Jam Cruise Journal | Warren And Friends Brew Bahamian Lemonade

Images By: Andrew Bruss
Words By: Scott Bernstein

Jam Cruise :: Day Five :: 1.8.14 :: Miami, FL

Wednesday marks the final full day aboard the MSC Divina for Jam Cruise 12 and was set to be the boat’s second visit to a port featuring a set from Warren Haynes on a private island in the Bahamas. While the weather was gorgeous, choppy waters prevented the ship’s tender service from ferrying Jam Cruisers to land. The dedicated Jam Cruise staff moved mountains to bring Haynes onto the ship – by sea plane no less – to perform a set on the Pool Deck. Cruisers were told the news via announcements on the ship’s intercom. The new situation allowed more guests to perform with Haynes as Warren wound up delivering a phenomenal, two-hour-and-45 minute, 20-song set aided by many of the musicians aboard the boat. The start of the set was delayed by 30 minutes, which gave Jam Cruisers more time to grab breakfast and a dose of caffeine.

Warren came on stage just after 1 p.m. and informed the crowd he was aiming for a “coffee house vibe” before bringing out guests. Haynes kicked off his set with earnest takes on “Real Thing,” “Fallen Down” and a cover of U2’s “One.” The guitarist then strapped on his electric for the first time to perform “Captured” and “When The World Gets Small.” Next, Warren Haynes Band vocalist Alecia Chakour, Dumpstaphunk keyboardist Ivan Neville and saxophonist Bill Evans joined Haynes for “Rivers Gonna Rise.”

Haynes moved back to the acoustic for “Foresaken Savior” and “Glory Road.” North Mississippi Allstar Cody Dickinson busted out his electric washboard on “Old Friend,” before Cody’s brother Luther Dickinson added electric guitar to Howlin’ Wolf’s “I Asked For Water.” Warren had one more solo acoustic number in store, “Forevermore,” leading up to a Steve Kimock guest spot. Kimock and Haynes treated fans to gorgeous versions of “To Lay Me Down” and “Stella Blue” under the burning sun. Next up for Warren was “Lucky” followed by the poignant “Patchwork Quilt” featuring bassist Victor Wooten, Greensky Bluegrass mandolin player Paul Hoffman and dobro wiz Anders Beck. Percussionist Cyril Neville joined in with the Greensky men, Wooten and Haynes on “Hammer And Nails.” Warren told the crowd he hadn’t met the Greensky fellas until today, but the pair were quick to follow Haynes’s lead into an “Other One” jam in the middle of “Hammer And Nails.”

Haynes’s guest parade continued with Neville staying out and Kofi Burbridge joining in on “Sad And Deep As You.” The main set came to a climax when Warren welcomed George Porter Jr., John Popper, Cyril Neville and Anders Osborne for a fantastic “Sugaree.” The Asheville native returned for a two-song encore of “Endless Parade” and “Soulshine.” Warren shared the stage with Eric Krasno and Karl Denson for the former with Alecia Chakour, Ivan Neville, George Porter Jr. and 10-year-old guitar sensation Brandon Niederauer helping out on the latter. It was quite a treat to watch Niederauer drop jaws with a blistering guitar solo that earned one of the biggest applauses heard throughout the trip.

Next up for Jam Cruise is a surprise Zach Deputy set as Haynes awaits his sea plane trip off the boat. We’ll have more from the final day on Jam Cruise later this week.

Set: Real Thing, Fallen Down, One, Captured, When The World Gets Small, Rivers Gonna Rise (with Alecia Chakour, Ivan Neville and Bill Evans), Foresaken Savior, Glory Road, Old Friend (?), I Asked For Water, Forevermore, To Lay Me Down (with Steve Kimock), Stella Blue (with Kimock), Lucky, Patchwork Quilt (with Victor Wooten, Anders Beck and Paul Hoffman), Hammer & Nails > Other One jam > Hammer & Nails (with Beck, Hoffman, Victor Wooten and Cyril Neville), Sad And Deep As You (with Cyril Neville and Kofi Burbridge), Sugaree (with Anders Osborne, George Porter Jr., John Popper and Cyril Neville)

Encore: Endless Parade (with Eric Krasno and Karl Denson), Soulshine (with Krasno, Denson, Porter Jr., Ivan Neville, Chakour and Brandon Niederauer)

View More Jam Cruise Coverage Here:
Day One| Day Two| Day Three| Day Four