How Long Is “Deep Sea Blues”?

When most music fans think about seeing a blues show, they imagine a smoke-filled nightclub in a rough neighborhood, not a luxurious ocean liner sailing to the Caribbean or vacation spots in the Pacific. But since 1992, Roger Naber has been booking and producing "the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise," a series of vacation packages in which blues fans can enjoy an ocean voyage along with live entertainment from world-renowned blues, R&B and zydeco artists. While offering fine music in a beautiful setting, the "Blues Cruises" have also given artists the opportunity to interact with their fans in a way they can't when playing clubs or theaters (comparing notes and sometimes jamming with them after hours), and allows listeners to get to know one another, striking up friendships among like-minded listeners. Documentary filmmaker Robert Mugge, well known for his cinematic portraits of respected musicians, offers fans a look at the "Blues Cruise" phenomenon with the movie Deep Sea Blues, which chronicles a 2006 cruise featuring performances from Bobby Rush, Taj Mahal, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Otis Clay, Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials, Buckwheat Zydeco, Tab Benoit,Watermelon Slim and many more.