Cunard have added much-loved vocalist and songwriter, Gregory Porter, to the Blue Note jazz cruise aboard the Queen Mary 2. Setting sail on 29 October 2015, this will be the first ever jazz cruise organised by respected American jazz label, Blue Note Records, and will feature an array of talented musicians.
Already confirmed for the cruise are pianist Robert Glasper, guitarist Lionel Loueke, trumpeter Keyon Harrold, tenor saxophonist Marcus Strickland, bassist Derrick Hodge and drummer Kendrick Scott. The musicians will perform a series of sets for guests to enjoy.
Porter’s addition is perhaps the most exciting for jazz-lovers aboard the ship, having recently won the Jazz FM’s International Jazz Artist of the Year award for the second time. Guests will be hoping he will be performing hits from his most successful album, Liquid Spirit, which won the 2014 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
His vocal style has been described by The New York Times as “a jazz singer of thrilling presence, a booming baritone with a gift for earthy refinement and soaring uplift.”
Richard Meadows, President of Cunard North America, enthused: “We are so very pleased to include Gregory Porter in what is an all-star list of venerable jazz musicians and world-class entertainers. This collaboration with Blue Note will be truly memorable for our guests and will give them a preview of more to come with Blue Note in 2016.”
Cunard are well known for producing unique cruises and itineraries for guests to enjoy. The Blue Note jazz cruise is a seven night sailing from New York to Southampton. The Queen Mary 2 will then return to New York – giving citizens of the Big Apple the chance to enjoy a transatlantic roundtrip.
The Queen Mary 2 provides a perfect setting for jazz fans to enjoy stunning live performance, with the classic, sophisticated stages and performance areas. Passengers can enjoy nightly jazz performances and jam sessions – ensuring no two nights aboard the Queen Mary 2 will be the same.
Image sourced via Flickr Creative Commons. Credit: PeterTea
