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Jam Cruise Report: Day Two (funky Meters, Galactic, ALO, Greensky Bluegrass and Sit-Ins Aplenty)

While most of the audience was enjoying a short dinner break, Cummins, Coffin, New Mastersounds guitarist Eddie Roberts, drummer John Morgan Kimock and Lettuce bassist Erik Coomes played a surprise set for Jam Cruise “repeat offender” veterans in the ship’s disco space. Then, the electro-group BoomBox—a project featuring Russ Randolph and Zion Godchaux (Donna Jean’s son and this cruise’s closest tie to the Grateful Dead)—and Afrobeat heir Femi Kuti kicked off the evening’s festivities. Kuti brought a 10-person backing band and ran through a set of infectious dance numbers in the ship’s most proper venue, the Teatro Carlo Felice.

As the early evening slipped into late night, fans had several different options. Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood played their second and final Jam Cruise show in the Teatro Carlo Felice. They also led a conversation in the ship’s Jam Room where Scofield discussed his time with Miles Davis (“he was famous for stealing musicians from other bands”), Chris Wood described jamming as “spontaneous composition” and John Medeski revealed that he performs on his teacher’s piano, which he first played at the tender age of five. A few feet away in the sweaty Zebra Bar, ALO’s marathon continued, as they invited out Hollingsworth and members of The Motet for a few songs, including “I Love Music” and threw in hits like “Speed of Dreams,” “Maria” and “Girl I Wanna Lay You Down.”

Meanwhile, Galactic anchored a guest-heavy set on the ship’s Pool Deck stage. In addition to touring guests like Glover and Rebirth Brass Band’s Corey Henry, Mike Dillon played percussion throughout their set. Galactic also invited out fellow Jam Cruise staples like Walter, Coffin and Meters bassist George Porter Jr. as well as the Soul Rebels horns section. A highlight was Galactic’s cover of Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” led by Glover.

Through Jam Cruise is the rare festival where members of the jamband scene’s San Francisco, New Orleans, Colorado and New York/New England communities converse, the ship’s Big Easy performers remain the ship’s bedrock. So it was a particular score for Jam Cruise to nab the funky Meters, the Meters offshoot featuring Porter and scene guiding light Art Neville. The funky Meters relied on their best known material with the help of Dillon on percussion and gradually segued their set into a super jam. Dumpstaphunk leader Ivan Neville—Art’s nephew—joined the group on vocals and tambourine for signature songs like “Hey Pocky Way,” “Fire on the Bayou” and “Iko Iko.” Then, numerous drummers including Dumpstaphunk’s Nikki Glaspie and Galactic’s Stanton Moore emerged for a percussion-heavy segment. At one point, Funky Meters drummer Russell Batiste Jr. moved to the front of the stage to banter with the crowd and his band. He asked Art Neville to come back next year so he could “pay his rent” and let Moore play drums with the funky Meters on the classic “Cissy Strut.” Members of the Soul Rebels also took the stage for a few solos.

Jam Cruise’s after hours offerings were equally diverse. Pimps of Joytime guitarist Brian J. hosted the Jam Room with an emphasis on marching music. Big Gigantic wrapped-up their whirlwind week on the boat—after appearing on Holy Ship! as well—and Medeski Skerik and Deitch performed in the Zebra Bar. Coffin, the Lettuce Horns and additional brass musicians joined in for a bit of improv as Skerik jokingly described Jam Cruise as the “festival you can’t leave.” Nathan Moore also hosted his first troubadour session on the ship’s outdoor walkway—known as “the spot”—with surprise cruise guests from Fruition, members of Greensky Bluegrass, Bryan Elijah Smith and other string players.