Jam Cruise Wrap Up!

Last week I spent five days aboard the MSC Divina, a classic, oversized luxury cruise ship (or as my son innocently put it, “oh it’s like the Titantic”) repurposed as the floating music festival called JamCruise. It was something, that’s for sure.

I was on board as a member of Zach Deputy’s band. Zach is well established but as a solo artist; we were a (pleasant, I think) surprise to most. We performed three times. Once as guests along with Zach’s looping rig, once at a Positive Legacy fundraiser on the beach in Costa Maya, Mexico (we also hosted Paul from Greensky Bluegrass and Scott Pemberton on this one, both incredible players), and once in full-volume regalia on the ship’s pool deck. The whole ZD band, as well as Todd Stoops, Mike Dillon and members of San Francisco’s Con Brio also teamed up with Thievery Corporation’s Ashish Vyas and Jeff Franca for the Sunday afternoon “Reggae Brunch” on the pool deck.

I’ve done quite a bit of double drumming over the years—you know, the whole Mickey and Billy shtick—so I guess I was a natural pick to play support for the great Bernard Purdie’s Jazz Lounge set. You may know Purdie from his years with Aretha Franklin, or all those Steely Dan tracks he blessed. Or maybe you love his Purdie Shuffle video (don’t we all?).  I also know him for having one of the two greatest approaches to combining jazz and funk on about 10,000 Prestige Hammond organ albums back in the day, including his solo albums and perhaps the best music video ever made (R.I.P. Idris Muhammad, your beats are forever too). Purdie wanted a second drummer to hold it down in case the solos got long and, of course, so he could get up front on the mic and hold court a bit. During the set I played behind Fred Wesley, Karl Denson, Nigel Hall, Cory Henry, everyone from the New Mastersounds and so many others. Pinch me!

My intention was to take photos and write about JamCruise in detail, but by the first night I was completely overwhelmed. The level of musicianship on the boat was extraordinary; I don’t think I’ve ever swum in such a pool. Forget swimming, I sat on the bleachers and watched more Jedi-level music in five nights than I’ve seen in the last five years. Then I figured I’d get home and start writing. But I didn’t. Instead I started practicing and haven’t really stopped yet. Because after seeing all that I saw, I knew that’s what I needed to do.

Big picture wise, here’s a few things I left thinking about:

-       Clarity: Almost every set I saw was defined by clarity of intention and presentation. When something is presented in such a way it is possible to respect and enjoy it even when you don’t necessarily love it.

-       Joy: All of the greatest music I saw on board was made with big smiles. Love and happiness are most potent emotions. Great musicians play with love.

-       Diversity: We’re not all supposed to be the featured whatever. Anyone who was killing it on the boat was doing it vis-a-vis his own person and personality. Despite his chops and flair, Bernard Purdie would lose a drum battle to many of the drummers on the ship, but that was never what he was about anyway. Along with instrumental pyrotechnics, many of my favorite moments took place in the ship’s atrium with a grand piano, acoustic guitars and lots of people singing together.