Dave Koz reunites with the original cast of the longest-running jazz-based Christmas Tour on this album, marking the 25th Anniversary milestone of the tour in 2022. Produced by the legendary Philippe Saisse, the album features all newly recorded Christmas favorites and one original song from Koz, who has previously released 7 holiday-themed albums, and heartfelt performances by contemporary jazz icons, trumpeter Rick Braun, guitarist Peter White, and the original co-creator of the tour, pianist David Benoit. The album will be a companion piece to the live shows, with much of the new music being performed live for the very first time on the 23-city tour, kicking off Thanksgiving weekend, 2022

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Dave Koz & Friends: Christmas Ballads (25th Anniversary Collection)

“Recording this album with Bob James was one of the greatest life (and music) experiences for me – I learned so much from this treasure of a man,” says Dave Koz. “This duet project is just acoustic piano and saxophone, in all their raw beauty. Talk about being vulnerable! But with Bob at the piano, all concern goes away…like playing on a bed of clouds. I can’t wait to perform these songs with him in front of a live audience.”

“This is a totally unplugged and, as partner Dave points out, vulnerable set,” Bob James adds. “Both he and I have had the good fortune to record many times with great rhythm sections and sophisticated production. This time out all that is stripped away, and it’s just us. We hope the intimacy of these musical one-to-one conversations conveys the spirit we both felt. It was a unique opportunity for me to collaborate and be inspired by the passionate romanticism of my duo partner.”

Just Us Store

Just Us

Dave Koz - soprano sax
Cory Wong - guitar
Yohannes Tona - bass
Kevin Gastonguay - keyboards
Petar Janjic - drums
Kenni Holmen - flute
Sam Greenfield - clarinet
Steve Strand - trumpet 1
Adam Meckler - trumpet 2
Michael Nelson - trombone

Released by:
Just Koz Entertainment

The Golden Hour

Today

01 Today

Dave Koz - alto sax
Cory Wong - guitar
Yohannes Tona - bass
Kevin Gastonguay - keyboards
Petar Janjic - drums
Kenni Holmen - tenor sax
Sam Greenfield - bari sax
Steve Strand - trumpet 1
Adam Meckler - trumpet 2
Michael Nelson - trombone

Released by:
Just Koz Entertainment

Getaway Car

02 Getaway Car

Dave Koz - soprano sax
Kenni Holmen - clarinet
Sam Greenfield - bass clarinet
Steve Strand - trumpet 1
Adam Meckler - trumpet 2
Michael Nelson - trombone

Released by:
Just Koz Entertainment

Gratitude

11 Gratitude

Dave Koz - soprano sax
Cory Wong - guitar
Yohannes Tona - bass
Kevin Gastonguay - keyboards
Petar Janjic - drums
Kenni Holmen - tenor sax/flute
Sam Greenfield - bari sax/bass clarinet
Steve Strand - trumpet 1
Adam Meckler - trumpet 2
Michael Nelson - trombone 

Released by:
Just Koz Entertainment

Together Again

10 Together Again

Phoebe Katis - lead vocals
Dave Koz - sax, keynoise percussion
Cory Wong - vocals, guitar, bass, percussion 

Released by:
Just Koz Entertainment

Your Side of Town (Art of Key Noise) feat. Phoebe Katis

09 Your Side of Town (Art of Key Noise) feat. Phoebe Katis

Dave Koz - alto sax
Cory Wong - guitar
Yohannes Tona - bass
Kevin Gastonguay - keyboards
Petar Janjic - drums
Kenni Holmen - tenor sax
Sam Greenfield - bari sax
Steve Strand - trumpet 1
Adam Meckler - trumpet 2
Michael Nelson - trombone 

Released by:
Just Koz Entertainment

Engine 71

08 Engine 71

Dave Koz - tenor sax
Cory Wong - guitar
Yohannes Tona - bass
Kevin Gastonguay - keyboards
Petar Janjic - drums
Kenni Holmen - tenor sax
Sam Greenfield - bari sax
Steve Strand - trumpet 1
Adam Meckler - trumpet 2
Michael Nelson - trombone

Released by:
Just Koz Entertainment

Family Reunion

07 Family Reunion

Dave Koz - alto sax
Cory Wong - guitar
Kevin MacIntire - bass
Kevin Gastonguay - keyboards
Petar Janjic - drums
Sam Greenfield - tenor sax
Matt Salazar - trumpet 
Ian Gray - trombone

Released by:
Just Koz Entertainment

Feed The Id

03 Feed The Id

Dave Koz - soprano sax
Cory Wong - guitar
Yohannes Tona - bass
Kevin Gastonguay - keyboards
Petar Janjic - drums
Kenni Holmen - tenor sax/clarinet
Sam Greenfield - bari sax/bass clarinet
Steve Strand - trumpet 1
Adam Meckler - trumpet 2
Michael Nelson - trombone

Released by:
Just Koz Entertainment

04 The Golden Hour

Dave Koz - alto sax
Cory Wong - guitar, bass, keys
Petar Janjic - drums

Released by:
Just Koz Entertainment

Junkyard Dunebuggy

05 Junkyard Dunebuggy

Dave Koz - alto sax
Cory Wong - guitar, bass
Kevin Gastonguay - keys
Alison Comerford - violin, viola
Sam Greenfield - flute, tenor sax
Nate Smith - drums
Steve Goold - drums

Released by
Just Koz Entertainment, Inc.

Little Rascals

06 Little Rascals

The one original song from Dave Koz’ new holiday release, Christmas Ballads…written by Koz and co-producer Philippe Saisse. Embodying the spirit of Christmas and the holidays, this trademark melodic power ballad takes the listener on a journey that ultimately warms the heart, celebrating the romantic side of the holidays, but can be enjoyed all-year long.

ALBUM CREDITS
Dave Koz - Soprano, Alto and Tenor Saxophone, Vocals 
David Benoit - Acoustic Piano 
Rick Braun appears courtesy of Brauntosourus Music - Trumpet 
and Flugelhorn, Vocals 
Peter White - Acoustic Guitars 
Rebecca Jade - Lead Vocals 
Philippe Saisse - Fender Rhodes, Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, Percussion 
David Finck - Acoustic Bass 
Vinnie Colaiuta - Drums 
David Mann - Flutes 
Michael Annas Allaf - Guitars on Track 10 

Produced and Arranged by Philippe Saisse
Executive Producer: Dave Koz 

Mixed by Goh Hotoda 
Recorded at LA FX by Steve Genewick Assistant engineer Spencer Guerra 
Piano recorded and edited by Tom Zink Mastered by Colin Leonard@ SING Mastering, Atlanta, GA using SING Technology® 
Music preparation and assistant to 
Philippe Saisse: Alexander Riak 
Drum tech: Jarrett Borba 

Photography: Antonio Dixon 
Design and Layout: Andrew Pham 

Dave Koz endorses Yamaha Saxophones, Rico Plasticover Reeds and Shure Microphones Philippe Saisse plays One Vibes and Innovative Percussion Mallets

Wrapped Up In Your Smile

ALBUM CREDITS
Dave Koz - Soprano, Alto and Tenor Saxophone, Vocals 
David Benoit - Acoustic Piano 
Rick Braun appears courtesy of Brauntosourus Music - Trumpet 
and Flugelhorn, Vocals 
Peter White - Acoustic Guitars 
Rebecca Jade - Lead Vocals 
Philippe Saisse - Fender Rhodes, Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, Percussion 
David Finck - Acoustic Bass 
Vinnie Colaiuta - Drums 
David Mann - Flutes 
Michael Annas Allaf - Guitars on Track 10 

Produced and Arranged by Philippe Saisse
Executive Producer: Dave Koz 

Mixed by Goh Hotoda 
Recorded at LA FX by Steve Genewick Assistant engineer Spencer Guerra 
Piano recorded and edited by Tom Zink Mastered by Colin Leonard@ SING Mastering, Atlanta, GA using SING Technology® 
Music preparation and assistant to 
Philippe Saisse: Alexander Riak 
Drum tech: Jarrett Borba 

Photography: Antonio Dixon 
Design and Layout: Andrew Pham 

Dave Koz endorses Yamaha Saxophones, Rico Plasticover Reeds and Shure Microphones Philippe Saisse plays One Vibes and Innovative Percussion Mallets

Merry Christmas Darling

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear / Happy Holiday

Ave Maria

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / My Favorite Things

Greensleeves

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) / Imagine (feat Rebecca Jade)

Away In The Manger / Silent Night

The Christmas Waltz

A beautifully melodic, passionately performed reflection of the multi-decade friendship that captures the unique collaborative spirit Bob James and Dave Koz bring to their new piano and saxophone only album Just Us, the ballad “New Hope” is an elegant, soulfully soaring and deeply emotional reminder that we can be optimistic and even dare to dream amidst a dark, uncertain time. While in Saudi Arabia for a show in Jeddah, Koz and his friend and co-writer Todd Schroeder were overcome and inspired by wonderful people they met from this distant (and often misunderstood) culture and the endless possibilities that lay before them. Experiencing this as a microcosm of all the hope that still surrounds us in our world, despite the chaos so visible seemingly everywhere, they wanted to write a song that captured the feeling of anticipation for the many good things yet to come - including the vibrant reality that sometimes in life, we all have to improvise. The same wonderful feeling applies to fans of both James and Koz as they look forward to the release of Just Us!

New Hope (Radio Edit)

Greatest Hits

All I See Is You

The Dance

Jazz - Det Bästa

Start All Over Again (feat. Dana Glover)

Saxophonic

Love Changes Everything (feat. Brian McKnight)

Dave Koz And Friends Summer Horns

Reasons (feat. Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair & Richard Elliot)

Summer Horns (feat. Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair & Richard Elliot)

Lucky Man

You Make Me Smile

Careless Whisper

Love Is On The Way (feat. Chris Botti)

Summer Horns II From A To Z

Keep That Same Old Feeling

Before I Let Go

A New Day

09 All The Love In The World

This is my first album of original material in 10 years, so I didn't plan on recording any covers this time out. But then flipping through the channels, I heard the Beatles' "Yesterday" on the radio. Through the lens of the pandemic, I felt this amazing melody and prophetic lyrics in a completely different way. Oh, how I longed for Yesterday! Haven’t we ALL?! It's always been one of my favorite songs and I'd never gotten the chance to record it. Considering how much all our lives had changed since the pandemics arrival, it seemed like the right idea to include this amazing song in the narrative of the album, for it truly was just yesterday that our lives were completely different. And while we can’t necessarily go back to that same kind of innocence, the prospect of a bright tomorrow is something we all can focus on.

I immediately enlisted the help of genius vocalist / instrumentalist / producer Matt Cusson, who developed the hauntingly beautiful and intimate track…it's Matt who does all those stunning Take Six-style vocals you’ll hear. And then we invited the incomparable Meshell Ndgeocello to play bass…and man, did she turn in an EPIC performance. The bass part alone is a work of art! Click on the yellow image above to hear our version of "Yesterday." I do hope it brings peaceful memories of life before the pandemic, and helps you chart your course for the future as well...for knowing where we’ve come from will help guide us to where we are going.

04 Yesterday

It’s called “The Closer We Get,” and I’m proud to say I wrote this song with the fantastic saxophonist/producer Darren Rahn, who has really become a big star in his own right. Darren and I wrote this tune to be the kind of song you put on and hopefully, it just takes you away…without a care in the world. It’s a romantic song for sure, but the inspiration is also firmly rooted in the quarantine, in that we’ve all had to find new ways to be close to the ones we love in this very surreal time. The pandemic has shown us you don’t really need to be WITH someone to feel close to them.

02 The Closer We Get

“Summertime In NYC”, featuring the amazing Brian McKnight. Yesterday, on SiriusXM Watercolors, mid-day host Talaya spun the song for the very first time on radio. That still is an indescribable thrill for me! And now, it’s YOUR turn to spin the song...it’s available everywhere digitally today! Be sure to click on the red video above to hear a story about “Summertime In NYC" and then I will play it for you live!

01 Summertime In NYC (featuring Brian McKnight)

Now, if you know me, then you know I am a complete nut for David Sanborn. He is my #1 saxophone hero—worshipped him and his records growing up. I used to memorize all his licks, learn every note of his songs and try to emulate him in every way possible. One day when I was younger, I got to meet my idol. His sage advice? Stop copying him, and just be me. Probably the best advice I ever received from a mentor. 

David and I eventually became colleagues and friends, and even cemented our musical kinship in 2016 with a US tour together. But one thing still eluded me…a chance to record a song together on an album with this true master of the alto sax. Well, on A New Day, we finally DID IT...a dream come true! Not only did David play his heart out on this song, but we actually co-wrote it together as well. Produced by the amazing Rick Braun, “Side By Side” will be the first radio single off the album. When I think about being a kid, listening to Sanborn on my bedroom record player…and now, doing an actual duet together, I can hardly believe it—kinda makes my head spin! I couldn’t be more proud nor excited. This song is all about friendship, and leaning on your friends, even when you can’t physically lean on them as so many of us have experienced in this pandemic. David recorded his parts in New York, me in LA…and yet, as you’ll hear, we are truly leaning on each other…that’s what friends do!

05 Side By Side (featuring David Sanborn)

In a recording career that spans nearly three decades, saxophonist Dave Koz has racked up an astoundingly impressive array of honors and achievements: nine GRAMMY® nominations, 11 No. 1 albums on Billboard’s Current Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, numerous world tours, 13 sold-out Dave Koz & Friends At Sea cruises, performances for multiple U.S. presidents, a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and appearances on a multitude of television shows, including “Good Morning America,” “The View,” “The Tonight Show,” “Entertainment Tonight” and more. A Platinum-selling artist, Koz is also known as a humanitarian, entrepreneur, radio host and instrumental music advocate.

Dave Koz

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