Conspirator featuring members of the Disco Biscuits

There were a number of side projects on the cruise. The Disco Biscuits keyboard player, Aron Magner (left), and bassist, Marc Brownstein (right), brought their live-electronic project called Conspirator on board for some of their first live shows and they were joined by Benevento/Russo Duo's Joe Russo on drums and a DJ. In the photo on the right, Brownstein is showing his ASCAP pride with the ASCAP sweatband on his wrist.

Fun in the Sun

Artists and fans alike had an immense amount of fun on the Jam Cruise. It felt like a vacation for everyone involved.  Each act played twice over the four days allowing for a lot of relaxation. With it being a vacation, a number of musicians brought their families along for the trip. Here, Karl Denson is shown playing basketball with his son.

Leslie Helpert

Leslie Helpert is a singer-songwriter whose sound doesn't fit neatly within one style. Her rich melodies combined with detailed narratives and vivid poetry captivate audiences. On the cruise, she performed solo, in a duet and sat-in with Zilla twice.

Garaj Mahal

Garaj Mahal is an astonishing jazz-fusion quartet and each player has a long list of past accolades as musicians.  Garaj Mahal is led by guitar virtuoso Fareed Haque, a tenured music professor, and Kai Eckhardt, a world-renowned bass player who has played and tour extensively with John McLaughlin and many other jazz greats.

Leslie Helpert & Marco Benevento Duo

Cross-pollination between the musicians occurred non-stop in just about every imaginable format on the Jam Cruise. One of the most interesting side-projects happened in the ship's Trolley Bar where fans dined on sushi as Benevento/Russo Duo's Marco Benevento and solo artist Leslie Helpert joined forces for a beautiful set of Billie Holiday songs.