Cunard and Blue Note Records Announce Musical Partnership

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Cunard and Blue Note Records Announce Musical Partnership

Cunard to host first-ever Blue Note jazz themed cruise onboard 29 October Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing

SOUTHAMPTON, England, Feb. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Cunard and venerable jazz label Blue Note Records are proud to announce an exciting entertainment partnership, which will debut on Cunard's flagship, Queen Mary 2, on October 29, 2015. Guests onboard will embark on a very special Transatlantic Crossing, featuring intimate jazz performances by the Blue Note 75^th Anniversary All Star Band, Our Point of View, formed for the label's milestone anniversary in 2014. The supergroup celebrates the vitality of Blue Note by looking ahead and assembling leading young artists on the Blue Note roster who steadfastly continue to move jazz forward. Featuring keyboardist Robert Glasper, trumpeter Keyon Harrold, tenor saxophonist Marcus Strickland, guitarist Lionel Loueke, bassist Derrick Hodge, and drummer Kendrick Scott, the band's repertoire draws from each of these artists' own remarkable catalogs as well new spins on Blue Note classics.

President of Blue Note Records, Don Was, who himself is a celebrated musician and Grammy^® Award winning producer for Bonnie Raitt and the Rolling Stones, will also sail on the voyage and participate in Q&A sessions. Jazz lovers can look forward to two more special cruises in 2016, and Don will personally hand pick those artists from Blue Note Record's renowned group of musicians.

Don commented: "Cunard and Blue Note have accumulated 200 years of excellence and integrity in their respective fields - we're going to have a ball!"

This unique partnership celebrates the two historic, yet innovative, industry leaders. Founded in 1939 by Alfred Lion, Blue Note Records is the most revered and longest running jazz label in the world. Embarking on its 175^th anniversary in 2015, Cunard was the first to offer regularly scheduled Transatlantic service and has been carrying guests between continents with luxury, sophistication and sense of occasion ever since.

"We are thrilled to work with such an iconic record label and bring the legendary Blue Note sounds of jazz to our guests," said Richard Meadows, president, Cunard, North America. "We are dedicated to offering memorable entertainment experiences while maintaining the integrity of Cunard's rich heritage, and this partnership truly personifies that commitment."

Through the decades, Blue Note Records has recorded countless legends including Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, Norah Jones and Van Morrison.

Cunard is known for offering guests unique access to some of the most beloved musicians and entertainers in the world, including James Taylor, Carly Simon, and the late jazz legend Dave Brubeck. Guests on upcoming jazz voyages will rub shoulders with the jazz greats of today, and be treated to a series of unforgettable live performances in elegant Queen Mary 2 spaces including the world class Royal Court Theatre, with special evening performances in the ship's Illuminations theatre.

For more information about Queen Mary 2 or to book a voyage, contact your Travel Consultant, call Cunard toll free at 1-800-728-6273, or visit www.cunard.com.

About Queen Mary 2
Christened by Her Majesty The Queen in 2004, Cunard Line's flagship Queen Mary 2 defines luxury travel for the 21st Century and continues an almost 175-year legacy of transatlantic travel. Queen Mary 2 achieved her 200th Transatlantic Crossing in July 2013. Famous names who have experienced this iconic voyage since 2004 include President George H.W. Bush, Desmond Tutu, James Taylor, Wes Anderson, Tilda Swinton, George Takei, Kim Novak, Uma Thurman, Richard Dreyfuss, John Cleese and Angela Bassett.

About Cunard Line
Cunard, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travellers who seek a civilised adventure and relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining and world-class entertainment. Today, Cunard offers the only regularly scheduled trans-Atlantic liner service and continues the legacy of world cruising which it began in 1922.

World's Leading Cruise Lines
Cunard is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World's Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations. Visit us at www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com.

Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records was founded when a German immigrant named Alfred Lion produced his first recording session with two boogie woogie pianists on January 6, 1939 in New York City. Blue Note has gone on to represent the finest in jazz, tracing the entire history of the music from Boogie Woogie, Hot Jazz and Swing, through Bebop, Hard Bop, Post Bop, Soul Jazz, Avant-Garde, and Fusion, and into Jazz's numerous modern day incarnations. Blue Note's legendary catalog includes a true Who's Who of Jazz history: Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Jimmy Smith, Dexter Gordon, Grant Green, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Donald Byrd, Andrew Hill, Ornette Coleman, and many more.

Blue Note has since established itself as the most respected and longest running Jazz label in the world, remaining home to some of the most prominent stars and cutting-edge innovators in Jazz today while at the same time broadening its horizons to include quality music in many genres. Under the leadership of current President Don Was, Blue Note has renewed its dedication to Lion's original vision that "any particular style of playing which represents an authentic way of musical feeling is genuine expression." In the 21^st century Lion's words still ring true and provide a blueprint that includes Robert Glasper Experiment's visionary melding of Jazz, R&B, and Hip-Hop, soul singers from Gregory Porter to Kandace Springs, and the full spectrum of jazz artists from legends like Wayne Shorter and Charles Lloyd to rising stars such as Jason Moran and Ambrose Akinmusire. Blue Note Records is one of the flagship labels of the Capitol Music Group.

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For additional information about Cunard, contact:
Jackie Chase, Cunard Line, 661-753-1035, jchase@cunard.com
Maria Andriano, MGA Media Group, 212-251-1015, maria@mgamediagroup.com
Cindy Adams, MGA Media Group, 917-282-2464, cindy@mgamediagroup.com

For additional information about Blue Note, contact:
Cem Kurosman, Capitol Music Group/Blue Note Records, 212.786.8634, cem.kurosman@umusic.com

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