Legendary jazz percussionist Sammy Figueroa will be the next headline act on Norwegian Getaway’s GRAMMY® Experience at Sea beginning February 15, 2014.
He will succeed Latin jazz flautist Nestor Torres after the ship’s inaugural Eastern Caribbean cruise, beginning an eight-week residency on Norwegian’s most spectacular ship from through April 12, 2014.
Sammy Figueroa has long been considered to be one of the great musicians of the world, known for his ability to play in all genres from bebop to pop, from Latin to R & B, from New Age to symphonic.
In addition to his own three albums, two of which received GRAMMY® Nominations for Best Latin Jazz Album, he has played on countless GRAMMY®-winning hit records including Mariah Carey’s MTV Unplugged, David Bowie’s ‘Let’s Dance,’ Miles Davis’ ‘Man With A Horn,’ Sonny Rollins’ ‘Road Shows II,’ Average White Band’s ‘Cut The Cake,’ Nile Rogers’ ‘Chic’ and ‘Sister Sledge’ and countless other albums.
He has also appeared regularly with the David Letterman and Saturday Night Live bands. In addition to his two GRAMMY® Nominations, he was twice named NARAS Percussionist of the Year.
Although Sammy spent many years as New York’s number one percussionist, it was in South Florida that he discovered a new vision as a solo artist. Moving to Miami in 2001, he became a part of a community of spectacular players, composers and arrangers from Venezuela, Cuba, Brazil, Argentina and other Latin countries.
Forming his own band with the best musicians in town, he never looked back. Now he is a resident of Miami Beach, with a weekly radio show on WDNA and a large following of enthusiastic fans.
“Every day I can see the ships coming in and out of the Port of Miami from my balcony in South Beach,” he says. “Now I get to be on one of those ships!”
Sammy will play every evening at The GRAMMY® Experience on Deck 8 of Norwegian Getaway. He is designing a special show for this venue, forming a new band with musicians from Norwegian Cruise Line’s roster.
Not only will he be playing selections from his own two GRAMMY® nominated albums, he will also be covering music from other GRAMMY® winning and nominated albums on which he has played. An evening at The GRAMMY® Experience will culminate with Sammy’s GRAMMY® Jam at 11 pm every night, with special guests and an opportunity for other musicians from the ship to sit in with Sammy.
Anyone who has seen Sammy perform live can testify that he is not only a spectacular virtuoso, he also has a hilarious sense of humor – his buoyancy and ebullience connect him with audiences in a very special way. As host of The GRAMMY® Experience audiences will have an opportunity to hear and see him in an intimate venue. In addition to the live show, guests will also enjoy viewing a variety of music memorabilia chosen and curated by the GRAMMY® Museum at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles.
Sammy Figueroa endorses Pearl Percussion and be playing Pearl Elitecongas and other Pearl percussion instruments onstage in The Grammy® Experience.
“It’s a great honor to be part of this new partnership. The Recording Academy is an outstanding organization that does so much for the music world and Norwegian Cruise Line is simply the best.” Sammy extends an invitation to his fans and friends “to come and join me for a Caribbean cruise on Norwegian Getaway – meet me over at The GRAMMY® Experience on Deck 8 – I’ll be waiting there for you!”
