NYC's Smooth Cruises Sets Sail Wednesdays 7/1-9/2

Like everything else, travel and live jazz have suffered the economic downturn in New York and beyond.  Fortunately, this summer New Yorkers don’t have to go any farther than their own harbor every Wednesday night for great jazz and beautiful city views.  For the 10th year in a row, The Smooth Cruises are back and setting sail along the scenic Hudson River.

This 10 week series features some of the world’s premier jazz artists.  Marquee Concerts, New York’s biggest jazz promoter, transforms the Spirit of New York Cruise Ship into a floating jazz club each summer.  Each cruise is a one-of-a-kind LIVE show and lifestyle evening on the water.  Starting July 1 and running  every  Wednesday night  until Labor Day,  there is a sunset cruise (6:30pm) and a moonlight cruise (9:30pm).  This year’s featured artists include Spyro Gyra, Alex Bugnon & Paul Taylor, Bobby Caldwell, The Rippingtons, Jonathan Butler, Najee, Peter White & Mindi Abair, Marion Meadows & Shilts, Phil Perry and Pieces of a Dream. 

Says Marquee concerts’ Sam Kimball, “It’s truly a joy to present international jazz stars every summer on the Hudson and create an opportunity for New Yorkers to enjoy a wonderful musical evening on the water at an affordable ticket price.”

With each passing year, New York seems to suffer the loss of a jazz venue or jazz media outlet.  In February 2008 the city lost CD101.9 the nation’s largest jazz radio station.   And although New York City’s jazz scene has been a beacon to legions of jazz musicians and their fans for decades, Kimball says that “there is a relative scarcity of high quality jazz-only venues and outlets.  Yet there is still a lot of great jazz passing right through here from all over the world.  And the city and its surrounding areas are home to many top jazz performers.”

Marquee’s Bill Zafiros says that “these are some of the best musicians in the world and there is a need to showcase this level of talent and keep jazz and smooth jazz alive in New York City.  When CD101.9 Smooth Jazz was broadcasting (1988-2008) we had over 1 million weekly listeners.  Now there’s no station; but those same people are still here and interested in jazz”   That’s why the company launched SmoothJazzNewYork.com as an online portal to inform the audience of great jazz concerts and events in and around New York City.  In 2008 Smooth Jazz New York presented the Smooth Cruises without the aid of a smooth jazz radio station, and the series was almost entirely sold out, showing that the jazz audience is truly still there and active in the market.

This summer make your Wednesday nights feel like Friday nights with breathtaking views of Lady Liberty, Uptown, Midtown and Downtown coupled with intimate performances by the world’s best jazz artists.

“Some people thought the end of a jazz station here was the beginning of the end off the jazz scene in New York, but that is not the case,” Kimball concluded. “[Marquee Concerts is] Smooth Jazz’s #1 advocate [in New York City] and every day we receive phone calls and emails urging us to continue the tradition of great jazz and lifestyle events.”

These Smooth Cruises sell out fast. Get your tickets now!

When:    

Every Wednesday Night from July 1st – September 2nd at 6:30pm and at 9:30 pm

Where: 

Spirit of New York Cruise Ship, Pier 61, Chelsea Piers at 23rd Street, New York, NY 

Lineup:  

July 1 - Spyro Gyra

July 8 - Alex Bugnon & Paul Taylor

July 15 - Bobby Caldwell

July 22 - The Rippingtons

July 29 - Jonathan Butler

August 5 - Najee

August 12 - Peter White & Mindi Abair

August 19 - Marion Meados & Shilts (from Down to the Bone)

August 26 - Phil Perry

September 2 - Pieces of a Dream

Tickets/Info:

Tickets are $55.00 and available at www.SmoothJazzNewYork.com, 866-211-3812 or the Spirit Cruises box office on Pier 61. There is an optional $25 buffet which includes beef, ham, seafood and chicken, as well as salad, side dishes and dessert.  Drinks are available for purchase.

Marquee Concerts is one of the premiere concert promoters in the northeast, producing hundreds of events across all spectrums and genres.  Marquee is constantly researching new music trends, recognizing today's up-and-coming entertainers, and expanding upon existing business relationships to put on the best shows possible and remain a competitive mainstay in the concert promoters industry.