Dave Koz

In a career spanning nearly two decades, Dave Koz has established himself as a platinum-selling artist, humanitarian, entrepreneur, radio host, and instrumental music advocate. A six-time Grammy® nominee, he’ll be honored in 2009 by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce with a star in the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame. The list of artists who Koz has played with bears testament to his talent and includes such musical luminaries as Burt Bacharach, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Kenny Loggins, U2, Michael McDonald, Luther Vandross, and Rod Stewart. Born and raised in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley, Koz initially picked up the saxophone to gain entry into his big brother's band. What began as a ploy became a lifelong obsession. Years later, after earning his degree in mass communications from UCLA, Koz decided to become a professional musician. Within weeks of that decision, he was recruited as a touring member of Bobby Caldwell’s band. It was during this time that Koz befriended keyboardist Jeff Lorber, who invited Koz to come play on one of his tours. That stint was followed by a fourteen-month tour with pop singer Richard Marx. Signed to Capitol Records by Bruce Lundvall, Koz released his self-titled solo debut album in 1990. This was the first in a body of best-selling work, which includes the gold-certified Lucky Man (1993), Off The Beaten Path (1996), and the holiday-themed albums December Makes Me Feel This Way (1997) and Dave Koz & Friends - A Smooth Jazz Christmas (2001). His gold-certified fifth album, The Dance (1999), spawned no less than five Top 5 contemporary jazz hits. Saxophonic (2003) produced another four Top 5 singles and garnered Koz two Grammy nominations spanning two consecutive years. In 2007, Koz released two chart-topping collections of standards. At The Movies, his lush, romantic celebration of timeless melodies from cinema, spent eight weeks atop Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz chart. Produced by the legendary Phil Ramone, it was nominated for a Grammy in the “Best Pop Instrumental Album” category. Memories Of A Winter’s Night, a festive collection of holiday standards,hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz chart in December 2007. Dave Koz At The Movies Double Feature CD + DVD followed in early 2008, which featured the At The Movies CD with two never-before-released bonus audio tracks, a newDVD and a track-by-track commentary. Capitol Records released Dave Koz

Dave Koz and Friends 25th Anniversary Christmas Tour at San Jose Civic

by Walter Atkins
January 21, 2023

Dave Koz and Friends 25th Anniversary Christmas Tour San Jose Civic San Jose, CA December 22, 2022 Dave Koz and Friends were very comfortable performing at the Mission Revival-style San Jose Civic. The venue provided a festive environment for the Dave Koz and Friends' 25th Anniversary Christmas concert. Besides plentiful Christmas lights, the stage had lavishly decorated trees, and the festive crowd was ready for some holiday cheer. Saxophonist Koz 's accomplished Friends were trumpeter ...

Extended Analysis

Dave Koz and Friends: Summer Horns

by Jeff Winbush
June 15, 2013

The idea of a quartet of top smooth jazz saxophonists gathering for a super-session must have seemed like a great idea to Dave Koz. Why not invite Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair and Richard Elliot to join him for a sax summit? Hang out, play some together, have some laughs. It'll be fun. What could possibly go wrong?Quite a bit actually. The main problem with Summer Horns is it suffers from the assumption that if some is good, then ...

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Album Review

Dave Koz: At the Movies

Read "At the Movies" reviewed by Jeff Winbush

by Jeff Winbush
March 29, 2007

There's nothing quite like the feeling of walking into a movie theatre, settling into your seat as the lights go down and, for the next two hours, being transported into a different reality than the normal world we inhabit. Saxophonist Dave Koz understands the thrill of discovery in the dark, and At The Movies is all about the great music of great movies.To write Koz off as just another smooth jazz superstar minimizes the passion he brings to ...

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Interview

Dave Koz: The Soundtrack of Our Lives

by Katrina-Kasey Wheeler
February 15, 2007

The name Dave Koz is synonymous with his craft. He is a fixture within the contemporary jazz community, and deservedly so. Koz is quite occupied as he is very much in demand. He is a world renowned artist whose career has spanned twenty years and is, even now, advancing full steam ahead. But, he is also the host of the tremendously successful syndicated, Dave Koz Radio Show and co-founder of Rendezvous Entertainment--which represents such famed artists as Patti Austin, Michael ...

176

Album Review

Dave Koz: Saxophonic

Read "Saxophonic" reviewed by Brian Soergel

by Brian Soergel
February 14, 2004

Dave Koz has one of the highest profiles in smooth jazz, thanks to his syndicated Dave Koz Radio Show and a morning show in Los Angeles. He also finds time for special tours, like one you may be catching this Christmas. He's guest-starred on numerous pop and smooth jazz CDs. So it's no surprise that it's been four years since his sublime, hit-happy The Dance, his last CD of non-holiday tunes. (He also released Golden Slumbers, a recording of lullabies.)

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Contemporary Vibes

Dave Koz: A Holiday Tradition

by Cheryl Hughey
December 10, 2003

Dave Koz and a host of special guests have launched the annual Dave Koz Smooth Jazz Christmas Tour. Marc Antoine (guitar), Chris Botti (trumpet), Bobby Caldwell (vocals) and Brian Culbertson (piano/trombone) will be joining Koz for the festive holiday experience. After wowing audiences in Lake Tahoe and the West Coast, the tour will visit mostly major venues to include Atlanta and Chicago.

Interestingly enough, Koz will now be the bandleader to the guy who gave him his start. ...

Album Review

Dave Koz: Off the Beaten Path

Read "Off the Beaten Path" reviewed by Dave Hughes

by Dave Hughes
September 1, 1997

Popular saxophonist Dave Koz has attempted to veer “off the beaten path" with this release; in other words, to create something that goes beyond the current “smooth jazz" formula which so many contemporary saxophonists have embraced. For this, he is to be commended. Overall, it's a successful effort. He keeps one foot solidly planted on contemporary ground, but tests some interesting new waters with his other foot.

Some tunes add folk instruments, such as mandolin, accordion, fiddle, dobro, and nylon-string ...

Performance / Tour

Dave Koz Set To Perform On August 10th As Part Of The Paramount Jazz Series

Source: Michael Ricci
July 29, 2012

"BeBe and I have been friends for 20 years, but this is the first time we've toured together and I'm so excited," says Koz. “We've unofficially dubbed it 'The Brothers From Another Mother' tour because superficially we couldn't be more different, but we actually have so much in common." “I've said no for years to touring, but this time seems right because of what we bring together to the stage," said Winans, adding, “the love people will feel from the ...
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Performance / Tour

Dave Koz & Alex Bugnon To Perform At The NYCB Theater In Westbury, NY On Thursday, July 21, 2011

Source: Mike Perciaccante
July 11, 2011

Award / Grant

Dave Koz, Sade Leads Nominees In 2011 Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards

Source: Mike James
January 22, 2011

Nominees for the 2011 Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards were announced on January 20th. The event makes its return after a long hiatus and celebrates the best in contemporary jazz. The awards gala will be the highlight of a four day gathering, taking place March 10th through the 13th. Over 40 artists are scheduled to attend. Nominees were announced in 20 different categories. Leading all nominees was saxophonist Dave Koz, who picked up nominations in 9 categories, including Entertainer of the ...
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Recording

Dave Koz - #1 Album & Single - "Hello Tomorrow"

Source: Judi Kerr Public Relations
October 21, 2010

New Album, Hello Tomorrow, Is No. 1 On Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz Chart And iTunes' Jazz Album Chart Lead Single “Put The Top Down" Is No. 1 On Mediabase Smooth A/C Chart Hello Tomorrow, Dave Koz's new album, debuts at No. 1 on both Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and iTunes' Jazz Album chart, becoming the GRAMMY®-nominated saxophonist's fourth consecutive album to bow atop both charts. “Put The Top Down," the album's lead single, is No. 1 on the ...
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Festival

Anita Rosamond Performing on Dave Koz Smooth Jazz Cruise

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
January 14, 2010

Singer and pianist Anita Rosamond (pictured) is escaping the St. Louis winter cold this week, heading down to the Caribbean where she's been added to the roster of performers for the 2010 Dave Koz Smooth Jazz Cruise.The sold-out cruise, which starts Saturday and continues through January 24, is produced by St. Louis-based Jazz Cruises LLC. It will feature nearly 40 musicians and singers, including Rosamond and two East St. Louis natives - vocalist Phil Perry and saxophonist Andre ...
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250

Recording

Dave Koz - Greatest Hits Debuts at No. 1 on Charts

Source: All About Jazz
September 26, 2008

Dave Koz - Greatest Hits, the first-ever retrospective album from the renowned instrumentalist/composer, debuts at No. 1 on both Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and iTunes' Jazz Album chart. Meanwhile,lead single “Life In The Fast Lane" claims the No. 1 spot on the R&R Smooth Jazz Indicator chart. The album, which was completely re-mastered by the legendary Bernie Grundman, contains 11 Koz classics (including “You Make Me Smile, “ “Faces of the Heart, “ “Can't Let You Go (Sha ...
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Performance / Tour

North Fork Bank Jazz Festival Features Dave Koz, Jane Monheit and Ramsey Lewis August 11-12 at Planting Fields Arboretum, Oyster Bay, Long Island

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
August 9, 2007

August 11-12 at Planting Fields Arboretum, Oyster Bay, Long Island Friends of the Arts (FOTA) presents the North Fork Bank Jazz Festival on Saturday and Sunday, August 11 and 12 at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, Long Island. Dave Koz & Friends (featuring David Benoit, Phil Perry & Kelly Sweet) and Acoustic Alchemy take the stage on Saturday, August 11 at 7 pm. On Sunday, August 12 at 7 pm, the Jazz Festival features the Ramsey Lewis Trio and ...
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Recording

Dave Koz & Friends Help Babies Find Golden Slumbers

Source: All About Jazz
July 11, 2002

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Festival

North Fork Bank Jazz Festival Features Dave Koz, Jane Monheit and Ramsey Lewis August 11-12 at Planting Fields Arboretum, Oyster Bay, Long Island

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Friends of the Arts (FOTA) presents the North Fork Bank Jazz Festival on Saturday and Sunday, August 11 and 12 at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay, Long Island. Dave Koz & Friends (featuring David Benoit, Phil Perry & Kelly Sweet) and Acoustic Alchemy take the stage on Saturday, August 11 at 7 pm. On Sunday, August 12 at 7 pm, the Jazz Festival features the Ramsey Lewis Trio and Long Island native, jazz vocalist Jane Monheit. Beginning at 5:30 ...
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Music Industry

DAVE KOZ & FRIENDS!...One night at The Greek in Los Angeles in July

Source: All About Jazz

Don't miss a Smooth Summer Night under the stars at the award winning Greek Theatre in Los Angeles

DAVE KOZ, MICHAEL MCDONALD, NORMAN BROWN, BRIAN CULBERTSON

Saturday, July 14th, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets to the show go on-sale Sunday, May 6th at Noon at all Southern California Ticketmaster Locations, The Greek Theatre Box Office, and on-line at www.Ticketmaster.Com

The Greek Theatre is located at 2700 North Vermont, Los Angeles, CA, 90027

For more information, log onto www.Nederlander.com and click “The Greek ...
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