Hello Everybody,

I just got off the plane from St. Petersburg, Russia and the first thing on my agenda was to get to our blog and let you know the month Luba and I had. We moved at a feverish pace and in three and a half weeks were in Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Holland, Finland and ended in Russia.

The first part of the trip was aboard the MS Rotterdam. Jazz Cruises LLC in partnership with Holland Amercia Cruise Lines hosted the first ever North Sea Jazz Cruise. Embarkation was in Copenhagen and for 10 days we cruised the North Sea and enjoyed daily and nightly concerts by Roy Hargrove, Marcus Miller (who also doubled as the host of the cruise), James Carter (who stole the show in every way), Dee Bridgewater, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner and David Sanborn. While the weather through the whole cruise was wet and rainy the music inside really kept the vibe going and made the lack of a good tan, pale in comparison to the exceptional 10 days of music.

Everyone at Jazz Cruises LLC and Holland America were incredible. It was a seamless trip and the staff emerged as true stars. I have been in the hospitality business for 18 years and I can tell you THEY made the trip what it was. From the room attendants, the bartenders, the salon staff, the gym staff, as well as the restaurant servers, they did everything possible to make you smile. 1700 people were on board but you felt sometimes when they remembered your name and past conversations at every turn, that you were the guest of honor.

Another interesting facet about the trip is that the disembarkation point was in Rotterdam at the North Sea Jazz Festival. At that time the ship becomes a hotel of sorts and guests come and go at their leisure to the festival, which is merely 3 metro stops away. This was my first time there and I really have never seen anything like it. Every day over the three day festival roughly 28,000 people enter what is a series of small venues and very large arenas. It's like a strip mall with venues, some that hold over 10,000 people, on either side. And lodged in between are kiosks selling everything from pancakes to posters, to guitars to gyros.

Luba and I attended some fabulous shows there as well. Most memorable was by far Al Green, the reverend Al Green I should say. If you ever have an opportunity to see him live just do it, and thank me later. Totally incredible to see so many people from countries all over the world spellbound by this man.

Luba and I took off on day 2 of the festival to get some non-jazz time (it was also our vacation and wanted to venture out.) We flew from Rotterdam to Helsinki, Finland and drove leisurely through the magnificent Finnish countryside and through to St. Petersburg Russia, where we spent our last 5 days.

There are countless memories I will always cherish from this trip. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to go. In a couple of weeks I will be speaking with our partners at Jazz Cruises LLC and hope to have some interesting news for you on our next collaboration. For everyone who joined us on this maiden journey, thank you!!!!! We certainly hope that more of you will join us on our next adventure, wherever in the world that may be!

If I can answer any questions about our travels and the cruise or the festival itself please feel free to contact me here on the blog or via my email at dayla_santurri@hilton.com.

Both Luba and I are so excited to be back and ready to commence our exceptional August lineup. So until my next entry, I'll see you at the show!

Best regards,
Dayla Arabella Santurri
General Manager
Scullers Jazz Club