HIJACKING AT SEA! IT WAS GREAT TO BE US
"We" had just pulled anchor. The sun was shining, the fans were ecstatic, the performers were mingling and Magic Slim and the Tear Drops were playing on the top deck at the Sail Away Barbeque. As the music blasted and the dancing started, the cruisers on the other cruise ships lined their decks to get a look at the 2010 Legendary Blues Cruise as it steamed out to sea. Yes, I was a part of that large group that pirated that large ship for a week long floating blues festival. We showed no remorse. The motto that week was: "It is great to be us." It was definitely a spirited high jacking. The Blues were everywhere: blues on the top deck, blues in the main show room, blues in the many little bars throughout the ships and blues in cabins where friends gathered to just jam and enjoy each others company.
Earlier in the day we had "walked the plank" with the likes of Keb Mo, Tommy Castro, Super Chickan, Tab Benoit, Jason Ricci, JP Soars, Taj Mahal, The Phantom Blues Band, James Walker, Nick Moss, Mitch Woods, Eden Brent, Deanna Bogart, Curtis Salgado, Ruthie Foster, Duke Robillard, Guy Davis, Trampled Under Foot (TUF), Annie Raines, the Mannish Boys, Kenny Neal and his family and our own, Jill West. Each artist performed at least once on the top deck in the bright afternoon sunlight or late at night under the stars. Each also performed on stage in the main showroom. Many artists and their fans joined the jams on the top deck or in the crow’s nest. The "pro jams" featured the headliners. Their synergy permeated the entire ship. The amateurs (am jams) jammed in various places on the ship. Some of the "pro-am jams", where the amateurs jammed with the pros, proved to be a tremendous wealth of raw talent that met and melded with the seasoned talent that we had all gathered to see.
A "virgin party" and a "returnees" party are always held the first day at sea. All "virgins" received a warm, enthusiastic welcome from the veteran cruisers. My welcome party consisted of a set by Jason Ricci, Deanna Bogart and Nick Moss. (This was truly living!) The shipped rocked during our first two days at sea as we pushed forward towards Curacao. At times, I wondered if the rocking was from the high speeds that we were traveling or from all of the dancing.
We mingled with the musicians like we were old friends. I was speechless while having lunch next to Tommy Castro and his girlfriend. I sat beside Keb Mo and talked about his visit to children's homes in Western PA. Keith, Tommy Castro's sax player, said to tell Moondog and his tribe, hello. Jason Ricci commented that Moondog ranked high in keeping his promises to the national bands that frequent his place. We, the fans, enjoyed being a part of live recording sessions with Joe Louis Walker.
A teaser of what we sampled: The late night jams were held nightly on the top deck under the stars with the warm tropical winds surrounding us. Tommy Castro headlined one late nighter. At any given time there were always ten stars on stage with Tommy. His fellow jammers that one night included: members from the Mannish Boys, the Phantom Blues Band, TUF, Jason Ricci, Curtis Salgado, Magic Slim, Watermelon Slim, Guy Davis, Nick Moss and Paris Slim (imported from Paris, France). Whew, the late night jams lasted until 4:30 am. Many then headed for the piano bar that often stayed open until 8:00 am.
The piano bar proved to be a hidden treasure. It was open throughout the evening. I was constantly amazed at how many people packed that small place. With little room to move, sit, or perch, the young guitarist from the Curtis Salgado Band, stretched out across the top of the baby grand. (Eden Brent called him "Elvis" because with his dark glasses he was a definite Elvis look alike.) He looked quite at home as he languished on that gleaming piano. Imagine my surprise when he asked if I minded looking at his back or his front while he played! Drummers sat in, harp players roamed in and out, a washboard player sat in. Steve Simon, organizer of the St. John Blues festival and the Bluesapalooza tours, sat in on clarinet. The music constantly evolved. The dimensions changed with each new player that joined the group.
The Boogie Woogie Blowout (scheduled for an unmerciful 11:30 am) featured five pianists who took turns playing for us on a baby grand. They then sat at the five keyboards that were set up side by side. They blew the roof off of that show room!
The Windy City Blues magazine hosted a booth in the indoor pool area. Their workers also provided poolside jams that were very interesting and soothed the soul while swimming and sunbathing.
For those feeling guilty about experiencing too much music...There was a cooking class offered by Super Chickan that featured his 'beer butt chicken recipe.' Kenny Neal's mother hosted a Creole cooking segment. The photographers were offered various topics to hone their skills. The harp players were treated to a workshop hosted by Annie Raines. Tommy Castro and Kenny Neal were among those that chaired a songwriting workshop. There were silent auctions that included signed guitars, an accordion for a physicians' volunteer group, records, photos, artwork and wine. (Drat...I lost the small Honey Boy guitar with case in the last five minutes of the auction. I did, however, win the size 14.5 black and white hi-top tennis shoes that were donated by Watermelon Slim.)
The excursion to the private island, Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas was a "hit" with many cruisers. Two blues bands, Jason and New Blood and Joe Louis Walker (filming and recording), were featured on that sandy, exotic stretch of beach. An island BBQ was available all afternoon as well as drinks, cabanas, snorkeling and watercrafts. Tough duty: slathering on sunscreen, standing in the cool waters of the Caribbean, holding an island libation and listening to blues music. Whew!! Pinch me... I had to be dreaming!
The highlights of the trip: Sharing the music with many of the blues fans that I have met in my travels,; talking with and comparing notes with fellow BSWPA members...Renee and John, Paul Baughman and Evelyn; seeing Jill West run a well attended amateur jam...and making us proud; watching Tab Benoit play the drums during a pro-am set; seeing Tommy Castro with windblown hair...and still looking good; seeing musicians have fun doing what they do...Watermelon Slim danced his way around the ship and had a blast sitting in with just about everyone; and seeing musicians standing among the masses listening, dancing and enjoying the music as fans. Eden Brent commented that there were not a lot of piano players on the ship. I was amazed that there were numerous guitarists, bass players, drummers and harp players. There was not one tambourine player to be found. Someone from Pittsburgh (We will blame Trish) brought some light up tambourines to liven up the party.
Yes, we were willing participants, absconding with the Eurodam. We had traveled 2361 nautical miles. However, not one report or complaint was lodged. "It was great to be us."
~Jonnye Weber
After note: Thanks, Tab for letting me shake that blinking tambourine during your pro-jam. Thanks to the South Florida Blues Society for their pre-cruise jam with Joey Gilmore and JP Soars. Thanks to the St. Louis Blues Society for hosting the cruise. Thanks Carmen for letting me join the "Fat Man Tour" on Curacao...the beach was an exquisite oasis.
Sad note: Trampled Under Foot's lead singer, Danielle Schnebelen, had to be flown stateside to have emergency surgery. Kudos to TUF for the "show must go on." Many performers throughout the week jumped in to help TUF to fulfill their cruise obligations. Kudos to the blues fans for the thousands that they raised onboard to defray Danielle's medical bills.
