Our Artists

World-renowned jazz bassist, Marcus Miller, has sailed as host and featured performer on The Smooth Jazz Cruise over 20 times. Adding to his current list of GRAMMY® and international awards, Britain’s Jazz FM recently presented Marcus with the Gold Award for his influential contributions to jazz, soul and R&B, UK’s Bass Player magazine honored him with a Lifetime Achievement award and Downbeat magazine placed Marcus at the top of their 2023 Critic’s Poll for most influential bassist worldwide. Fans of Luther Vandross’ Never Too Much, Bill Wither’s Just The Two of Us, Beyonce’s Lemonade and David Sanborn’s soulful classics are all grooving to Marcus’ distinctive touch.

Kenny G is an American smooth jazz saxophonist, composer and producer. His 1992 album, Breathless, became the best-selling instrumental album ever. Kenny G is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with one GRAMMY® win, 16 GRAMMY® nominations and global sales totaling more than 75 million records. Kenny G’s fourth solo album, Duotones, started his most successful period, featuring the hit single “Songbird.” His first holiday album, Miracles: The Holiday Album, sold over 13 million copies and he has worked on soundtracks for films such as The Bodyguard and collaborated with artists like Andrea Bocelli and Frank Sinatra. In the 2000s and 2010s, Kenny G released several albums, including Paradise and Brazilian Nights and continued to appear in commercials, music videos and performances worldwide.

Dutch saxophonist Candy Dulfer has earned her place in music history — with her GRAMMY®-nominated debut album Saxuality (over 2.5 million copies worldwide copies sold), performances with the greatest names in music (including Prince, Van Morrison and Maceo Parker) and her worldwide concert tours and legendary live shows. Her latest album, We Never Stop, garnered rave reviews from critics and fans alike, resulting in the US Billboard No. 1 hit “Convergency” featuring Chic-legend Nile Rodgers. She’s been a popular headline artist on The Smooth Jazz Cruise for many years and is thrilled to return once again to add her energetic funky stuff to the musical mix.

For almost four decades, Peter White has stood as one of jazz’s most versatile and prolific acoustic guitarists, blending jazz, pop and classical elements to craft a unique and universally appealing sound. At just 19, he joined Al Stewart’s band, performing alongside luminaries like Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel and Queen. Launching his solo career in 1990 with Réveillez-Vous, Peter has enjoyed a successful touring career with “Guitars and Saxes” and his annual “Peter White Christmas Tour.” From its inception, Peter has been a major factor in the success and growth of The Smooth Jazz Cruise and he epitomizes what the cruise hopes to present.

During her remarkable two-decade recording career, saxophonist/vocalist Mindi Abair has garnered two GRAMMY® nominations, recorded with some of the biggest names in music and built a substantial following among jazz and blues audiences with her soaring melodies and powerhouse style. You might know her as the featured saxophonist on American Idol, sitting in with Paul Shaffer on The Late Show with David Letterman and with The Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, or from moonlighting on tour with Duran Duran or Aerosmith. As a solo artist, she has consistently topped the Billboard Contemporary Jazz and Blues charts. In 2018, Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers won 8 Independent Blues Awards including Artist of the Year, and an Independent Music Award for Best Blues Song Fan Award for “Pretty Good for A Girl” featuring Joe Bonamassa.

Multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, Vincent Ingala has emerged as a star since his 2010 critically acclaimed debut album, North End Soul. The charismatic saxophonist has been named Billboard Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year in 2012, SiriusXM Watercolors Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2013 and his music is consistently found atop the most noteworthy music charts in the world, including four number one hits on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart. The Yamaha Performing Artist has been wowing live audiences as a regular on the popular smooth jazz festival and cruise circuit for several years. His versatility on multiple instruments makes him sought after both live and as a producer.

Keiko Matsui is a Japanese keyboardist and composer, specializing in smooth jazz and New-age music. Keiko Matsui was born in Tokyo, Japan. Her mother took her to her first piano lesson at 6, based on the Japanese tradition that a child who is introduced to something at this time will continue in those studies for a long time. The tradition held true for Matsui, who studied piano throughout her school years. Though her early training focused on classical music, in junior high school she developed an interest in jazz and began composing her own music. She produced her album The Road and recorded it with Richard Bona, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jackiem Joyner and Kirk Whalum. Her album Soul Quest (2013) reached No. 6 on the jazz chart.

To borrow from a classic quote about the late, great James Brown, DW3 is today’s hardest-working band in soul business, working fans into a dance and romance frenzy with their R&B, old school funk, jazz and Latin-fired magic. Since 2003, brothers Eric and Billy Mondragon and Damon Reel have set the high-energy mood on The Smooth Jazz Cruise. With four Billboard-charting hits, DW3 has also established themselves as a popular national recording group. The three chose to self-title their latest recording to reflect the culmination of their steady and inspiring evolution from ultimate, first-call party band to multi-faceted artists, songwriters and producers.

Musicians, guests and our staff all agree: The Smooth Jazz Cruise Event Host must be Talaya. For more than four decades, Talaya has shared her love of music on the radio and can currently be heard on SiriusXM Watercolors. With various achievements and awards, Talaya’s love of jazz has been a driving force in her career. Her greatest moments have included interviewing Sade in 1985 before anyone else and singing background vocals with GRAMMY® Winners Evanescense, Nyee Moses and Gabriela Anders. “Getting to meet all you wonderful cruisers and sharing the stage with brilliant musicians on The Smooth Jazz Cruise is a true honor.”