Nov 5-12, 2005
M/S Oosterdam
Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, & Puerto Vallarta

There are currently three smooth jazz cruises to choose from – Warren Hill’s, Dave Koz’s and the All Star Smooth Jazz Cruise.  They are sometimes referred to as jazz festivals at sea.  And while that isn’t a bad description, they are really much more than that.  They are seven days of great music, Q&A sessions, jams, meet-and-greets, hangs by the pool, informal chats, meeting lots of fellow smooth jazz lovers, all while being pampered on a cruise line.  For music lovers like us, it just doesn’t get any better than this.

As with everything Dave Koz puts his name on, the Dave Koz & Friends At Sea Cruise was a class act from start to finish.  It was, at least to those of us onboard to experience the music, flawlessly planned and executed.  The one major event that could have derailed everything – the passing of Dave’s mom, Audrey, and Dave’s arrival on the ship three days after we set sail – actually took the week to a different level as we all shared in that loss and participated in the celebration of life that the week would become.  No one walked off that ship unaffected.

All of the musicians - Marc Antoine, Patti Austin, David Benoit, Chris Botti, Jonathan Butler, George Duke, Jeff Golub, Jeffrey Osborne, Praful, Wayman Tisdale, Kirk Whalum, Brian Simpson, Steve Oliver, Javid and all the incredible back-up musicians – stepped up and filled in any gaps that might have existed due to Dave’s absence those first few days. And after that they all let the music work its sustaining and healing magic.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The passengers were divided into two groups.  Group One had dinner while Group Two enjoyed the main concert for the evening, then we switched.  So there were two concerts each night.  But there were also shows going on throughout the evening at various locations on the ship, and each night was capped off with an incredible midnight jam session under the stars.  And because it was a full-charter smooth jazz cruise, all the music played through the speakers throughout the ship, as well as on several of the TV channels was smooth jazz.  Talk about total immersion!!!

Saturday evening, our first show featured Jeff Golub and Wayman Tisdale with Chris Botti opening the show with “I’ll Be Seeing You” as a tribute to Dave’s mom, Audrey.  Jeff Golub rocked as usual.  He said at one point that “This part (playing) I do for free.  It’s the traveling I get paid for!” He was joined on stage by Kirk Whalum for a couple of songs. His set ended with Wayman Tisdale joining him on his last number, then Tisdale took over.  The band for both sets consisted of Andre Berry (bass), Randy Jacobs (guitar), Dave Hooper (drums), Ronnie Guitierrez (percussion) and Ron Reinhart (keyboard).  Saxman Tom Braxton joined the band backing up Tisdale.  It was a great start to the week.

Sunday afternoon we got to go to church hosted by Kirk Whalum and Jonathan Butler!  Kirk was joined by brother Kevin Whalum and Marc Antoine for the very touching “My Little Man” and “Ta-Ta (thank you) Jesus.”  Jonathan Butler, joined Kirk and Kevin for “Forever and Ever.”  Jonathan was joined by his daughter, Jody, for “Here I Am To Worship” and “Falling In Love With Jesus,” and Kirk and Kevin did a beautiful rendition of “Amazing Grace.”  Wayman Tisdale, Kirk and Jonathan did “It’s Alright,” and Kevin joined in for “Wade On the Water/ Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.”  Backing them up throughout the hour was Tony Maiden (guitar), Stevo Theard (drums), Brian Simpson (keyboards), Bill Sharpe (bass), and Tom Braxton (sax).

Sunday evening’s show featured Kirk Whalum and Patti Austin.  Chris Botti stepped on stage for “For The Cool In You,” and Marc Antoine and Kevin Whalum joined Kirk for “My Little Man.”  George Duke joined Kirk as he introduced a new song available at www.itunes.com, www.kirkwhalum.com and www.rendezvousmusic.com beginning Nov. 22 – “When The Saints Go Marching Back In.”  Proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity to help in the rebuilding of homes in New Orleans.  Patti Austin joined them and then took over.  Some of the highlights of Patti’s set were “Baby Come To Me” where she does her and James Ingram’s part, and several songs from her CD For Ella, a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. Sunday night’s band included Tony Maiden (guitar), Stevo Theard (drums), Brian Simpson (keyboards), and Bill Sharpe (bass).

Monday evening’s show featured Marc Antoine and Chris Botti, but unfortunately, due to a fall on our first shore excursion of the week, we were cabin-bound that evening.

Tuesday evening featured David Benoit and Jeffrey Osborn.  Dave Koz was in the house and came out to a standing ovation of love.  There was a picture of Dave getting off the chartered jet to the 2001 Space Odyssey theme.  Then he came up out of the orchestra pit in full uniform and turned around and saluted us.  Dave started the show with "Honey Dipped" and David Benoit took his place at the grand piano and played "Snap." David and Brian Simpson dueled on the piano, and then Praful took the stage for the straight-ahead "Watermelon Man."  Jeffrey Osborne took the stage and was joined by Wayman Tisdale and Jonathan Butler and later by Marc Antoine and Dave Koz for "On the Wings of Love."

Wednesday evening was the “Evening with Dave Koz and Friends.” It started with Dave’s "Wake Up Call" joined by David Benoit which received a standing ovation.  Dave played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with David as a preview to Dave's new CD due out in early 2006.  David played "Freedom at Midnight" and then playfully went straight into "For Elise." Praful played "Sigh" with some audience participation.  Then Jeffrey Osborne was joined by Jonathan, Kirk, Joey Diggs, Dave and Jeff Golub for a song.  Tom Braxton came out for "Sarah."  Kirk played "Someone To Love" from The Babyface Songbook with Dave, and there was a little mutual admiration society between Dave and Kirk when Dave called Kirk the best living saxophone player today.  Patti Austin did a sing-along with "Make It Through Love" and Jeff Golub rocked the ship when he played.  The show ended when George Duke came out and joined everyone on stage for "Bring On The Funk."  That night alone was worth the trip!

Thursday evening featured Jonathan Butler and George Duke.  Jonathan brought his daughter Jody back on stage with him.  Some of the many highlights from his set were “Fire and Rain” and “No Woman, No Cry.”  We were unable to stay for George Duke’s set, but heard it was awesome!

Friday night was all Dave Koz.  He was joined at one time or another by every artist on the cruise.  Toward the middle of his two-hour set, he and the band came to the front of the stage and sat on stools and did about a half dozen or so requests that had been collected earlier that week.  This was a very special and intimate time… and also very humorous at times!  He read one request sheet for “something by Brian Simpson”… “from Brian’s new CD”… “requested by Brian Simpson.”  It was two non-stop hours of high-energy “Dave Koz live” and it ended with a full stage jam including all the artists of the week.  We definitely got the feeling that they didn’t want to stop.  We certainly didn’t want them too.

All week the music was so tight – whether on the main stage, one of the lounges, or at the pool-side midnight jams – it was like we were all just peeking in the window watching good friends play music together.  It was without a doubt an incredible week that we will never forget. 

- Susan Johnson and Elizabeth Ware