January 2008 Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
Another cruise has come and gone; when is the next one?? As usual the Caribbean version of the LRBC was a blueslover’s heaven.
Trip details can be summarized quickly. The msWesterdam of Holland America Lines supported the sterling reputation of the cruise company with its smooth ride, delicious and plentiful food, cheerful and impeccable service, and multiple creature comforts. Weather was almost perfect, and the stops were chosen wisely: San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Croix, Virgin Islands; and St. Kitts (although I never got off the boat). The folks who organize this week-long party have learned to do it right.
The music is the reason to be there, of course. The twenty different acts performed 4 times each during the week, so one could sample every act at least once with ease, or see one’s favorite 4 times! The styles of blues ran the gamut, from the acoustic blues of soloist Paul Oscher, to the Cajun gumbo rock of Tab Benoit and the Wetlands All-Stars, to the blues rock of Jimmy Thackery and Reba Russell, to the seminal Chicago blues of Humbert Sumlin, Henry Gray, and their cohorts from the Howlin’ Wolf band, to the soul blues of Irma Thomas and Shemekia Copeland, to the virtuouso harmonica of Charlie Musselwhite and colleagues....Jam sessions abounded, their spontaneity often constituting the highlight of each day. Pianists David Maxwell, Mitch Woods, and Leon Blue took turns commanding the piano bar late each night, exhibiting their diverse and compelling styles and jamming with whomever showed up, as well as sitting in themselves during the sets of various bands during the day.
Every return cruiser has a strategy on a LRBC, whether it be a judicious eating pattern to limit weight gain (or not), a temperate drinking approach (or not), or a sleep tactic (sleep? with outdoor upper deck jam sessions to 3 to 5 AM?). So-called “virgin” (first time) cruisers listen to the advice of returnees, or learn the hard way how to survive and thrive. In terms of the music, the choices include sitting and watching an act for 30 or just 5 minutes, then leaving for a different act, staying for a full 90 minute set, taking a break between acts, going non-stop from noon until 4 AM and collapsing....Life is filled with difficult decisions, all of them leading to satisfaction on this boat.
My personal strategy is to check out acts with which I’m unfamiliar on the first couple of days, while fitting in my established favorites; then devoting the last part of the week to repeatedly enjoying the best. Those acts which I didn’t enjoy, and there were a few, will remain unnamed, since
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taste is subjective, other cruisers loved them, and I don’t want to dis musicians who work hard and love what they do. So...:
Tab Benoit and the Wetlands All-Stars: anything that Tab does is fine by me. He is a great singer and guitarist with ample charisma, indisputably one of the best bluesmen around. The band featured fiddle, washboard, and accordion, and it swung!
Jimmy Thackery: a guitar god. There is nothing he can’t do, and he does it with a droll, deadpan expression and almost motionless body. One can hear Jimi Hendrix, Roy Buchanan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Duane Eddy, the Ventures, and Hawaiian guitar influences, but he makes it all his own. Wow! When he sat in with Smokin’ Joe Kubek’s band, the sparks flew; every song got a standing ovation. Too bad that he and Tab never managed to play together on this cruise.
Ruthie Foster: a crowd favorite, with terrific stage presence, a sense of humor, sincerity, and a fantastic voice.
Shemekia Copeland: another amazing vocalist.
Michael Burks: previously unfamiliar to me, he is an unpretentious performer who can really sing, and positively scorches his guitar!
Roomful of Blues: This band, now together for 40 years and consistently one of the best in the world, deserves an award for fortitude as well as musical chops. Three days before the cruise sailed, its trumpet player, Bob Enos, was found dead of a heart attack in his hotel room the morning after a show. The band took the stage with sad hearts, and cruisers contributed over $3,500 for Enos’s surviving wife and child. By the way, the leader and guitarist of Roomful, Chris Vachon, follows ably in the footsteps of previous Roomful guitarists Duke Robillard and Ronnie Earl; Vachon is one of the most unrecognized and underrated blues guitarists around.
I have only 2 minor cavils about the LRBCs. First, one or two more acoustic acts on each cruise would provide more variety. Second, each act should be asked before the cruise to prepare at least two completely different performance sets, so that seeing one’s favorite musicians 3 or 4 times during the week doesn’t result in seeing 3 or 4 performances of the same playlist. No matter how much one likes a particular act, seeing the same exact set repeatedly gets boring.
To review the entire January 2008 line-up, and to preview the line-up for the next cruise, which leaves from San Diego in October 2008, go to the LRBC Web site: www.bluescruise.com. Cabins sell out months ahead of time, so reserve one early if you want to experience a week of blues nirvana. I reap no benefit of any kind by touting the LRBC; I just want you to know that it’s there to be savored. Thanks!
Steve
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