Larry Braggs
After 14 years helming the mic for urban soul band Tower of Power, vocalist Larry Braggs is a true vocal master on stage, and he’ll pull out all the stops on The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2016. With a three-octave range and electrifying stage presence, the classically trained tenor is currently pursuing a solo career and still touring nearly 200 days a year. Inspired since childhood by the legendary Tom Jones, Larry’s illustrious career includes a tour with his idol and performances with other major artists like James Brown, Prince, Journey, The Average White Band, War, Little Richard, B.B King, Al Green, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Joss Stone and Jamie Fox.
Ricky Peterson
A life long Minnesotan whose sound has always focused on a characteristically “Minneapolis” sound, Ricky Peterson is best known for his now 20 year association with saxophone legend David Sanborn and for having, produced, written and played keyboards for Prince on and off since his early days on the Twin Cities scene (perhaps most notably producing and arranging the song “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”).
DW3
R&B, jazz and Latin soul band DW3 has been entertaining for more than a decade, including encore performances on The Smooth Jazz Cruise. With Eric, William & Damon providing the LA-based band’s harmonious voices, outstanding musicians on keyboards, percussion, drums, bass and guitar round out the energetic group. DW3 has released three successful albums, the most recent of which rose to No. 16 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart. Annually, the band performs for U.S. troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, Asia and Europe. Eric, William and Damon also have sung background for Marcus Miller, Evelyn “Champagne” King George Duke, Brenda Russell, Patti Austin, Jonathan Butler, Bobby Caldwell, Brian McKnight, David Pack (Ambrosia), The Avila Bros and many other artists.
Randy Jacobs
Born in San Francisco and raised in the Motor City Detroit, Randy Jacobs career began at the age of 13. His first professional gigs were with some of Motown’s leading writers, producers and artists. Including songwriter Sylvia Moy (ìMi Cherie Amourî), singer/songwriter Barrett Strong (Money), and producer Don Davis (Johnny Taylor, The Dramatics, Robin Trower). It was while working with former Miles Davis bassist Michael Henderson fresh out of high school, that Jacobs showed he had a gift for songwriting when he co-authored the Top-Five R&B hit, “Wide Receiver.” After a number of years working in the Motown scene Jacobs became one of the core members of Was (Not Was), an eclectic pop band that developed a strong following in the U.S. and abroad during the 1980s. While with the band, Jacobs co-authored the Top-Ten hit “Walk the Dinosaur.”
The Smooth Jazz Cruise -- LineUp