Pensacola’s Sunset Jazz Cruise Hits All the Right Notes
When the music’s as smooth as the water beneath you, you know you’ve found Pensacola’s newest summer tradition.
Live jazz and a sea breeze. What better way to spend a Thursday evening? Picture yourself cruising Pensacola Bay, sipping cocktails, sampling hors d’oeuvres, and watching the sky transform into a watercolor canvas as the sun sinks toward the horizon.
The first notes float across the bay just as the sky begins to melt from gold to rose. Beverages clink, a saxophone cries out, and the gentle roll of the ferry turns the deck into the most intimate dance floor in town. On this warm August evening, the Sunset Jazz Cruise isn’t just a concert - it’s an experience where music, water, and sky all keep time together.
Earlier this year, Jazz Pensacola partnered with the Pensacola Bay City Ferry to launch the inaugural 2025 Sunset Jazz Cruise Concert Series, a monthly two-hour sailing from the Downtown Ferry Landing at 750 S. Commendencia Street. Each cruise promises a live jazz performance, complimentary appetizers, and a cash bar, all set against the gentle motion of the bay. The maiden voyage sold out quickly, and it’s easy to see why.
This month’s sold-out cruise features the Reid Murphy Quintet, a group of accomplished musicians whose names are fixtures in the local jazz scene. Guests were also treated to award-winning barbecue from Hot Spot Barbecue, while Pensacola Ferry staffers Misty and Susan served up cocktails and other refreshing beverages with easy charm.
From the downbeat, the quintet led a chronological journey through jazz history, weaving together standards, post-bop explorations, and soulful modern grooves. From Duke Ellington’s elegance to Herbie Hancock’s funk, In a Sentimental Mood to an electrifying Blues for Charlie, the music had the crowd swaying, tapping, and at times hooting and hollering for more.
The chemistry amongst the band was undeniable. Each soloist brought their own voice, yet the rhythm section kept the ship (and the groove) steady. As the ferry traced its course across Pensacola Bay, the music seemed to mingle with the sunset, the low murmur of conversation, and the gentle slap of water against the hull.
By the time the final notes faded and the ferry eased back to the dock, the sky had deepened into twilight, and a warm sense of camaraderie lingered among passengers. For jazz lovers, and anyone who appreciates a night of live music in a truly unique setting - the Sunset Jazz Cruise is already shaping up to be a Pensacola summer tradition worth marking on the calendar.
Reid Murphy, Owen Finley, Yasen Brown, Jarrett Watkins and Melodious Allen. (photos: Richard NaVarre)
The Reid Murphy Quintet are:
- Reid Murphy - Saxophone
- Owen Finley - Bass
- Yasen Brown - Drums
- Jarrett Watkins - Trumpet
- Melodious Allen - Piano
The 2025 Sunset Jazz Cruise concert series continues through October, with On The Rox and Brynnevere performing the last two sailings of the year.
But don't fret, Jazz Pensacola has confirmed they are bringing the jazz cruise back in 2026, along with JazzFest which will be returning next April after having to cancel the event this year.
Learn more about the Sunset Jazz Cruise, Jazz Pensacola and purchase tickets at the link below:
Photos: Charlotte Hutchins