HOUSTON PERSON
Soulful Tenor Saxman
Soulful tenor saxophonist Houston Person is sure to delight guests of The Signature Jazz Cruise 2015 with his warm, personable and entertaining demeanor – not to mention stellar sax skills. Having studied piano as a youth then taken up the tenor saxophone, he spent 30 years as the musical partner of the late vocalist Etta Jones. With a style reminiscent of jazz greats like Gene Ammons and Stanley Turrentine, Houston has more than 75 albums to his name and produces on the side. He also has been featured on recordings of Charles Brown, Bill Charlap, Charles Earland, Lena Horne, Lou Rawls, Horace Silver, Dakota Staton, Billy Butler, Richard “Groove” Holmes and others.
JOHN PIZZARELLI QUARTET
The King of Cool and Suave – Guitarist/Vocalist
Guitar and vocal virtuoso John Pizzarelli has been breathing new life into the Great American Songbook since the age of 6, and his eponymous band, John Pizzarelli Quartet, will captivate guests of The Signature Jazz Cruise 2015 with its cool, suave spin on the songs of Richard Rodgers, George Gershwin, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and even the Beatles. Joined by pianist Larry Fuller, bassist Martin Pizzarelli and drummer Tony Tedesco, John considers his group a 21st century extension of Nat King Cole, his musical inspiration. His astounding list of credentials includes appearances on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Live With Regis & Kelly,” the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; special guest on recordings for major artists such as James Taylor, Natalie Cole, Kristin Chenoweth, Rosemary Clooney and Buddy DeFranco; and recipient of the 2009 Ella Fitzgerald Award from the Montreal International Jazz Festival.
RAUL MIDóN
Raul Midon’s innovative singing and guitar playing evolved out of efforts to command an audience in a crowded bar, but these days, the virtuoso can captivate a crowd instantaneously, and his performance on The Signature Jazz Cruise 2015 is sure to testify to that ability. Originally an in-demand backup singer for the likes of Julio and Enrique Iglesias, Shakira and Alejandro Sanz, Raul has spent the last dozen years pursuing his solo career in New York City. Eight albums later, he’s amassed an international fan base with his unique R&B, jazz and Latin-infused sound, improvisational mouth-horn technique and guitar-as-percussion. In the process, he’s collaborated with Herbie Hancock, Bill Withers and Stevie Wonder; appeared on recordings by Jason Mraz, Queen Latifah and Snoop Dogg; and, in spite of being blind since birth, fully produced and engineered his latest album, “Don’t Hesitate,” cutting all of the tracks in his home studio, playing most of the instruments himself and handling all of the project’s technical elements.
Raul Midón - State of Mind [Live On Late Show With Dave Letterman] Show]