January 25, 2012 in 09, 10, 11, 12, 17, 2, 25, 29, 3, 30, 31, 9, a, after, Again, age, Alive, all, Also, am, an, and, another, Are, around, as, at, Bad, ban, band, bands, big, blue, blues, book, Boys, bud, Burn, but, by, ca, can, cat, Chronic, color, Colors, community, Day, Day., does, down, Edit, en, end, Enjoy, Eve, fee, fi, FOR, four, Free, friday, From, Funk, gag, gain, game, Genre, get, gin, glow, Good, great, Groove, Guitar, Gus, hall, hammond, hi, high, home, How, ice, in, inspired, into, is, IT, IX, jam, jamaica, jamband, Jambands, Joy, King, know, las, Last, late, Led, Lee, life, light, lights, Like, live, live music, lot, love, MA, machine, Made, metal, MI, miles, mix, mod, monday, mouth, Much, Music, My, name, Nat, nc, New, new york, News, night, NJ, no, nothing, NV, ny, of, on, one, op, Open, opening, out, PA, page, Part, photos, Piano, picking, play, player, Pot, pro, Pt, Rabbit, rad, rage, rant, read, recording, Road, rock, roll, rolling, room, row, rs, run, San Francisco, Say, SC, sci, set, show, So, solo, solos, song, Soul, St, Stab, stage, state, stick, story, style, super, sweep, tab, talk, Talking, That, the, Thursday, to, Too, tries, tuesday, two, uic, us, va, van, view, WA, war, Way, ways, we, Web, Wednesday, Ween, with, words, years, york, You |
Words by: Dennis Cook | Images by: Chad Smith and Brad Hodge
Jam Cruise 10 :: 01.09.12-01.13.12 :: MSC Poesia :: Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Labadee, Haiti/Falmouth, Jamaica
Its a pretty big understatement to say theres nothing quite like Jam Cruise, and the 2012 edition only cemented this impression in major ways. Beyond the mix of talent aboard simply one of the best assemblages of pure players out there once again there are myriad ephemeral elements that grow stronger and more pervasive each year. The community that gathers for the five days aboard the ship is becoming less temporary, infiltrating one anothers lives throughout the year, scheming and dreaming together, puzzling over how to make the next Jam Cruise even bolder, delightfully weirder and just plain MORE. Everywhere one wandered on the MSC Poesia this year signs of this oddly interwoven dynamic were apparent gaggles of matching costumes, cryptic but charming door decorations, the nigh endless outbursts of hail n good cheer that make progress from Point A to Point B a slow but happy crawl. And with a blast of volume and bright colors, great music awaited one at every turn, too, sweeping in from New Orleans, San Francisco, New York and many other hubs, combining in new ways and delivered with undisguised vigor – alive, fragrant, amazing.
You can pull out more of the specifics of this years voyage in our day-by-day entries (linked below), and weve also included our picks for MVPs on Jam Cruise 10. In many ways, the tale of this annual celebration of life and creativity is captured in the many, many grinning, utterly awake and engaged moments ensnared by our photographers Chad and Brad this year. Take a look and see if you dont immediately want to pre-book a cabin for Jam Cruise 11. We know we wouldnt miss it for the world!
Jam Cruise 10 (Fort Lauderdale, FL) View Photos
Continue reading for Brad Hodges photo gallery and our MVP picks…
Jam Cruise 10 (Fort Lauderdale, FL) View Photos
Jam Cruise 10 MVPs
1. Ivan Neville
The moment that cemented Ivans top position this year was when he glided in behind the Hammond B-3 next to Umphreys McGees Joel Cummins during The Everyone Orchestra set. Whether this was planned or not, the look in Nevilles eyes said he NEEDED to get his fingers into what they were cookin so Cummins better move over! Ivan proceeded to inject interesting accents and concise, tasty solos that made him standout even in that field of standouts. Each time Ivan hit the stage this year he brought an enthusiasm and openness that inspired his fellow musicians and revealed new dimensions to his capabilities, particularly as a singer no one who witnessed his ragged-but-right Wild Horses with KDTU is gonna forget it. The high point of these new revelations was his stirring piano set in the atrium on Thursday night, where he displayed a sensitivity and wide open ear that exploded the myth of this cat being just a funk machine. It was a brave, fascinating ride with Neville this year, and hes to be admired for opening himself up when it would be much easier to stick to what hes known for.
2. Roosevelt Collier of The Lee Boys
The steel guitar champion jumped on the boat last minute and ended up playing in more sets than almost anyone else. His range was breathtaking, jumping seamlessly from soulful picking with Karl Denson to blues fury in the Jam Room to modern rock with Perpetual Groove, hitting on many points between and many outwards, too, in his iron man showing this year. His singing was also a delight, but it was his willingness to go ANYWHERE the music demanded that makes him so worthy of special mention. Such a fun, fearless musician!
3. Jessica Lurie
Lurie may not have the same level of name recognition as some on the boat, but shes got all the ridiculous chops, dexterity and pure instinct one could want from a free-floating Artist-at-Large. Not every sit-in worked but hers always did. In each and every instance this saxophonist went toe-to-toe with whoever was around and always came out the other side more than holding her own, and better still, coaxing great stuff from her compatriots each time out.
4. Zach Deputy
While his solo sets were engaging, extremely enjoyable affairs, they only told a fraction of the story of Deputys relentless work ethic on Jam Cruise 10. Whenever the Jam Room would slow to a crawl, it was Zach who hopped up and kept things rolling, pulling a few more notes from his tired compatriots. His voice is a bit of a marvel Motown would have snagged this boy in a heartbeat in their 60s/70s heyday. At the root of his work this week was a glee about his craft that made him game to try anything, content to not always soar but flapping his arms wildly in his best effort just the same. Bravo.
5. Nigel Hall
The man I call Superstar showed his metal as a support player during this cruise. While totally comfortable and deserving of spotlights, Hall seemed to appear like magic to elevate sets for a few moments a harmony here, a bit of ivory magic there and then vanish just as swiftly. He did a lot to bring out the best in his buddies, and never seemed to anxious to hog any glory for himself. The ability to make others better, to make sure they glow a bit more, is a real talent, and just one of MANY that Nigel possesses. Cant wait for his solo debut, which he begins recording soon!
6. Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth
Each guest turn from Carbone made the music better. He hears things in others work that hes able to articulate on his violin in a way that opens up songs for the artists who created them. His overflowing gusto to get involved poured out in a really enriching way both in Railroads fine sets and in his often wind-tossed-just-arrived sit-ins, especially his run from RREs pool deck set to the Everyone Orchestra, where Matt Butler quickly sent the others following Carbone down whatever rabbit hole he chose. Good plan of action – Carbone doesnt steer one wrong.
7. Brock Butler
Both Perpetual Groove sets showed a band ready to evolve into a true 21st century act, and he could have rested on that accomplishment very easily. Instead, Brock continued his role of recent years as a living Value Added to Jam Cruise, holding intimate court at sunrise song circles, talking freely with strangers, and generally making himself a positive for the experience in whatever way he could. Hes got an encyclopedic knowledge of music paired with an even-handed love of different styles/genres thats unique. Add in a voice that grows richer and more interesting with each year and a curiosity about juxtaposing elements others wouldnt even consider putting together and youve got an artist who has rich with positives and no real negatives to speak of.
8. Nathan Moore
After just two cruises, Moore has become a fixture for part of the gathered tribe, a troubadour enabler who lifts us with a good tune – an “us” that includes his fellow musicians. We detailed some of the charms of “The Spot” he’s established on deck outside the Jam Room, but it’s worth saying that for a journey that takes one far from their home, Nathan gave us a safe spot to tag whenever one was at a loss for what to do in the night. Smiles and songs awaited one in his homemade nest, and while there were surprises aplenty, there was also comfort, acceptance and encouragement, and Moore was the glimmering locus, singing another one or just abiding Dude-like.
Best Facial Expressions While Playing: Robert Walter
New Discovery of Jam Cruise 10: Sue Orfield
Jam Cruise 10 Chronicles
Prelude
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
JamBase | Seaworthy
Go See Live Music!
Tags: bad, jamaica, Jambands, mix, monday, Music, pro, recording, Stab, stick
January 18, 2012 in 10, 11, 12, 2, 27, 28, 29, 2b, 3, 30, 31, 50, 9, a, after, Again, age, aka, all, am, American, an, and, another, Are, around, as, at, ban, band, bands, Bass, big, blue, Bluegrass, blues, boot, Boys, brother, brothers, Burn, but, by, ca, can, cat, center, close, comes, concert, covers, cream, Crowd, dance, dancing, davis, DAW, Day, Day., dead, dirt, DJ Logic, down, Drums, Edit, en, end, Enjoy, Entertainment, Eve, fall, fee, festival, fi, final, First, FOR, four, Free, friday, Friend, From, Funk, gag, gain, game, George, get, gin, give, golden, Good, great, Groove, Guitar, guitarist, Gus, hall, hampton, harmonica, hi, home, How, ice, in, inspiration, into, is, IT, jam, jam band, Joy, Jr, key, Keys, King, know, las, Last, late, leave, Led, Lee, let, life, light, Like, LITTLE, live, live music, log, logic, long, loose, lot, love, loving, MA, Made, Main, mass, MD, Meat, metal, MI, mike, miles, monday, Mr, Much, Music, My, name, Nat, nc, New, night, NJ, no, NV, ny, of, on, one, op, Open, out, PA, Part, party, Paul, Phish, photos, Piano, picking, play, Pot, pro, Pt, quartet, rad, rage, rant, raz, reaction, read, return, Road, rock, room, row, rs, run, Say, SC, set, Shine, show, Sky, So, solo, Something, song, Soul, sound, SPAC, St, Stab, stage, stars, start, Starting, step, steve, story, studio, style, tab, Taste, That, the, theatre, third, times, to, Too, Tribute, Trip, tuesday, two, uic, us, va, view, vocal, WA, Walk, war, water, Way, ways, we, Wednesday, with, words, years, You, Your |
Words by: Dennis Cook | Images by: Brad Hodge
Full review below photo gallery, and we’ll be back on Friday with a massive photo gallery and our picks for this year’s MVPs!
1/13/12 – Jam Cruise 10: Day 5 (Fort Lauderdale, FL) View Photos
 The Spot 01.13.12 – by Dennis Cook |
The final day of Jam Cruise usually brings out one of two reactions in people: Smiling denial that the trip is coming to an end or a creeping melancholy that grows more profound as the night consumes the day. Until this point, one is so totally absorbed in this beneficently surreal environment that the world of text messages, alarm clocks and the myriad other obligations that fill our days at home seem not only distant but even grow a little strange given how normal resets by weeks end on the boat. Quite a few folks got out on deck early to snag a chaise lounge in a prime music viewing spot and began a steady regimen of sunbathing and fruity rum cocktails. Others slept off yet another heady night/early morning of wild adventures in the disco or Jam Room, emerging midday bleary and charmingly disoriented, acquaintances quick to throw their arms around them, hand them water and ease them into the last chapter of a story they will retell repeatedly in the coming months. With a masquerade themed final night, many kept the reality of the last day at bay, aided by a later-than-usual arrival in Ft. Lauderdale the next morning, which allowed greater chance of some sleep or extended partying. However one approached Friday, a bittersweet thread wove things together, emotions worn close to the surface, tears falling with a readiness that caught many off-guard, and a pervasive need to share ones feelings, particularly a drive to express ones love for others aloud, permeating the day.
 Surprise Me Mr. Davis 01.13.12 – by Brad Hodge |
Surprise Me Mr. Davis, looking like men whod fully enjoyed the previous four days of revels, kicked off the official music program on the pool deck, announcing, Rise and shine, sleepyhead, loves been looking for you. A certain off-kilter raggedness suits them, and the set presented their core charms well killer songs, interesting musicianship and a group personality thats achingly honest in a way that makes one feel a touch more real just being around them. Sing-along anthem Everything Must Go exemplified the open-handed, leave-your-worries-behind philosophy at work on Jam Cruise, and for many folks, especially the parents in the audience, So Close To Dreams was a choke-back-tears moment where it truly did seem the world was really magic. One becomes less cynical about a notion like that after more than four days of activities dappled with what seems like real magic, leaving one nicely tenderized in a world that usually rewards toughness and thickness of skin. A hearty endorsement from our Cruise Director Julie capped their set who would return later with an even more exuberant shout-out for Orgone at the end of their set encouraged people to pay more attention to this talented bunch, though left out a ringing endorsement for bassist Marc Friedman, who like kindred spirit Brad Houser in the Dead Kenny Gs, is an easy to overlook musical jewel, quieter in his way but no less lethally gifted or essential to the special formula that makes Surprise Me, well, such a consistently happy surprise.
 Pool Deck 01.13.12 – by Brad Hodge |
Options for ones time were numerous on Friday. Orgone laid down another great set culminating in one of the covers of JC 10 a blistering run through Funkadelics Cosmic Slop and almost certainly securing passage on future jaunts. Railroad Earth were less intimate than their theatre set on Tuesday but still provided a fitting score for globe trotters and dreamers of the road. A pool party was a blast with a rotating cast of musicians, including Marco Benevento, who practically lived in the pool with his family all week, his ever-present smile lending one to believe he knows something about life we dont but might pick up from his music. Marco later played the final solo piano performance in the evening, a sprightly affair that swept up bits of Phish, boogie ditties and lots more accompanied by his dancing little ones, stars in their own right by this point. During the day, one might have taken in a Song Making Workshop with George Porter Jr., Nathan Moore and others, attended a funky ad hoc game show with the members of Dr. Klaw and Orgone, or been serenaded in a lovely, singer-songwriterly way by Ryan Montbleau or Brock Butler – that is if you missed one of Brocks impromptu, category defying pre-dawn pool deck hootenannys, an unofficial but essential part of Jam Cruise in the past few years.
In fact, its often the unplanned moments that delight one the most, occurrences that arise out of a need to put notes into the air and just see if anyone is snagged by them. For all our premeditation, Jam Cruise evolves each year in ways that cant be pinned down beforehand. This point was epitomized by The Everyone Orchestra, whose kinda-brilliant mastermind Matt Butler led the proceedings in a swanky new open-third-eye conducting jacket and hat gifted to him by on-board painter Lebo. The annual EO concert is a thank you celebration for the direct-impact efforts of Positive Legacy, which this year offset carbon emissions, brought much needed socks and shoes to Haiti, raised funds for building schools and a long list of other worthy achievements that sharply differentiate Jam Cruise from the usual swath-of-consumption that marks cruise ship culture. Yes, we have a good time but theres a faction within Jam Cruise that puts muscle and imagination into leaving a positive footprint wherever this ship sails. Its something different and so is Matt Butler and his endlessly shifting Orchestra, who put on one of the most musically cohesive and revelatory performances Ive seen in my 20 or so times witnessing EO.
 The Everyone Orchestra 01.13.12 – by Brad Hodge |
The initial lineup onstage for the sound check was staggering: Anders Beck (Greensky Bluegrass) on dobro, Roosevelt (The Lee Boys) on vocals, That 1 Guy as part of the rhythm section with Andrew Barr (The Slip, Barr Brothers, SMMD) on drums and Pete Shand (The New Mastersounds) on bass, a horn section comprised of Jessica Lurie, Brad Houser and Sue Orfield (Tiptons Saxophone Quartet), Brad Barr and Steve Kimock on guitars, Mike Dillon on vibraphone and Luke Quaranta (Toubab Krewe) on percussion. Others would join them while some departed as the segments of this particular EO unfolded, notably some more-soul-than-is-fair vocals from Zach Deputy , spicy harmonica from Matt Hubbard (7 Walkers), and stinging guitar from EO first-timer Anders Osborne, whose presence and playing stirred up some gospel energies that eventually prompted the crowd to their feet. In many respects, this EO session showed off the musical (and even human) potential of Jam Cruise, particularly with Butlers near-unerring knack for picking participants, mingling neophytes with EO vets in ways that keep things fresh but increasingly stable and outright musical. Whats going on with EO is a lusty drive towards engagement, listening, participation, entertainment and enlightenment that tumbles, sprints and saunters in ways that help everyone involved out of their constrictions. Butler is an instigator in the finest sense of the word, easing us out of our comfort zones, tentatively at first but with more force and sureness with each step until were lovingly French kissing the moment. If you took the full ride at this years Positive Legacy performance you surely left feeling youd experienced something and not just another concert, a journey that dabbled its toes in the Ganges and raged dirty blues style, screamed about being positive and skipped like carefree children, everything intense and lovely and real as it gets. More thoughts on Butler and his improvised orchestras in the months to come as he prepares to release the first studio EO album in 2012, but suffice it to say I told him hes a genius after this set, and genius is a word I withhold for very special people only, a descriptor earned through extraordinary talent and dedication to ones vision. Matt has more than earned it after what I witnessed on Jam Cruise this year..
Where one washes up for the final hours of Jam Cruise depends a lot on their personality and how tenaciously theyre holding onto the party vibe. On the main stages, the final sets were covered by guest filled performances from Galactic, who served the funk faithful well in the theatre, The Heavy Pets, who riled up the next generation of jam band fans in the Zebra Bar, or best, in my opinion, Toubab Krewe on the pool deck, throwing a wide, strong net over the world and pulling in shimmering pieces of Africa, Brazil, South America and more to a foundation that is unmistakably American, the blues and rock dancing with these new partners in original ways and inspiring some of the sweetest guest turns all cruise from members of Larry Keel, members of Railroad Earth and more. The playfulness and willingness to embrace mistakes and stumbles made Toubabs set wonderful punctuation on the official programmed music this year. Not everything need to be perfect in order for it to work, and Toubab was daring and intriguing right up until the very end, an ideal band for an adventure built around taking chances.
 The Spot 01.13.12 – by Dennis Cook |
The costumed, grasp-every-last-dance folks shook it madly in the disco with DJ Logic or splashed around in groove in the Jam Room, where The New Mastersounds Snidely Whiplash-mustachioed guitarist Eddie Roberts held court, starting off with his new trio with all-stars Adam Dietch (drums) and Robert Walter (keys) who I gave the new nickname The Pimp this year for so many reasons – and eventually letting scores of New Orleans killers and others join in on their fun, keeping the bar packed and buckwildin lively until nearly sunrise. However, if one were feeling a bit more reflective, The Spot – the extremely loose pickin party on the deck outside the Jam Room hosted by Nathan Moore – was a natural fit. Singing unifying tunes like Stand By Me and My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean, the ebbing and flowing crowd gathered around the core musicians sitting on the deck, Moore joined by Spot regulars Brad Barr, RREs Tim Carbone, Greenskys Paul Hoffman and Anders Beck. Amidst cicada conversational chatter and a lot of boozy huggin n kissin, the musicians off-handedly tossed out songs that one was welcome to listen to or join in on, not caring all that much about focused attention, aware that these final hours were about cementing connections and simply savoring the journey wed experienced together. Wet eyes and big smiles were all around, and the best summation came to me from a new friend Id made the previous year on his first Jam Cruise, a snippet attributed to Dr. Seuss but not found in his writings that balms the sting of letting something this amazing go:
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
 The Spot 01.13.12 – by Dennis Cook |
Most of us cried anyway but happy tears, most leaving a bit more loved and a bit more loving, vowing to return same time next year to do it again with even greater gusto, increasingly aware each time we step on-board of how our own level of engagement and enthusiasm ripples out to others. Yes, Jam Cruise is a music festival a damn fine one at that but what makes it singular is how it presents a host of humanity at their best and offers each of us inspiration to be a little better than our past, a little kinder and more giving, a bit more ready to accept differences and recognize shared traits. Much as I love a good metal pounding or punk rock boot to the head, Jam Cruise has become my standard for what a music gathering can do in ones life. If one sluffs off their cynicism and embraces the energies of this trip the potential ramifications in ones life are huge. As in past years, I ended this journey ready to go out in the world and get things done, armed in subtle ways to battle fear and doubt, psyched to make the world a better and more tuneful place, and anxious to write some poetry of my own and help others build their stanzas, too. I can think of a no more rejuvenating way to start a year if music is the key one uses to unlock the universe. Jam Cruise places a golden lock un-scrambler in our hands and gives us a friendly push to step through doors that have been closed to us in the past. Yes, a LOT of great music transpired, but perhaps more importantly, we tasted greatness in the larger sense and left with an appetite for more, better people than when we set out on Monday, and for this my gratitude knows no bounds for the many hard working Cloud 9 staff, MSC Poesia crew, technical support and musicians who made this possible. Jam Cruise is a gift that keeps on giving, especially if one answers the call inside that sounds as we docked again in Ft. Lauderdale – weary, bleary and thoughtful but knowing one has been in the embrace of people at their brightest and best.
JamBase | Well Traveled
Go See Live Music!
Tags: age, blue, butler, gus, log, night, paul, Shine, times, water
January 18, 2012 in 10, 11, 12, 2, 27, 28, 29, 2b, 3, 30, 31, 50, 9, a, after, Again, age, aka, all, am, American, an, and, another, Are, around, as, at, ban, band, bands, Bass, big, blue, Bluegrass, blues, boot, Boys, brother, brothers, Burn, but, by, ca, can, cat, center, close, comes, concert, covers, cream, Crowd, dance, dancing, davis, DAW, Day, Day., dead, dirt, DJ Logic, down, Drums, Edit, en, end, Enjoy, Entertainment, Eve, fall, fee, festival, fi, final, First, FOR, four, Free, friday, Friend, From, Funk, gag, gain, game, George, get, gin, give, golden, Good, great, Groove, Guitar, guitarist, Gus, hall, hampton, harmonica, hi, home, How, ice, in, inspiration, into, is, IT, jam, jam band, Joy, Jr, key, Keys, King, know, las, Last, late, leave, Led, Lee, let, life, light, Like, LITTLE, live, live music, log, logic, long, loose, lot, love, loving, MA, Made, Main, mass, MD, Meat, metal, MI, mike, miles, monday, Mr, Much, Music, My, name, Nat, nc, New, night, NJ, no, NV, ny, of, on, one, op, Open, out, PA, Part, party, Paul, Phish, photos, Piano, picking, play, Pot, pro, Pt, quartet, rad, rage, rant, raz, reaction, read, return, Road, rock, room, row, rs, run, Say, SC, set, Shine, show, Sky, So, solo, Something, song, Soul, sound, SPAC, St, Stab, stage, stars, start, Starting, step, steve, story, studio, style, tab, Taste, That, the, theatre, third, times, to, Too, Tribute, Trip, tuesday, two, uic, us, va, view, vocal, WA, Walk, war, water, Way, ways, we, Wednesday, with, words, years, You, Your |
Words by: Dennis Cook | Images by: Brad Hodge
Full review below photo gallery, and we’ll be back on Friday with a massive photo gallery and our picks for this year’s MVPs!
1/13/12 – Jam Cruise 10: Day 5 (Fort Lauderdale, FL) View Photos
 The Spot 01.13.12 – by Dennis Cook |
The final day of Jam Cruise usually brings out one of two reactions in people: Smiling denial that the trip is coming to an end or a creeping melancholy that grows more profound as the night consumes the day. Until this point, one is so totally absorbed in this beneficently surreal environment that the world of text messages, alarm clocks and the myriad other obligations that fill our days at home seem not only distant but even grow a little strange given how normal resets by weeks end on the boat. Quite a few folks got out on deck early to snag a chaise lounge in a prime music viewing spot and began a steady regimen of sunbathing and fruity rum cocktails. Others slept off yet another heady night/early morning of wild adventures in the disco or Jam Room, emerging midday bleary and charmingly disoriented, acquaintances quick to throw their arms around them, hand them water and ease them into the last chapter of a story they will retell repeatedly in the coming months. With a masquerade themed final night, many kept the reality of the last day at bay, aided by a later-than-usual arrival in Ft. Lauderdale the next morning, which allowed greater chance of some sleep or extended partying. However one approached Friday, a bittersweet thread wove things together, emotions worn close to the surface, tears falling with a readiness that caught many off-guard, and a pervasive need to share ones feelings, particularly a drive to express ones love for others aloud, permeating the day.
 Surprise Me Mr. Davis 01.13.12 – by Brad Hodge |
Surprise Me Mr. Davis, looking like men whod fully enjoyed the previous four days of revels, kicked off the official music program on the pool deck, announcing, Rise and shine, sleepyhead, loves been looking for you. A certain off-kilter raggedness suits them, and the set presented their core charms well killer songs, interesting musicianship and a group personality thats achingly honest in a way that makes one feel a touch more real just being around them. Sing-along anthem Everything Must Go exemplified the open-handed, leave-your-worries-behind philosophy at work on Jam Cruise, and for many folks, especially the parents in the audience, So Close To Dreams was a choke-back-tears moment where it truly did seem the world was really magic. One becomes less cynical about a notion like that after more than four days of activities dappled with what seems like real magic, leaving one nicely tenderized in a world that usually rewards toughness and thickness of skin. A hearty endorsement from our Cruise Director Julie capped their set who would return later with an even more exuberant shout-out for Orgone at the end of their set encouraged people to pay more attention to this talented bunch, though left out a ringing endorsement for bassist Marc Friedman, who like kindred spirit Brad Houser in the Dead Kenny Gs, is an easy to overlook musical jewel, quieter in his way but no less lethally gifted or essential to the special formula that makes Surprise Me, well, such a consistently happy surprise.
 Pool Deck 01.13.12 – by Brad Hodge |
Options for ones time were numerous on Friday. Orgone laid down another great set culminating in one of the covers of JC 10 a blistering run through Funkadelics Cosmic Slop and almost certainly securing passage on future jaunts. Railroad Earth were less intimate than their theatre set on Tuesday but still provided a fitting score for globe trotters and dreamers of the road. A pool party was a blast with a rotating cast of musicians, including Marco Benevento, who practically lived in the pool with his family all week, his ever-present smile lending one to believe he knows something about life we dont but might pick up from his music. Marco later played the final solo piano performance in the evening, a sprightly affair that swept up bits of Phish, boogie ditties and lots more accompanied by his dancing little ones, stars in their own right by this point. During the day, one might have taken in a Song Making Workshop with George Porter Jr., Nathan Moore and others, attended a funky ad hoc game show with the members of Dr. Klaw and Orgone, or been serenaded in a lovely, singer-songwriterly way by Ryan Montbleau or Brock Butler – that is if you missed one of Brocks impromptu, category defying pre-dawn pool deck hootenannys, an unofficial but essential part of Jam Cruise in the past few years.
In fact, its often the unplanned moments that delight one the most, occurrences that arise out of a need to put notes into the air and just see if anyone is snagged by them. For all our premeditation, Jam Cruise evolves each year in ways that cant be pinned down beforehand. This point was epitomized by The Everyone Orchestra, whose kinda-brilliant mastermind Matt Butler led the proceedings in a swanky new open-third-eye conducting jacket and hat gifted to him by on-board painter Lebo. The annual EO concert is a thank you celebration for the direct-impact efforts of Positive Legacy, which this year offset carbon emissions, brought much needed socks and shoes to Haiti, raised funds for building schools and a long list of other worthy achievements that sharply differentiate Jam Cruise from the usual swath-of-consumption that marks cruise ship culture. Yes, we have a good time but theres a faction within Jam Cruise that puts muscle and imagination into leaving a positive footprint wherever this ship sails. Its something different and so is Matt Butler and his endlessly shifting Orchestra, who put on one of the most musically cohesive and revelatory performances Ive seen in my 20 or so times witnessing EO.
 The Everyone Orchestra 01.13.12 – by Brad Hodge |
The initial lineup onstage for the sound check was staggering: Anders Beck (Greensky Bluegrass) on dobro, Roosevelt (The Lee Boys) on vocals, That 1 Guy as part of the rhythm section with Andrew Barr (The Slip, Barr Brothers, SMMD) on drums and Pete Shand (The New Mastersounds) on bass, a horn section comprised of Jessica Lurie, Brad Houser and Sue Orfield (Tiptons Saxophone Quartet), Brad Barr and Steve Kimock on guitars, Mike Dillon on vibraphone and Luke Quaranta (Toubab Krewe) on percussion. Others would join them while some departed as the segments of this particular EO unfolded, notably some more-soul-than-is-fair vocals from Zach Deputy , spicy harmonica from Matt Hubbard (7 Walkers), and stinging guitar from EO first-timer Anders Osborne, whose presence and playing stirred up some gospel energies that eventually prompted the crowd to their feet. In many respects, this EO session showed off the musical (and even human) potential of Jam Cruise, particularly with Butlers near-unerring knack for picking participants, mingling neophytes with EO vets in ways that keep things fresh but increasingly stable and outright musical. Whats going on with EO is a lusty drive towards engagement, listening, participation, entertainment and enlightenment that tumbles, sprints and saunters in ways that help everyone involved out of their constrictions. Butler is an instigator in the finest sense of the word, easing us out of our comfort zones, tentatively at first but with more force and sureness with each step until were lovingly French kissing the moment. If you took the full ride at this years Positive Legacy performance you surely left feeling youd experienced something and not just another concert, a journey that dabbled its toes in the Ganges and raged dirty blues style, screamed about being positive and skipped like carefree children, everything intense and lovely and real as it gets. More thoughts on Butler and his improvised orchestras in the months to come as he prepares to release the first studio EO album in 2012, but suffice it to say I told him hes a genius after this set, and genius is a word I withhold for very special people only, a descriptor earned through extraordinary talent and dedication to ones vision. Matt has more than earned it after what I witnessed on Jam Cruise this year..
Where one washes up for the final hours of Jam Cruise depends a lot on their personality and how tenaciously theyre holding onto the party vibe. On the main stages, the final sets were covered by guest filled performances from Galactic, who served the funk faithful well in the theatre, The Heavy Pets, who riled up the next generation of jam band fans in the Zebra Bar, or best, in my opinion, Toubab Krewe on the pool deck, throwing a wide, strong net over the world and pulling in shimmering pieces of Africa, Brazil, South America and more to a foundation that is unmistakably American, the blues and rock dancing with these new partners in original ways and inspiring some of the sweetest guest turns all cruise from members of Larry Keel, members of Railroad Earth and more. The playfulness and willingness to embrace mistakes and stumbles made Toubabs set wonderful punctuation on the official programmed music this year. Not everything need to be perfect in order for it to work, and Toubab was daring and intriguing right up until the very end, an ideal band for an adventure built around taking chances.
 The Spot 01.13.12 – by Dennis Cook |
The costumed, grasp-every-last-dance folks shook it madly in the disco with DJ Logic or splashed around in groove in the Jam Room, where The New Mastersounds Snidely Whiplash-mustachioed guitarist Eddie Roberts held court, starting off with his new trio with all-stars Adam Dietch (drums) and Robert Walter (keys) who I gave the new nickname The Pimp this year for so many reasons – and eventually letting scores of New Orleans killers and others join in on their fun, keeping the bar packed and buckwildin lively until nearly sunrise. However, if one were feeling a bit more reflective, The Spot – the extremely loose pickin party on the deck outside the Jam Room hosted by Nathan Moore – was a natural fit. Singing unifying tunes like Stand By Me and My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean, the ebbing and flowing crowd gathered around the core musicians sitting on the deck, Moore joined by Spot regulars Brad Barr, RREs Tim Carbone, Greenskys Paul Hoffman and Anders Beck. Amidst cicada conversational chatter and a lot of boozy huggin n kissin, the musicians off-handedly tossed out songs that one was welcome to listen to or join in on, not caring all that much about focused attention, aware that these final hours were about cementing connections and simply savoring the journey wed experienced together. Wet eyes and big smiles were all around, and the best summation came to me from a new friend Id made the previous year on his first Jam Cruise, a snippet attributed to Dr. Seuss but not found in his writings that balms the sting of letting something this amazing go:
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
 The Spot 01.13.12 – by Dennis Cook |
Most of us cried anyway but happy tears, most leaving a bit more loved and a bit more loving, vowing to return same time next year to do it again with even greater gusto, increasingly aware each time we step on-board of how our own level of engagement and enthusiasm ripples out to others. Yes, Jam Cruise is a music festival a damn fine one at that but what makes it singular is how it presents a host of humanity at their best and offers each of us inspiration to be a little better than our past, a little kinder and more giving, a bit more ready to accept differences and recognize shared traits. Much as I love a good metal pounding or punk rock boot to the head, Jam Cruise has become my standard for what a music gathering can do in ones life. If one sluffs off their cynicism and embraces the energies of this trip the potential ramifications in ones life are huge. As in past years, I ended this journey ready to go out in the world and get things done, armed in subtle ways to battle fear and doubt, psyched to make the world a better and more tuneful place, and anxious to write some poetry of my own and help others build their stanzas, too. I can think of a no more rejuvenating way to start a year if music is the key one uses to unlock the universe. Jam Cruise places a golden lock un-scrambler in our hands and gives us a friendly push to step through doors that have been closed to us in the past. Yes, a LOT of great music transpired, but perhaps more importantly, we tasted greatness in the larger sense and left with an appetite for more, better people than when we set out on Monday, and for this my gratitude knows no bounds for the many hard working Cloud 9 staff, MSC Poesia crew, technical support and musicians who made this possible. Jam Cruise is a gift that keeps on giving, especially if one answers the call inside that sounds as we docked again in Ft. Lauderdale – weary, bleary and thoughtful but knowing one has been in the embrace of people at their brightest and best.
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