‘These Songs Never Disappoint’

Entertainment ‘These Songs Never Disappoint’

Dave Koz returns to tour with good friends

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Saxophonist Dave Koz is entering the third act of his life, he says.

He turns 59 in March, and he recently celebrated his 30th anniversary of making music.

“It’s a point of reflection,” he says. “That big expenditure of energy that’s an act two is complete. I asked myself, ‘How do I continue this moving forward’ Having a chance to stop and feel my way through this transition was a good time.”

He’s referring to his latest album, “The Golden Hour,” a collaboration with Grammy-nominated funk/jam band guitarist Cory Wong who took Koz in a completely new musical direction. For the collection, Wong surrounded Koz’s sax with a five-piece horn section, creative arrangements and a tight rhythm section concept.

One thing Koz hasn’t changed — or at least very little — is his holiday show, which comes to the Mesa Arts Center on Wednesday, December 15.

“As always, the Mesa Arts Center is such a wonderful place to play,” he says.

“It’s usually a packed house and it’s a very gracious, fun audience. This is a special year. We were not able to do our tour last year. We did it virtually with one show. This is our 24th year and it’s not only a tradition for us, but for a lot of people, especially in Mesa. I thinking it’s going to be a particularly emotional year for people.”

This year’s Christmas tour features South African guitarist/singer Jonathan Butler, trumpeter Rick Braun, saxophonist Richard Elliot and introduces vocalist Rebecca Jade.

“In keeping with the way the country feels, I’m coming with real nostalgia, friendship, love and healing,” Koz says. “The best way I found to accomplish that is to invite my best friends on the road. They’re my best, closest friends, Jonathan Butler, my partner in this pursuit for a number of years. For the first time, we have Richard Elliot, a wonderful saxophone player who’s a big star in our genre.

“Another dear friend who has never been on tour with me, Rebecca Jade, is a super talented, young female vocalist. One moment she’s Billie Holiday, and the next she’s Chaka Khan. She’s an incredibly dynamic performer. It’s a very fun, high-energy, emotional show. Hopefully, it matches the mood of the country.”

Besides the additions of Elliot and Jade, the show is a standard Koz Christmas performance.

“The feeling of this Christmas show has remained,” he says. “That’s why we’re still around for all these years. There’s a feeling that comes from this show.”

Koz laughs when he talks about Christmas music. After all, the Tarzana, California, resident is Jewish.

“I’m still just, in my mind, a Jewish kid from the San Fernando Valley of LA,” he says. “How does a kid like that become a Christmas tour person? The truth is, I love the music. I love holiday music.

“The songs lend themselves to being pushed and pulled in so many different directions. These songs never disappoint. They always hold up. There’s so much meat on the songs. The songs like ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,’ ‘White Christmas,’ these standard Christmas songs, were written in that Great American Songbook era. These are just gems. They always deliver and it keeps it interesting for all of us.”

Koz keeps it fun and upbeat in Mesa with a simple request.

“There’s one tradition that’s associated with Mesa,” he says. “After the show, we get In-N-Out Burger delivered for the entire crew and cast. At the Mesa Arts Center, they treat us so well. They know that’s part of the tradition for us, too. It may not be fine dining, but it brings us comfort.”

Saxophonist Dave Koz has one wish when he plays Mesa — In-N-Out Burger. (Photo courtesy of Dave Koz)

MORE INFO

What: Dave Koz and Friends When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 15 Where: Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater, 1 E. Main Street, Mesa Cost: Tickets start at $61.50 Info: mesaartscenter.com

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