Jam Cruise 22: Day 5 (Wednesday, February 11)
[Thanks as always to the amazing Jam Cruise photographers for their tireless work!
Chris Baldwin, Gabby Barbieri, Ariel Opal Feldman, Jason Myers, Zach Smith, Josh Timmermans & Dave Vann]
Jam Cruise made a stop at MSC’s Ocean Cay for a long day of swimming, sunning, strolling around, sleeping in the cabin, six wellness activities on Lighthouse Bay Beach, community canvas live painting experience, and two sets of music at the Lighthouse Bar. Also, because we were a skipping stone’s throw away from the Miami port, we were able to delay the sail-away until 8 p.m.
Joe Marcinek had the first set at the slammed Lighthouse Bar, people everywhere enjoying conversation and enjoying the music. He had several people sit it. It was the same for fiddler Jake Simpson, who was joined for part of his set by Greg Sanderson on saxophone.
Back on board, we treated ourselves to our sit-down dinner (sushi in the Galaxy). We could hear much of Eggy’s great set, and apparently they had a knock-out 40-minute sound check first!
The sound around the ship was really superb, but unfortunately it was obscenely loud in the theater for rising star Grace Bowers. She deserved much better than that.
Dizgo were rocking the B&W to continue their introduction after that fabulous Pool Deck set Monday! Difficult to see in that room, but we could hear just fine.
One of the special draws on Jam Cruise, along with Everyone Orchestra and Lebo’s Yacht Rock set, is the Super Jam. Two outstanding members of Cool Cool Cool were selected to host, and Sammi Garett and Craig Brodhead knocked this one clear out of the… boat! Bandmates The Horn Section – Greg Sanderson, saxophone, and Craig Brouwers, trumpet – were integral throughout the set. In addition to Brodhead, who has been a major player on board for years, they tapped Tim Palmieri (Lotus) to shred some guitar as well. I would need a program to determine everyone who stepped on stage. After a solid “A Love Bizarre,” Jake Brownstein (Eggy) helped out on “Magic Man.” Julie Gussaroff and Becca Bisque (The Sweet Lillies), Riley Comisar (green hair), and Brittany Beckett (pink hat!) were in the mix, plus fiddles and upright bass, for Sammi’s “When I’m with You (??)
Lebo did a tune as did Kanika before Tony Hall on bass and Nigel Hall, keyboards, helped out on a massive version of Patrice Rushen’s “Haven’t You Heard,” with powerhouse horns. Nigel is a big Patrice fan, and he blew up that solo; he knows that Patrice loves Herbie Hancock and throws in those Herbie trills. Nigel got in a few of his own!!!
ALL the ladies and Tim Palmieri helped rock a number called… “Marijuana Cookie”??? John Medeski took the keys for “Rock Lobster,” which Palmieri OWNED with his vocal opposite the ladies AND with MORE COWBELL. Mike Dillon was in his percussion workshop. “Rapture” was outstanding, with the horns crushing. Sammi sang the opening before Beckett nailed the rap! I REALLY don’t like that 4 Non Blondes song “What’s Up?” but ALL the women and many men were singing it, having a great time.
What happened next had to be one of the greatest JAM CRUISE moments in the history of JAM CRUISE moments. Palmieri began to shred, and Ivan Neville and Mike Dillon, with just the proper amount of malice on their faces, ran up to the front of the stage and tore into “Fight for Your Right.” ABSOLUTELY PANDEMONIUM! EVERYBODY was singing, and there were more on stage with that duo. When they hit the line “I’ll kick you out of my home if you don’t cut that hair,” Ivan lifted his cap to show off his bald pate! To no-one’s surprise, halfway through Dillon was shirtless, and they bouncing around with all the bluff and bravado required. Grins everywhere ear to ear! What a brilliant set!
Jazz Mandolin Project were in the Atrium, High Fade in the B&W, Galactic in the theater, and our unpacked bags in the room. We had to carry all our junk off one year – never again.
I had missed the Lotus theater set and was determined to make it to the Pool Deck for this one. Correct decision for me. They roared out with “Wax” and never slowed up. After the second tune, they mentioned that their Rise of the Anglerfish tour resumes shortly after (and the album of the same name drops February 13). With that, they played outstanding new song (and single) “Oblong Shape,” which gloriously morphed into “Flower Sermon.”
Palmieri (guitar) was flanked by Luke Miller (guitar/keyboards) on the left and Jesse Miller (bass, sampler, modular synth) on the right, all anchored by the incomparable Mike Greenfield on drums. At some point, there were vibes, or vibes-like sounds. Queen Kanika came back to the stage to join the boys on a deep dive into “Time” from DSOTM. Lotus raged right up to quittin’ time… plus a few amazing minutes.
Done. Toast. I missed Lettuce, Here Come the Mummies, Skerik in the Jam Room, DJ AirWolf in Galaxy Disco, and an earlier pop-up darkwave set from Adam Deitch, Skerik, and Medeski.
Thank you to everyone involved in making this annual gathering of friends for a huge dance/jam party a reality. Not going to be on MSC Divina next year? SO WHAT! Time to Pre-book, party people!
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