Announcing The Jazz Cruise 2025
APRIL 18TH, 2025
THE JAZZ CRUISE 2025
Join the Jazz Cruise and experience the golden age of jazz! Famous Norwegian artists and musicians will take you on a journey through jazz’s greatest era. Over two days at sea, we will pay tribute to legendary music icons Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nina Simone — all while you enjoy ocean views and a great atmosphere on board.
Jazz Finds Its Voice AT SEA
Together, this year's JazzCruise artists and musicians invite you to an unforgettable musical tribute to jazz's most iconic performers.
Celebrating Frank Sinatra
Together with Felix Peikli, Thor-Erik Fjellvang, and a fully staffed Norwegian Jazz Orchestra, Heine Totland invites you to a musical tribute in honor of Frank Sinatra's 110th anniversary.
Frank Sinatra was an American singer and actor born in 1915. Nicknamed "Chairman of the Board" and later known as "Ol' Blue Eyes," he is considered one of the most popular entertainment artists of the mid-20th century. Sinatra is among the world's best-selling musicians, with an estimated 150 million records sold globally.
Remembering Ray Charles
Knut Anders Sørum, together with Felix Peikli, Thor-Erik Fjellvang, and the Norwegian Jazz Orchestra, invites you to a musical tribute to Ray Charles.
Ray Charles was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist, recognized as one of the most iconic and influential musicians in history. Nicknamed "The Genius," though he preferred to be called "Brother Ray," Charles helped shape soul music in the 1950s by blending blues, jazz, R&B, and gospel. In the 1960s, he further contributed to integrating country, R&B, and pop, achieving major success with his Modern Sounds albums. Despite losing his sight as a child, he became one of the first Black artists to gain artistic control at ABC Records, one of the largest record labels of the time.
A Tribute to Nina Simone
Sisi Sumbundu invites you to a tribute to the immortal Nina Simone, together with Felix Peikli, Thor-Erik Fjellvang, and the Norwegian Jazz Orchestra.
Nina Simone was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and activist. Simone made her mark across many genres — classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and pop. She released more than 40 albums during her career, leaving behind a legacy of classics: "I Put A Spell On You," "I Loves You, Porgy," "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free," and "Feeling Good" — to name just a few.
The Music of Ella Fitzgerald
Sisi Sumbundu invites you to a celebration of Ella Fitzgerald together with Felix Peikli, Thor-Erik Fjellvang, and the Norwegian Jazz Orchestra.
In 1955, Ella Fitzgerald became the first Black artist to perform at the famed Mocambo nightclub in Hollywood. Marilyn Monroe, a great admirer of Ella, persuaded the club owner to book her. The concert was a resounding success — elevating Fitzgerald's career to new heights and giving hope for a future with less discrimination and prejudice.
The "First Lady of Jazz" has inscribed her name in music history with golden letters, and this concert is a tribute to her.
