Greensky Bluegrass‘s Anders Beck and Paul Hoffman certainly made the most of their “Artist-At-Large” status on Jam Cruise 2016.  If they weren’t sitting in on every stage on the boat with anyone who asked, they were staying up late for acoustic jams with Nathan Moore at The Spot or just spreading good cheer as faithful Repeat Offenders. 

Beck has said many times in the past that he had been training his whole life for something, and then realized, at last, what it was.  It was the five day voyage of musical mayhem that is Jam Cruise.  Our own Rex Thomson kept an eye out for the boys as he roamed the ship filming, and he caught a few treats for us he’d love to share with all of you.

Paul Hoffman and Anders Beck (And Friends)

Beyond simply being artists at-at-large, Anders and Paul got to have one small set of their own, on the Brews At Sea stage, sponsored by the many craft beers on the boat.  Rather than perform as a duo, a show they’ve nailed in the past, they invited a few of their friends up onstage with them.  With Jay Cobb Anderson from Fruition, Cris Jacobs & The Infamous Stringdusters‘ Travis Book, they had a relaxed set full of crowd pleasing Greensky tunes, as well as a couple tropical favorites.  The response from their many fans on board almost seemed to take the duo by surprise.  The voices raised in unison with Hoffman for the emotive chorus to “Windshield” seemed to catch him off guard at first, then enliven him by their sheer spirit.  Check out the scene below:

“Windshield“

Joel Cummins Piano Set

Umphrey’s McGee keyboardist Joel Cummins used his piano set in The Atrium to stretch out his classical muscles, play a few choice covers, and even bring up a special guest or two. Hoffman and Beck popped up for a couple of tunes, including this fun early look into a “Pretty Damn New” Greensky Bluegrass song, entitled “Living Over.” They’re having so much fun together! Check out the fun below:

“Living Over”

Everyone Orchestra

Jam Cruise is the perfect place for Everyone Orchestra founder and conductor Matt Butler to pull together his innovative all star improvisation concept together.  With a ship full of stellar potential collaborators, Butler managed to whittle down his choices to Paul & Anders, Marco Benevento (Joe Russo’s Almost Dead), Reed Mathis (Tea Leaf Green), Amy Helm, Jans Ingber (Formerly Of The Motet), Nicki Bluhm, Vernon Reid (Living Color), Isaac Teel, Jeff Franca, Pappy Biondo (Cabinet), Ron Holloway, Scott Pemberton and Mihali Savoulidis.  As usual, the set was a special celebration of Jam Cruise’s non-profit, Positive Legacy, which focuses on leaving the world in general and places visited better for our presence. That hopeful spirit insinuates itself into the music, created by the smiling faces on the stage.  Listen to the joy below:

“Positive Medicine”

There was plenty more of Paul and Anders to be had on the boat, but sadly you can only be at one place at a time.  That’s the true magic of Jam Cruise though…no matter where you are at any given time, the music is beyond limits and the love is burning bright. 

Watch other highlights from Jam Cruise via these links below:

Watch Lettuce deliver a massive dose of FUNK on the Pool Deck
UM’s Joel Cummins Delivers Spellbinding Radiohead Cover In Jam Cruise’s Piano Lounge [Watch]
Watch Anders Osborne, JJ Grey & More Form ‘Southern Soul Assembly’
Watch Latin Funk Band Brownout Perform Black Sabbath’s ‘The Wizard’
Watch Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Funk Out With Nicki Bluhm
Watch Nigel Hall Sing An Eric Krasno Original
Watch The Infamous Stringdusters & Nicki Bluhm Cover ‘Not Fade Away’
Watch Ron Holloway Join Cabinet For A Powerful ‘Susquehanna Breakdown’
Watch An Impromptu Chuck Berry Jam Session At ‘The Spot’ Ft. Marco Benevento, Nathan Scott Moore & More
Watch Dumpstaphunk, Trombone Shorty, Roosevelt Collier & Nigel Hall deliver a super funky “Meanwhile”
Watch Lettuce’s Benny Bloom host a fun and funny jam in the Jazz Room