All Star Cruise Gets New Host: Brian Culbertson

The All Star Smooth Jazz Cruise, which sailed for the first time in November, will return but with a new host and a new schedule. Keyboardist Brian Culbertson will replace the previous host, trumpeter Rick Braun, on the cruise that is now officially called The Brian Culbertson All Star Smooth Jazz Cruise.

Culbertson has signed a contract to be the host for the next two cruises. The second edition of the cruise will be held in January 2007 and is still scheduled to sail from Galveston, Texas. Artists confirmed so far, in addition to Culbertson, are saxophonists Boney James, Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright and Eric Darius, guitarist Nick Colionne and the group Down to the Bone.

To learn more about the cruise, go to www.allstarcruise.com.