[Harp-L] Re: Blues Cruise 2008

["jazmaan@xxxxxxxxxxx" <dmf273@xxxxxxxxx>]

Randy asked "what does the Blues Cruise cost and who do you get to jam with?"

Let's just say it ain't cheap.  If you want more details than that, visit www.bluescruise.com, but
be aware that the cheapest berths always sell out within hours and usually go to repeat cruisers.

As for who you get to jam with, that depends entirely on your persistence, your luck and most of
all your willingness to stay up to ungodly hours.   The official nightly Pro jam with sign-up
sheets doesn't even begin until 1:00 am.   Personally I abhor sign-up sheets.   That's where luck
plays a part.  As I said, there are jamming venues set up all around the ship.  My best jamming
experiences have come from finding a vacant piano lounge and just starting to play all by myself. 
Before long, another musician wanders by and joins in, and another and another and then a little
audience develops and then when you least expect it, maybe Rod Piazza or Lee Oskar strolls up. 
These moments happen every night.  It's just a matter of being in the right place at the right
time (or at the wrong time.  Invariably, no matter how late you stay up, you will hear stories the
next morning like "You should have been in the Vista Bar at 4:30!  Taj was jamming with Dr. John!)

Also there are countless informal moments around the ship when you may just be sitting poolside
with Taj smoking a stogie while you sip a Mojito and talk about old times.  And maybe you'll just
pull out a harp and play a few bars for Taj.  And maybe he'll start singing "A Little Soulful
Tune" from the Giant Steps lp.   It's happened to me!