Alida Meijers has been hosting traditional jazz cruises and tours since 1984. Originally from the Netherlands, she and husband Pieter, who led the High Sierra Jazz Band and now leads his one quintet, have grown deep roots in the States. Alida taps those connections to produce some of the best jazz parties to be found on land or sea.
Jazzdagen sails several cruises a year on some of the best-known luxury cruise ships. They’ve toured to all continents and dozens of countries. No two tours are alike! Their signature cruise each year is called Jazz Alive and this year it will run for 13 days from Los Angeles to Caldera, Costa Rica
Sept 28 – Oct 11 on the Crystal Symphony.
A jazz cruise is like no other experience for the jazz fan. It is a chance to hear the musicians multiple times in a laid back atmosphere where everybody shares your enthusiasm. Friendships are made and an endless amount of music enjoyed in a comfortable and adventurous environment. The musicians this year are a who’s who of favorites, nearly all of whom have received a Syncopated Times profile; Russ Phillips, Harry Allen, Chuck Redd, Pieter Meijers, Antti Sarpila, Duke Heitger, Jeff & Anne Barnhart, Randy Morris, Richard Simon, James Clark, Juliarna Clark, Jacob Fischer, Tom Hook, Dick Maley, Eddie Metz Jr., Jason Wanner, and Paul Keller.
Guests will meet them all, and hear them in lineups unlikely to be duplicated again. Jazz cruises have been an important venue for musicians since the 1950s. One could even say they are an inheritance from the era of jazz riverboats. Fans should set a goal of experiencing a cruise at least once to see what their favorite artists have been up to at sea.
Details about the itinerary, food offerings, and cabins available for Jazz Alive can be found at http://www.jazzdagen.com.There you can also learn about upcoming cruises including one that will ring in the New Year on the Veendam with a roundtrip from Ft Lauderdale. A new cruise has been just announced. Roundtrip from Hawaii from San Diego, March 18-April 5, 2020. The entertainment will include Cornet Chop Suey, Tom Hook and Bob Leary, We3 from Arizona, which is a new group for Jazzdagen, the Pieter Meijers Sextet with Antti Sarpila, Randy Morris, Howard Alden, and vocalist Marilyn Keller.
