight from Professor Longhair and New Orleans? Desire to drink without the fear of the DUI? Ever been grooving in front of a stage, turn around, and see Taj Mahal and one of ladies from Saffire/ Uppity Blues Women bopping equally joyfully RIGHT BEHIND you? When's the last time you sat down to lunch with a professional musician? Had a cocktail at 2am with a harp player? Walked a beach in Honduras with a saxman who jammed with every available grouping until dawn every day? Went in (unsuccessful) search of a fishing guide in Belize with drummer for Roomfull of Blues? Shoot the shit with flute player for Derek Trucks about influences for my daughter's playing---same guy who was awarded most-jamminest musician? Stay up till dawn almost daily? See 80-something piano legend Johnnie Johnson (wrote most of Chuck Berry's hits) be invited up by almost every band? See Little Milton--as polished as BB King? See 3 hour jam that started at 1 in the morning feature about 25 guys, including 13 on stage at once? Ever seen 4 bass players jam together at 3 am? Ever been flattered by musician, after last afternoon farewell gig by Taj, ask you to autograph HIS festival poster? Folks, all this truly happened to me. And once I get used to beginning a day at 7am instead of ending it then, I'll coherently relive another 101 things I haven't even mentioned yet.

The reason for my urgency in bringing all this to your attention is this: The 2005 Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise, sailing in January next year, already has 700 bookings (half capacity). This year's gig sold out 6 months in advance---though did meet one lucky soul from Calgary who heard about it 12/7 and filled a cancellation 4 days later! Truth be told: I had always been the anti-cruiser. Not on this boat: dress up for dinner (not me) or live in tees and shorts---nobody cares. There are no rules. Seeing just-off-duty crews in their dress whites boppin' with beers in hand said it all. Pull into a port and out came the 20 foot long, OUR BOAT KICKS ASS sign for all the other ships to be envious of!!! Not to mention the pirate's skull and crossbones flag proudly waving from the stern flagpole! Folks, your fellow cruisers are the counterculture of yesteryear....no losers on this ship. Don't delay, don't deliberate, don't second-guess yourself, don't say you can't afford it. Do something you will fondly bask in for the rest of your life, do your own life a favor and GET ON BOARD! This is not a paid political announcement---however, for the price of a cocktail ot two, I'll gladly provide the long version of this joyful adventure. And mention that I referred ya; referral fund will pay for a cocktail party next year.

I realize this is a long ramble. Trust me, the reality is like nothing else I've witnessed in 35 years of hearing live music. And should you find yourself saying "I'm not that big a fan of the Blues"........you have no idea how WRONG you can be.

- Love Ya All, JP JPND75@aol.com

Big City Blues Magazine: Artist Postcards from the High Seas Shemekia Copeland I've never seen so many diehard blues fans in one place at one time. People are crazy about the music and that's the way it should be! My first blues cruise - I like watching all the other bands, just hanging out with the other musicians and the people that we never get to see hardly and then you end up seeing them for seven days straight which is kind of rare for us for that long of time. If you are totally into the blues and don't mind listening to music and hanging out all night long, this is definitely for you. I'm glad we're going back. It's a wonderful time of year. February is the worst winter month of the year. Going to the Caribbean during that time is definitely a big plus for me. Ronnie Baker Brooks The last two years the band has been asking to participate in the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise and we finally got our chance. If you love the blues, you should try to make it next year. It is like a 24/7 blues fest, with so many musicians jamming around the ship. It is one hell of a party. We ported in St. Croix, Tortola, and the Dominican Republic. We, along with special guest Jellybean Johnson, played 4 shows and had a great time. (Looks like we'll be back next year, so keep checking their website for more info). We had unscheduled jam sessions with Jellybean Johnson, Shemekia Copeland, Tommy Castro, Bernard Allison, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Curtis Salgado and the Platinum Band. It was an incredible experience, one the band and I will never forget. I was able to sit and have a talk with Taj Mahal, Otis Clay, Tyrone Davis, Terrance Simien and many Blues Cruisers, just shooting the breeze. I also participated in an official talk session with Shemekia Copeland, Bernard Allison and Alvin Youngblood Hart discussing our family upbringing in the blues. We also talked about doing a tour together - the "Who's Your Daddy Tour". What do you think about that?

John Mooney It was so much fun - the whole cruise was . It gets better and better . It seems like so many people on the cruise have been on other cruises before and they know everybody and it's more and more comfortable. I really enjoyed seeing Shemekia and Lil' Ed and playing on the outdoor stage. I like the smaller undeveloped islands like Tortola. The Mardi Gras Workshop was a lot of fun with Chubby Carrier, Tony Braunagel... Kim Wilson It's a vacation! Kick back, great music, listen to some stomp at the stomp, eat food, see a little sun... I love hanging out with Charlie and Henrietta and Taj. I don't get to see Denny Freeman very often. We use to hang out back in Austin together a lot. He's hilarious. The whole thing in general is real mellow - the relaxed atmosphere of it. I usually play every day and I didn't play every day on the cruise. I actually really got to make a vacation out of it. And that's what I did. I'm on the road so much I don't get to relax that often. When we went to Cozumel, Amanda and I just went to the beach and hung out and sat there and let people wait on us. I jammed the night Kid Ramos was in charge of it and I went to the last night on the cruise. And I enjoyed playing basketball on the boat and working out.

Chubby Carrier We are family! This is my fourth cruise and they get better and better. I like everything. Let's start with the people, the fans...I got to start with them. We don't get to be up close and personal with the fans that often because most of the time we have to play and leave but to be able to spend a whole week with the fans that was the moment right there! Just to be able to say, 'I'm hangin' out with you guys for a week.' I love jammin' and we did one with Ronnie Baker Brooks and the guy from California, James Armstrong. I liked him and one late night with Kid, Kid Ramos. I came home around four o'clock in the morning. I don't know if I was playin' the right notes or not but I was up there. Very rarely do we get to jam out on the road. On the boat, it's a chance of a lifetime to jam. We did a Mardi Gras Workshop, second line and how I got started with zydeco and how zydeco got involved with Mardi Gras. I feel good about things like that. It was nice. A lot of the blues lovers and blues fans don't now what zydeco is. I'm always willing to educate and where it comes from. When we came in from Mexico, I was fired up. It's a party that just don't stop! Being able to be on the boat with all the blues and zydeco lovers. Electrifying! It's so high and intensive. Everybody had a smile on their faces and everybody is so happy! I liked the year when we went to St. Croix. I miss the blues fest we used to do when we would go there and Bonnie Raitt joined us on stage. That was awesome!

Charlie Musselwhite The camaraderie says it all for me and when Kim Wilson and I sat in with each other's bands. It's fun because of the excitement it generates with the people and among the musicians, too. My favorite thing to do on the islands is snorkeling. No blues cruise has stopped at my favorite island yet, which is Tenerife.

James Armstrong I've had so many people tell me about this cruise over the last few years, but (the descriptions) just didn't come up to what this cruise is all about. The energy, the people...all blues fans. It was just one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had.

Barbara Blue The boat is rockin' so don't bother knockin'! Dear Music Lovers Everywhere, It's blues, from the novice to the pro that surrounds you along with paradise, the sun and the sea. You can choose to participate or sit back and take in the sites and sounds, which are endless, unless you find a nice quiet cozy corner to chill. I had a VERY special opportunity to perform a few songs from my new CD, Sell My Jewelry with Taj's Phantom Blues Band of which I recorded it with, and as a special added treat we were joined by Kim Wilson on harmonica. SO you just never know what's gonna go down.... It's a blues history in the making. This boat is a rockin' so don't bother knockin'!!! Just book a reservation and tell them Barbara Blue sent ya !!!! It only takes one...then you're hooked...I'm a veteran of 5, 6 or 7!!! Happy Cruisin' XOX, -BB

"My girlfriend won a trip on some kind of blues cruise that I had never neard of before and it forever changed my life, my attitude, my altitude and my CD collection." -Martita, 2003 Cruiser

What are you going to be doing this coming February when it's 10 below in Chicago and zero degrees in Boston!?

Dear Friends...
For a lot of years, I would spend my winter vacation somewhere in the Rockies or Tetons bundled up amongst 30 pounds of clothing and still freezing my ass off while I attempted to negotiate down 4000 feet of treacherous terrain at speeds of nearly 80 miles an hour with the bitter wind in my face... icicles hanging from my eyebrows... toes and fingers too numb to feel... knees aching from the pain of years of sports abuse... with the only music that I could hear coming from my inadequate Walkman whose tape would freeze up and crack under the pressure of the sub-zero temperatures... only to finally make it to the end of the day looking forward to the comfort of a nice hot shower and a relaxing time in the hot tub with a nice cold beer... yet, at that point, I was always too tired and beat up to make it that far... I generally got as far as the bar at the lodge at the bottom of the hill and somehow found a way to crawl back to the condo and to my bed at the end of the night to try and get a restful night's sleep so that I could do this all over again the next day and the next day and the next... and I use to think that that was fun!!!

Of course it was fun or I wouldn't have been doing it for so many years... however, at some point in time, one gets their mind right and figures out what is really fun and important in life!!

I still like to ski although I haven't done it quite some time... however, my winter vacation is now spent floating on a boat in the Caribbean basking in the sun amidst 80 degree temperatures during the day while sipping on an Absolute on the rocks or a tropical drink with an orange umbrella stuck in it listening to some of the greatest music this earth has to offer and amongst a thousand or so other folks who are there for the same reason as I.

Believe you me... I am not one who likes water per se... you can ask some of my closest friends, some of whom I spent a most terrifying and almost life ending day with screaming down a class 7 river just outside of Yosemite several years back (Joe ... Kurt ... Pete)... however, a few years ago, I read about a cruise put together by some folks out of Kansas City who happen to own a blues club (The Grand Emporium) and whose vision was to create a life changing experience in the way of a floating blues festival of sorts that would last a week and would be located in the warmth and sunshine of the tropics during a time of year when most others would be contemplating the shoveling of a foot of snow amidst sub zero temperatures at 6 am before heading off to a boring and tedious day at work... it didn't take much to convince me that this was the ticket!!!

The upcoming cruise will be my sixth or seventh Blues Cruise... I have lost count... since the first time that I went, I have not missed a one... that in itself should tell you something about the experience...it is perhaps one of the greatest times you will ever have in your life...except for the second and third time and the fourth and the fifth and ...

I strongly suggest that you visit the cruise website to get the full picture... on the website, you can witness the experience of last year's cruise via pictures and testimonials, the ship layout is there, the lineup and artist bios are there, sign up instructions and forms...whatever you need to help you make up your mind and get it done is contained on the website. You can also call the folks who are putting the whole thing together and discuss issues and experiences with them in person by calling 1-888-BLUESIN.

You may ask: "why is Steve doing this and why is he working so hard at trying to get us to go on this cruise and have the greatest time of our lives as well?" Well, for one, I'm in the music business...I own an independent compact disc store. I left corporate America to do this because I love music...part of what we do is turn people on to music.That is one of the pure joys of doing what we do. I would love to turn all of you on to what I consider to be one of the greatest experiences involving music available on this planet right here and right now...it would make me feel great to see all of you having the time of your life... so there is some self satisfaction contained in all of this, and there is the $50 referral fee that I earn if you go. However, that is not the point. I am splitting my referral fee(s) with the people who are going because of me so that we may enjoy an additional drink or two or three amidst the sounds of Taj Mahal, Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks, Tommy Castro, John Mooney, Chubby Carrier, Terrance Simien, Bernard Allison, Rod Piazza, Lil' Ed &, Shemekia Copeland, Duke Robillard, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Saffire, Kelley Hunt, Curtis Salgado, The Radiators, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Tyrone Davis, Otis Clay and a favorite of the Fox Valley area...Ronnie Baker Brooks... how much more could you ask for!?

So check it out...more than that...sign up for the time of your life. I guarantee that you will not regret it and that you will have a most difficult time coming up with an experience as fulfilling as the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise!

Steve Warrenfeltz
feltz@mindspring.com

4 More Days of Heaven On The Big Pond!

Hello fellow blues cruisers! I can't believe so many months have passed since the cruise. It was so good to see you in Tampa Bay, except Geno.

But there is a purpose for my letter today... I am writing to inform you that I have circumbed to the pressure exerted by Tracey Jones. Maybe I am weak, so I guess I will have to admit it: I just can't say no! I just can't say no to fun, bluesin', cruisin', and yousin! So as Tracey put it so adeptly. if she and I have to do this so do you!

So, suck it up cruisers... how can you say "no" to four more nights together? Four more nights of music. Four more nights of the addicting altered reality that we so love? OH, OH, OH... I think I'm feeling inspired! Attention all cruisers. Listen to me! We need more time together floatin' at sea! Seven nights were just great... we had so much fun listening to music under the sun. But the time went so fast! We all wanted more. We wished for one more night. Now we can have four!

So, come on fellow Voyagers! Please don't break my heart! How can you not be there with us right from the start? You better come join us. We'll be bluesin' and cruisin', and if you miss this Melody, I think you'll be losin'! How can you even pretend you can settle for seven when its in your power to make it lucky eleven?

THE MORAL OF THIS DITTY: THOUGH IT'S MORE STUPID THAN IT IS PRETTY... Please save those nickels, dimes and quarters for four more nights up on the waters!

HAVE I MADE MY POINT? Can't wait! Love y'all!
Florida Chris Boundary