WHAT IS BLACKS OF THE CHESAPEAKE?

African-Americans who have worked and continue to work in the maritime and seafood processing industries in the Chesapeake Bay region are an integral part of this area’s rich culture and heritage. In 1994, the Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation began to document this aspect of Americana. The foundation serves the community with a broad range of historical, cultural and educational activities.

Documentation includes the book, The Chesapeake Bay Through Ebony Eyes, which provides a history of African-American contributions in the Chesapeake’s maritime industries, and includes a collection of seafood recipes, poetry, photographs and sketches; and the book, Blacks of the Chesapeake, An Integral Part of Maritime History, which provides a pictorial history of African-Americans at work as ship captains, sail makers, watermen, and seafood processing plant employees.

www.blacksofthechesapeake.com

The Jazz Cruise is the first and only full-ship cruise charter dedicated to “straight-ahead” jazz. After more than two decades of producing the best jazz-only festival in the world, The Jazz Cruise is hailed by both the musicians and guests as Jazz Heaven.

For those of us who have experienced this 7-day, 7-night presentation of jazz magic, we simply call it…The Jazz Cruise!

The Jazz Cruise lineups are comprised of Performing Groups, The Jazz Cruise Leaders and Musicians who perform as members of Anita’s Big Band and in All-Star settings. With sidemen, the Performing Groups account for nearly 65 jazz musicians. There are roughly 10 more outstanding artists who serve as The Jazz Cruise Leaders. The remaining 25 musicians are Big Band members and All-Stars.

PERFORMING GROUPS

WYNTON MARSALIS  Special Guest  DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER   CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE   MONTY ALEXANDER   KURT ELLING   JOEY DEFRANCESCO   JOHN PIZZARELLI   ETIENNE CHARLES   TIERNEY SUTTON   ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY   BILL CHARLAP   HOUSTON PERSON   JEFF HAMILTON   STEVE TYRELL   CHRISTIAN SANDS   SAMARA JOY

THE JAZZ CRUISE LEADERS

SHELLY BERG Music Director  JOHN CLAYTON Big Band Director  EMMET COHEN  RANDY BRECKER  WYCLIFFE GORDON  NIKI HARIS  KEN PEPLOWSKI  ALONZO BODDEN Comedian

ALL-STARS & BIG BAND

JOHN ALLRED  PATRICK BARTLEY  BILLY CHILDS  JOHN FEDCHOCK  ERIC HARLAND  JAMES MORRISON  LEWIS NASH  JAVIER NERO  DICK OATTS  NICKI PARROTT  RENEE ROSNES  ADA ROVATTI  BRIA SKONBERG  GARY SMULYAN  TERELL STAFFORD  BIJON WATSON  JENNIFER WHARTON  RODNEY WHITAKER  MATT WILSON  RICKEY WOODARD

MORE THAN 100 MUSICIANS

This lineup does not include the band members for the Performing Groups, many of whom are leaders and soloists. When announced, there will be more than 100 of the world’s very best “straight-ahead” jazz stars on the cruise. At this time, we can share the names of a few of the band members:VINCENT ECTOR  PASQUALE GRASSO  BENNY GREEN  JON HAMAR  LAFAYETTE HARRIS, JR.  TAMIR HENDELMAN  TIM HORNER  MATTHEW PARRISH  TED ROSENTHAL  KENNY WASHINGTON  PETER WASHINGTON  MARTIN WIND