Jam Cruise 21 Leaves Reality Behind: 6 Highlights From Day 1

Jam Cruise is all about the love, so it was serendipitous to have the 21st installment of the event pull away from the Port of Miami aboard the MSC Divina on Valentine’s Day for the first time. Getting on the ship was never easier and within 20 minutes I was reuniting with old friends, enjoying the sunny 82-degree weather after a brutal winter in the Northeast and exploring my home for the next five days.

Organizers Cloud 9 Adventures charters the entire ship which means everyone aboard the Divina outside the staff are Jam Cruise attendees. I struck up conversations with over a dozen people I had never met before but we had so much in common as huge music fans. I think I’ve made some new friends for life.

It’s also so nice to get away from “reality” for a week. These are turbulent times, and now more than ever, I’m appreciative to “go see live music” in such a special setting.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong – “Poseidon” with Mark Lettieri

Baltimore-based funk quartet Pigeons Playing Ping Pong are back on Jam Cruise for the first time since the pandemic and immediately embraced the trip’s collaborative spirit. The band opened the action in the Pantheon Theater and nearly filled the place. That said, it was still easy for me to pull up and find a great spot among The Flock.

The four-piece presented an expanded lineup with Adrian Tramontano on percussion. Guest spots came at a fast and furious pace with guitarist Mark Lettieri, The Horn Section, Dogs In A Pile keyboardist Jeremy Kaplan and vocalists Shira Elias and Sammi Garett among contributors. While a fitting for Valentine’s Day cover of Stephen Stills’ “Love The One You’re With” was fun, Lettieri letting it rip on beloved jam vehicle “Poseidon” was nasty.

PPPP lead vocalist/guitarist Greg Ormont explained he kept on running into the same guy carrying a guitar all day long and after crossing paths with the musician for a third time, knew it was fate that he should jam with the band. Ormont introduced himself to the guitarist, Snarky Puppy guitarist Mark Lettieri, and invited him to sit-in. The collaboration paid huge dividends with Lettieri unleashing one nasty riff after another for his solo and then connecting with Jeremy Schon for outrageous improvisation.

Jeremy Kaplan – “Echidna’s Arf (Of You)”

Dogs In A Pile keyboardist Jeremy Kaplan played a piano set in the ship’s atrium billed as a solo performance but he invited several of his bandmates and other musicians to participate. The performance climaxed with a duet with DIAP drummer Joey Babick on the Frank Zappa instrumental “Echidna’s Arf (Of You).” Kaplan mentioned it was his version of the tune that got him into music school and it’s no wonder as the pair absolutely nailed the difficult tune. The pianist then brought out Shawn Eckels of Andy Frasco & The U.N. to handle lead vocals on a powerful cover of the Beatles’ “Oh Darling!” to punctuate the brief but extremely enjoyable set.

Club d’elf Makes Jam Cruise Debut

Boston’s best-kept secret finally took to the high seas as Club d’Elf slayed the Brews At Sea Stage, an outdoor performance area where the ensemble performed in between main stage sets. Bassist Mike Rivard was joined by longtime collaborators Dean Johnston on drums, turntablist Mister Rourke and keyboardist Amy Bellamy along with lespecial guitarist Johnny G., Dopapod drummer Neal “Fro” Evans on percussion and Will Bernard on guitar.

Bernard’s sound fit d’Elf like a glove and he did his homework leading into the set. Will was on top of every change as the group worked elements of rock, funk and jazz into trancey gnawa music. The talented musicians blended together so perfectly, it would’ve been hard for the uninitiated to pick out who were the Club d’Elf regulars and those who were relatively new to project.

STS9 Brings Out Karl Denson & Jams On Marley

STS9 provided a 90-minute dance party for Jam Cruisers filled with groovy music on the Pool Deck. The band rarely welcomes special guests but out came JC vet Karl Denson to deliver a memorable sax solo mid-jam on Bob James’ “Nautilus.” Tribe then put their own spin on Bob Marley’s “Could You Be Loved” to the delight of those in attendance.

Vote To The Boat Winners Ernie Johnson From Detroit

Cincinnati’s Ernie Johnson From Detroit showed why they won the organizers’ Vote To The Boat contest with a dynamic performance in the intimate Black & White Lounge. The septet plays horn-driven Afrobeat with an edge and mixed in new tunes with staples and a James Brown cover featuring guest vocalist Reilly Comisar from their home city.

Pink Talking Fish Celebrates Valentine’s Day

Phish/Talking Heads/Pink Floyd tribute act Pink Talking Fish closed out the main stage action on Day One of Jam Cruise. The band brought both of the keyboardists who take turns holding down the slot – Richard James and Stephen Learson – on the Divina. Pearson handled keys for the first half of the set, James shared duties on “Run Like Hell” and then took over the rest of the performance.

Bassist Eric Gould joked that PTF were about the play a love song before treating fans to a wild mash-up for “Carini” and “War Pigs,” but the band did close their set with a fitting song for the occasion – “Loving Cup.” Vocalist Sammi Garett helped out on the Rolling Stones cover which also featured The Horn Section.

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Jam Cruise 21 continues on Saturday with a full slate of performances. The “Day At Sea” sees the Divina steaming towards its first port stop of Cozumel, Mexico.