Notes from the Publisher

Getting ready to board Inspiration Hornblower for a Champagne Jazz Brunch Cruise in San Diego, California, on Jan. 20, 2019 (left to right): Willie and Kathy Payne of Payne Pest Management; Rick Kail and Rebecca Milkey, Hornblower’s marketing director and our host; Lynn Darius and her husband, saxophonist and host of The San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival, Eric Darius; Kelly Cole, MAGIC 92.5 on-air radio personality; and Craig Collier, Smooth Jazz News operations and distribution manager

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS to do in San Diego on

a Sunday morning is a Champagne Jazz Brunch Cruise aboard Hornblower Cruises & Events. Being on the water, with all of the sights and scenery—the city’s skyline, Coronado Island, shipyards, cargo and cruise ship terminals, Naval Air Station North Island, Point Loma peninsula, waterfront parks, seagulls flying in formation and the occasional pelican diving for and scooping up fish—calms my nerves, clears my mind and sends me into a Zen state of contentment. And, when you add a buffet of eggs Benedict, carved chili-rubbed breast of turkey, biscuits and gravy, Belgian waffles, a dessert bar, Yakisoba noodle salad, chilled shrimp and other delights at the seafood station, it ups the decadence factor. My second favorite thing is

Hornblower’s three-hour, three-course dinner cruise, especially on a Friday or Saturday evening when they offer a lobster option. Dining, drinking and dancing (there is usually a DJ or live jazz performed by KUSI meteorologist/trombonist Dave Scott) on a boat while sailing around San Although America’s Finest City is Diego Bay brings back memories from full of all of us smooth jazz radio the days when San Diego-based radio orphans, we can once again enjoy station Smooth Jazz 98.1 teamed up with record labels to co-host CD-release live jazz on Hornblower thanks to parties aboard Hornblower. I remember Kim and Ozzie Benoit of Rainbow sailing around the bay and harbor while Boney James performed songs from his Promotions, and Kathy and Willie then-latest album, as patrons partied, Payne of Payne Pest Management mingled with the star and soaked up the scenery and sunset. These experiences epitomized the Southern California smooth jazz lifestyle, which ignited a vibe of exhilaration. And, for

those who imbibe, a glass of Champagne, wine or specialty cocktail such as Sailor’s Punch, Mariner’s Margarita, Key Lime Martini or a Cherry Walnut Old Fashioned created a nice little buzz that took the edge off an exhausting workweek. So, when Rebecca Milkey, Hornblower’s director of marketing, invited me and Craig Collier (Smooth Jazz News’ operations and distribution manager) to a Sunday Champagne Jazz Brunch Cruise in January, I was thrilled. I was also looking forward to chatting with her about business in person (Hornblower is a regular advertiser), and her photography (she’s a world traveler with amazing photos). Plus, I could experience vicariously through her photos the bountiful whale and dolphin sightings she’s

Carving station

Macaroni and cheese, and roasted red potatoes O’Brien with glazed onions and colorful peppers

Dessert spread Above: View of the San DiegoCoronado Bridge from Hornblower Cruises & Events Left: Brenda Madruga (Smooth Jazz News special events representative) enjoying a Sunday Champagne Jazz Brunch Cruise aboard Inspiration Hornblower in 2018

Being on the water, with all of the sights and scenery, calms my nerves, clears my mind and sends me into a Zen state of contentment.

seen this season on Hornblower’s whale-and-dolphin-watching tours. However, she had a surprise in store for us instead. As we were waiting on the dock to board the boat, saxophonist Eric Darius suddenly appeared with his wife Lynn, Kelly Cole (MAGIC 92.5 on-air personality), and Kathy and Willie Payne (Payne Pest Management)! The brunch was actually a celebration of the announcement that this year’s San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival would kick off on Friday, June 28, with a three-hour dinner cruise on the boat we were about to sail on—the 222-foot, three-deck, 1,200-passenger Inspiration Hornblower—the largest charter yacht in Southern California. Darius will host the evening cruise, which features live performances by flutist Althea Rene and vocalist Selina Albright. Although America’s Finest City is full of all of us smooth jazz radio orphans, we can once again enjoy live jazz on Hornblower thanks to Kim and Ozzie Benoit of Rainbow Promotions, and Kathy and Willie Payne of Payne Pest Management, presenters of The San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival, scheduled for June 28-30.

The San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival Dinner Cruise is scheduled for Friday, June 28, 7-10 p.m., aboard Inspiration Hornblower. It boards at 6 p.m. from Pier 1, Hornblower Landing, 1800 N. Harbor Dr., San Diego, California. The main, land-based, festival is June 29-30, at Embarcadero Marina Park North, 400 Kettner Blvd., in San Diego, California. For more information on The San Diego Smooth Jazz Festival, visit www.sandiegosmoothjazzfestival.com or call 562-424-0013. For more information on Hornblower Cruises & Events, visit www.hornblower.com or call 855-627-8482.