The Jazz Cruise 2013 - Kurt Elling and the Guys

Maybe it was when Kurt performed Body and Soul, dedicating it to the bebop saxophone legend, Phil Woods, who was in the audience with his wife instead of being at the All-Star Jam Farewell on Saturday afternoon.   “The cats are all excited and nervous to do this one, because we all know that we’ve rehearsed thinking we had to be ready in case someday Phil Woods was in the audience.”

Maybe it was the moments after the most kicking version of that tune I’ve ever heard - as Kurt headed offstage directly to Mr. Woods, standing with the rest of the audience in a shouting ovation. The 81 year old NEA Jazz Master then made it a point to go to each member of the band to compliment them separately.

Or possibly it was the opening notes of  “Those Clouds Are Heavy, You Dig?”, or “Freddie’s Yen for Jen” as the audience realized they were gonna get to hear some rarely heard gems.

It might have been the new pieces from “1619 Broadway”, the group’s latest effort, with arrangements by Laurence making old songs brand new, or the new-to-me arrangement of “Moonlight in Vermont” from Kurt’s appearance at the 50^th Anniversary Tribute of Frank Sinatra’s World Tour for Children.  The intro reminded me of Sondheim, with its almost spare arrangement and lovely bass solo by Clark Sommers.

It could definitely have been the night that Kurt and the guys performed with the Big Band full of jazz giants and threw down a no-holds barred “Resolution” which had the audience on their feet and the musicians shaking their heads and smiling.

How can I pick the best moment from the hours of Kurt’s music over the seven day 2013 Jazz Cruise?

For me, personally, it was the first moment of their first session.  I heard the familiar strains of “Come Fly With Me” and I was suddenly, surprisingly at home on this strange ship.  Several people sitting near me hadn’t heard Kurt before and were doubtful they were going to like him. There were even one or two who said they actively didn’t like him. I just sat back and watched as they were blown away.

The first set list included (a few missing and in wrong order here as I had to recreate it afterwards):

·         Come Fly with Me
·         Estate
·         The Waking
·         I Like the Sunrise
·         Those Clouds are Heavy, You Dig?
·         Dedicated to You
·         On Broadway
·         A House is Not a Home
·         I’m Satisfied (with special guest Ann Hampton Calloway)

The next night was Anita’s Big Band, named for Anita Berry, the Chairperson of Entertainment Cruises. It is made up of the wonderful all-stars on the ship. The Kurt Elling Quartet joined the band for the second set. The list for that night was short but powerful:

·         Steppin’ Out w a fabulous solo by tenor player Pete Cristlieb
·         Still of the Night – where my notes say that swing took on a new meaning
·         You Are Too Beautiful
·         Resolution
·         Lil’ Darlin’ – an encore that left everyone singing as they left the room

Thursday’s set was up in the Crow’s Nest  venue with the following set list:

·         My Foolish Heart
·         You Send Me
·         Freddie’s Yen for Jen
·         Estate – joined by the brilliant clarinetist / saxophonist Anat Cohen
·         "Nicht Wandle Mein Licht" From Passion World – also with Anat
·         Golden Lady
·         I’m Satisfied
·         So Far Away
·         Lonely Avenue
·         Late Night Willie
·         I Only Have Eyes For You

The group’s final set on our final day, a beautiful way to end the cruise:

·         Moonlight Serenade
·         Come Fly w/Me
·         You Send Me
·         Samurai Cowboy
·         A House is Not A Home
·         Home Cookin’
·         Moonlight In Vermont
·         Body and Soul
·         You Are Too Beautiful
·         Freddie’s Yen For Jen  - joined by special guest and the “band’s good friend Jimmy Greene”
·         Skylark w/John McLean’s dreamlike solo to begin
·         Nature Boy w/all out solos from Greene, Laurence, Quincy Davis  and John McLean

Speaking of Jimmy Greene,  his daughter Ana was a victim of the horrendous shooting in Newton, CT.  The last morning of the trip, the daily newsletter mentioned that while they didn’t want to invade Jimmy’s privacy, Entertainment Cruise Productions would shortly be announcing some action they would be taking to support changes to our gun laws. Classy way to handle a tough situation.

What wasn’t tough was Jimmy’s playing – which is clear and powerful – and watching his reactions as Kurt worked his magic with the word “kisses”.  

It pleased me to see some of the same first night doubters turned fans in the audience for that last set, especially as it was programmed against the Jazz Jam Farewell.  And it was obvious that everyone, musicians and civilians alike, had had a wonderful time.  Kurt remarked that it was sad to see the cruise end and that it almost felt like a family reunion. Then, channeling his inner goofball, in a strictly-for-Hollywood brogue remarked “it’s like our own little floating Brigadoon!  Oh noooo! Our day is ending!!”

End it did.  No point in trying to figure out which moments were best. They were all one-of-a kind.