15 Jazz Shows in the USA Worth Booking

1.New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7,533 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $58Our pick

Board the Steamboat Natchez at Toulouse Street Wharf in the French Quarter for an evening on the Mississippi. Enjoy a calliope concert, live jazz from the Dukes of Dixieland or another New Orleans band, narration, skyline views, and an optional Louisiana buffet with gumbo, crawfish etouffee, fried chicken, salad, and bread pudding.

“The ship was fun to explore. The jazz band was phenomenal. And the food…amazing! Was a great evening adventure.”

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2.New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,334 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $43Best value

Board the Steamboat Natchez at Toulouse Street Wharf for a two-hour Mississippi River cruise. You’ll hear live jazz from the Steamboat Stompers, get onboard commentary, pass Chalmette Battlefield, and view New Orleans from the water. Choose a morning or afternoon departure, with an optional Southern-style buffet lunch.

“Everything was very smooth. I walked over in ~8 minutes from my Q&C Hotel. I went on a 55 degree January weekday and the boat was nowhere near full which was nice and spacious with plenty of seating. The narration was well done and had some jokes. The band was okay a nice addition. The lunch was very tasty and for $20 extra a great deal in New Orleans. They will provide you 2nds if you ask. I recommend getting first meal because the boat does not leave port for the first 45 minutes which is boring otherwise. 2nd meal you will miss most the scenery. The ride is 45…”

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3.Evening Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4,548 reviews · 2 hours · from $58

Board the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS for a two-hour evening cruise from the French Quarter. Enjoy live jazz by the Grammy-nominated Dukes of Dixieland, a narrated ride along the Mississippi, four decks to explore, and full-service bars. Add the Creole buffet for gumbo, carved beef, seafood pasta, crawfish etouffee, and bread pudding.

“Food was excellent and the guide in the background telling us the history of the port of New Orleans and the Mississippi River was informative. Jazz was nice, it was a vibe. Lots of people there on date nights. Would definitely recommend!”

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4.Daytime Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4,164 reviews · 2 hours · from $43

Spend two hours on the Mississippi aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS, currently covering for the Steamboat NATCHEZ. Hear live jazz from the Steamboat Stompers, listen to the captain’s narration, explore four decks and the engine area, and add a plated Creole lunch if you want catfish, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and bread pudding.

“Loved the authentic experience on the steamboat and the narration of the sights. The jazz band was good. And it was a good value for the money.”

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5.Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,469 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $107

Board the Creole Queen at 1 Poydras Street for a two-hour evening cruise on the Mississippi. You’ll hear live jazz, watch New Orleans glow from the promenade deck, and, if selected, eat a Creole buffet with gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, seafood pasta, and bread pudding. A cash bar is available.

“We throughly enjoyed the meal, music and experience cruising on the river in an old style river boat”

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6.Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,024 reviews · 2 hours · from $60

Spend two hours aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, taking in New Orleans and Jackson Square from the Mississippi River. Sullivan Dabney Jr. and the Muzik Jazz Band provide live jazz, with time to dance after dinner. Choose the Creole buffet or cruise with drinks and music only. Boarding begins at 6:00 PM.

“Food was good; scenic view was good. Bathrooms needed updating and an attendant.”

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7.Sunday Jazz Brunch Cruise in New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 889 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $43

Board at Toulouse Street in the French Quarter for a two-hour Sunday cruise with live jazz, narration, and optional buffet brunch. Expect gumbo, shrimp and grits, pain perdu, bananas Foster, and other Southern dishes, plus views from the decks and a look at the museum-quality engine room. Alcohol is available to buy.

“The breakfast was great and the service excellent. It was difficult to understand the captain’s talk through the old speaker system. It was extremely windy, but the ride was very smooth. The view along the MississyRiver was not very special.”

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8.VIP Jazz Dinner Cruise with Private Tour and Open Bar Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 838 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $190

Board near the French Quarter for a three-hour VIP evening with a Champagne cocktail, reserved front-row seats for the Dukes of Dixieland, shrimp cocktail, Louisiana-style buffet, and a private vessel tour. Hosts such as Marlon and Brittany add personal service. The open-bar upgrade covers select cocktails, beer, and house wine.

“The Dixie blues/Jazz band was wonderful, the food was delicious. Our tour guide Brittany was amazing.”

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9.Holiday Yacht Cruise with Jazz, Cocoa & Carols

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 568 reviews · 1h 30m · from $134

Spend 90 minutes aboard Yacht Manhattan or Manhattan II, a classic 1920s-style vessel with a heated salon, holiday decorations, live jazz, carols, cocoa, cookies, and one included drink. From Chelsea Piers, you pass Battery Park, South Street Seaport, Governor’s Island, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty.

“This was such a lovely trip to do for our first time in NYC! All the staff were lovely and it was so festive. Would 100% recommend people to do this!”

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10.New Orleans Jazz History and Music Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 477 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $60

Walk about 1.5 miles through Tremé and the French Quarter with guides such as Kristi, Adam, or Andre. Hear how Congo Square, Louis Armstrong, Creole culture, and local musicians shaped jazz, then visit a live music venue and enjoy one included drink. Under-21s cannot join.

“We had a great time! Adam, our tour guide was very passionate about jazz and very informative. Highly recommend the tour!”

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11.Sunday Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Brunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 470 reviews · 2 hours · from $43

Spend two hours aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS, with live jazz from the Steamboat Stompers, Mississippi River views, captain’s narration, and indoor or outdoor seating. Add the Creole brunch for gumbo, shrimp and grits, cinnamon rolls, king cake, and more. From November 2025 through March 2026, Sunday brunch cruises use the CITY of NEW ORLEANS.

“The food was excellent especially the gumbo. I had two bowls, disappointed that they said they had a waffle station and there wasn't one. All other food was okay.”

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12.New Orleans City Tour and Steamboat Natchez Harbor Jazz Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 446 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $88

Spend about six and a half hours seeing New Orleans by narrated coach and riverboat. Visit Jackson Square, St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, City Park, the Garden District, and Audubon Park, then hear live jazz aboard a two-hour paddle wheeler. Guides such as Harris, Robert, and Katherine have earned special praise for clear, entertaining storytelling.

“Katherine was an amazing tour guide and gave us great recommendations for food and sights. I highly reccommend her. Melanie our bus driver was so sweet looking after my 87 yr old mom and all the other moms on the bus she made sure they got on and off the bus safely, offering water etc. I felt very safe with her driving skills. Both woman have wonderful personalities that made this trip delightful. 10 stars for this duo”

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13.‘Court of Two Sisters’ Jazz Brunch Buffet

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 409 reviews · 1 day · from $51

Enjoy an all-you-can-eat Louisiana brunch at Court of Two Sisters on Royal Street, with courtyard seating, live jazz, a mimosa, and dishes from gumbo to bananas Foster. Your reservation guarantees a table, and the $51 price includes gratuity. Check in with the hostess and show your voucher.

“The food was very good, and so was the jazz trio, service and the scenic outdoor venue (courtyard).”

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14.Court of Two Sisters Live Jazz Brunch Buffet with Mimosa

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 289 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $47

Book a table at Court of Two Sisters for a two-hour Creole brunch in an elegant dining room or New Orleans’ largest courtyard. Choose from shrimp, jambalaya, eggs Benedict, desserts, and more, with one complimentary mimosa, wine, Champagne, or coffee. Live jazz accompanies the meal, though seating affects how well you hear it.

“Everyone was welcoming. Our waiter Jerry was informative and attentive. The food was delicious. The mimosa was just the right combination to start our day. The Moscato was good as well. I had a warm coffee drink that was called Royal something and it too was amazing!!”

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15.Evening Jazz Cruise on the Yacht Manhattan

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 285 reviews · 1h 30m · from $134

Spend 90 minutes aboard Classic Harbor Line’s Yacht Manhattan, a 1920s-style vessel with a climate-controlled solarium, open decks, and elegant assigned tables. The Boat Band plays jazz standards, Motown, R&B, and modern songs while you pass the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Battery Park, and Lower Manhattan. One alcoholic drink is included.

“lovely friendly hosts, great jazz band, would definitely recommend this as a must when visiting New York,”

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