Jazz on the Double Line

The Railroad Tourist and Grammy Award-winning jazz percussionist Paul Wertico are at work creating itineraries for the 2012 launch of JAZZ ON THE DOUBLE LINE, a series of rail cruises that will bring guests into intimate contact with some of their favorite jazz musicians.  Using equipment provided by American Rail Excursions, Inc., the train will be made up of five private rail cars that operate as part of an established Amtrak run.  In addition to three sleeping cars, the train will include a performance car outfitted with a stage and equipped with a sound system under the supervision of a soundman, and a full dining car.

Co-host Paul Wertico has been playing drums since he was 12 years old, and turned professional at 15.  A member of the Pat Metheny Group from 1983 through 2001, his work garnered him seven Grammys and contributed to the Group being nominated for or winning other awards as well.  He also played with Metheny on the score and soundtrack for the movie "The Falcon and the Snowman", which included the hit song "This Is Not America" featuring David Bowie, and on the score to the movie "Twice In A Lifetime".  His performance on the Group’s iconic “Last Train Home,” which called on him achieve and maintain pace and volume perfection for over five minutes, to this day draws praise from percussionists everywhere.  He has been hailed as "one of the most musical and well-rounded drummers in music today", his versatility enabling him to appear in a wide variety of musical settings, including performances with more than one hundred other jazz artists.  In 2002, Paul joined the jazz faculty of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where in 2007, he was appointed Interim Head of Jazz, and in 2008, was elevated to Assistant Professor of Jazz and Head of Jazz Studies.

Paul’s talent will be on display first on trains operating between St. Louis and Chicago, and Chicago and New Orleans, with runs to and from other cities under development.  The program will include the Paul Wertico Trio, as well other performing groups both on board the train and in the terminal cities; offer workshops in jazz en route; and present discussions conducted by a number of jazz greats past and present.  Drawing on The Railroad Tourist’s interest in dining car cuisine, fine dining will also be an emphasis of these trips.

If you are interested in learning more as these trips develop, use the Contact Us tab above to receive updates from time to time (NOTE: The Railroad Tourist does not share email contact or other personal information with any other source.).