Jazz Cruises Conversations

Jazz Cruises Conversations invites you to escape to the high seas for the most intimate and candid conversations in music. Go beyond the stage for full-length interviews with the biggest names in jazz and smooth jazz, recorded live on the world's premier floating music festivals.

Guided by veteran host Lee Mergner (and other musicians, comedians, and on-board talent), hear legends open up about their careers, creative process, and lives on the road, all recorded exclusively on sailings of The Jazz Cruise, Blue Note at Sea, Botti at Sea, and The Smooth Jazz Cruise. Mergner and his crew’s knowledgeable perspectives ensure these aren't just chats—they are engaging, entertaining, and truly informative deep dives into the music.

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Signature Cruise Experiences is the Gold Standard for Charter Theme Cruises since 2001. In that time, we have produced over 100 full ship theme charters, most of which featured a significant music theme and top performers.

Our goal has been to present the very best musicians possible and do so with authenticity and professionalism. Our music venues are the best at sea and our sound production is Performing Art Center quality. Nothing but the best for our talent which translates to the very best for our guests.

Guest

Connor Parks

Connor Parks is a distinguished drummer, composer, and percussionist who honed his skills in Orlando, FL, under the mentorship of Danny and Beth Gottlieb and local hero Benoit Glazer. He holds a BFA in Jazz Studies from The New School, where his instructors included Jane Ira Bloom, Reggie Workman, and Dave Douglas. Parks’s extensive studies with a roster of jazz luminaries prepared him for a vibrant career. He has performed with diverse artists such as Ali Sethi, Kandace Springs, and JD Allen, appearing at venues from the Blue Note to Madison Square Garden. As a composer, he has written for various ensembles and collaborated with the Joffrey School of Ballet.

Guest appearance on:

Drum Talk with Mark Ruffin