Crystal Plans Fall Jazz Cruise in Mexican Riviera

Crystal Cruises will host more than two dozen jazz legends and contemporary artists on the Crystal Symphony’s Nov. 30 Mexican Riviera cruise from Los Angeles. The seven-day cruise will visit Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.

Scheduled to appear are the Harry Allen Quartet, Pieter Meijers Quartet, Bob Wilber Quintet and a variety of solo headliners, who will fill the ship with the sounds of jazz in the classic styles of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, with more than six jazz pianists, eight brass musicians and seven on drums and strings.

Among the 24 featured performers are Grammy Award-winning instrumentalist Bob Wilbur, noted for arranging Hollywood film scores including Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Cotton Club,” saxophonist Harry Allen, who has performed with Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett, and James Taylor; vocalist and bass player Nicki Parrott; and jazz pianist Johnny Varro.

Also scheduled is guest lecturer Loren Schoenberg, author of “The NPR Curious Listeners Guide to Jazz.” The jazz programming was created in partnership with Jazzdagen Tours and is timed to coincide with the San Diego Jazz Festival.