Dave Koz, Cory Wong - The Golden Hour

Styles: Saxophone, Guitar, Smooth Jazz
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:56
Size: 92,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:05) 1. Today
(3:28) 2. Getaway Car
(4:09) 3. Feed The Id
(4:01) 4. The Golden Hour
(3:43) 5. Junkyard Dunebuggy
(4:02) 6. Little Rascals
(3:54) 7. Family Reunion
(3:06) 8. Engine 71
(3:42) 9. Your Side of Town (Art of Keynoise)
(5:25) 10. Together Again
(1:15) 11. Gratitude

“Getaway Car”…”Junkyard Dunebuggy”…”Engine 71”… For GRAMMY®-nominated artists Dave Koz and Cory Wong, there’s a method to the freewheeling madness in titling three key tracks from their rockin,’ jazzy, groove-intensive album, The Golden Hour, with a vehicular theme. For saxophonist/entrepreneur Koz and hipster funk guitarist/songwriter Wong (Vulfpeck, the Fearless Flyers, Cory and the Wongnotes), it’s their spirited attempt to capture in words the high octane spontaneous combustion and wind-in-your-hair carefree coolness that’s possible when musical masters of two different generations venture fearlessly off their regular career paths. Hightailing it into a live-in-the-studio, socially distant session with Wong producing and a powerhouse ensemble backing them, they’ve created a momentum-shifting project that puts them on fresh creative trajectories. https://www.davekoz.com/golden-hour-dave-koz-cory-wong

Personnel: Dave Koz - Saxophone; Cory Wong - Guitar

The Golden Hour

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Dave Koz - A Romantic Night In (The Love Songs Album)

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:50
Size: 101,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:01) 1. If Not for You
(4:47) 2. Deep Dive
(4:40) 3. Barefoot
(3:11) 4. Summertime in NY
(3:59) 5. It's Always Been You (Live)
(6:04) 6. Love Is on the Way (Live)
(3:23) 7. I'm Waiting for You
(3:21) 8. It’s All Love
(4:40) 9. Paris Nocturne
(4:40) 10. Faces of the Heart (Live)

By virtue of his many achievements, Dave Koz has long been considered the prime contender for contemporary jazz's saxophone throne. Active since 1990 when he arrived on the scene from seemingly nowhere to issue his self-titled leader debut, he climbed onto the Billboard contemporary jazz charts and stayed there for several weeks. The platinum-selling Koz (a rare feat for any jazzman) has been nominated for nine Grammys, hit the top spot on the contemporary jazz charts five times, placed 14 singles in the Top Ten, and earned a total of 20 cuts on the jazz songs charts. Koz is also a seasoned radio and television host, and a best-selling concert and cruise attraction. His sound has more fire and intensity than most of his peers, often recalling that of his musical forebear David Sanborn. Koz's music generally sticks to a production formula he more or less developed that juxtaposes his horn with layers of synthesizers, formatted drums and drum machines, a minimum amount of solo space, and backing vocalists who often make his music cross over to the adult contemporary R&B side of the genre line. Other career highlights for Koz include 1993's Lucky Man, 1999's collaboration-heavy Dance, 2001's holiday treat A Smooth Jazz Christmas (one of four Christmas collections), 2007's At the Movies, and the critically and commercially successful Summer Horns in 2013.

Koz was born one of three children in Encino, California to a dermatologist father and a pharmacist mother. His brother, Jeff, is also a musician. Although he is Jewish, Koz plays both Christmas and occasional Hanukkah songs at his concerts. Commencing his musical education in elementary school, he attended William Howard Taft High School in Woodland Hills (a suburb of Los Angeles) playing saxophone in the school jazz band. He graduated from UCLA with a degree in mass communications in 1986, and only weeks after his graduation, decided to make a go of becoming a professional musician. Within weeks of that decision, he and singer/songwriter and pop jazz pianist Bobby Caldwell went on tour. After returning, he spent the remainder of the decade as a session and touring musician with Jeff Lorber, Richard Marx, and in the house band of CBS' short-lived The Pat Sajak Show (Tom Scott was the bandleader). He also often guested as a saxophonist on The Arsenio Hall Show well into the '90s.

Koz signed a contract with EMI, which released ten of his albums, including 1993's Lucky Man, 1996's Off the Beaten Path, 1999's The Dance, and 2003's Saxophonic which was nominated for a Grammy and an NAACP Image Award and hit number three on the jazz album charts. While working on Lucky Man, Koz was solicited by the producers of ABC's General Hospital to perform the track "Emily" from his debut offering; it was used as part of the show's soundtrack in 1992. After his guest spot on the show, executive producer Wendy Riche commissioned Koz to write a new theme song for the show. He took elements from the show's existing theme, merged it with a new chorus, and transformed it into "Faces of the Heart," which made its debut as a new theme on General Hospital's 30th anniversary show in 1993, and remained unchanged until 2004. In 1994, Koz began hosting the syndicated The Dave Koz Radio Show featuring music and interviews with a who's-who in jazz. He also co-hosted The Dave Koz Morning Show on 94.7 The Wave, a smooth jazz station in Los Angeles, for six years. In 1996, Koz released Off the Beaten Path, his first to display his sung vocals on "That's the Way I Feel About You." While his first holiday-themed set, December Makes Me Feel This Way, appeared in 1997, it didn't chart. The saxophonist scored big with 1999's The Dance; it hit the number two spot on the Top Contemporary Jazz Albums and number three on the Jazz Album charts. His extra media activities only served to raise his profile. He released his second holiday-themed set, A Smooth Jazz Christmas, in September of 2001, and it went all the way to number three on the Jazz Albums chart. His high-charting entries continued through Saxophonic (number two, Jazz Albums). In 2005, Golden Slumbers: A Father's Love didn't chart but the saxophonist didn't fret, he was busy producing the first of his annual Dave Koz & Friends Jazz Cruises. Two years later, his "Just in Time," with the voice of Dean Martin, was a highlight of Forever Cool, an EMI-themed tribute offering. In 2007, he scored with the platinum-selling At the Movies, a collection of cinema themes that peaked at number two on the Jazz Albums list. It was his last outing of new material for EMI.

Koz signed to Concord for 2010's Hello Tomorrow, produced by John Burk and Marcus Miller. It featured his own vocal take on the Herb Alpert/Burt Bacharach tune "This Guy's in Love with You" that landed inside the Top 40 on the Dance Club Songs chart and hit the top spot at Jazz Albums. A pair of live albums, Live at Soho and Live at the Blue Note Tokyo, followed in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Koz emerged in June 2013 with the studio album Summer Horns. Billed to Dave Koz & Friends, it was recorded in collaboration with saxophonists Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair, and Richard Elliot, and featured guest appearances by Michael McDonald, Brian Culbertson, Rick Braun, Jonathan Butler, and Jeffrey Osborne. The material was steeped in '60s and '70s horn-driven R&B, featuring covers by Sly & the Family Stone, Earth Wind & Fire, Blood Sweat & Tears, and Tower of Power, among others. In 2015, Koz's career-spanning compilation of duets and more, Collaborations: 25th Anniversary Collection, topped Billboard's Jazz Albums chart. In 2017 he teamed up with pianist David Benoit, trumpeter Rick Braun, and acoustic guitarist Peter White for the holiday LP Dave Koz & Friends: 20th Anniversary Christmas. The following year, he issued Summer Horns II: From A to Z with Albright, Elliot, Rick Braun, and Aubrey Logan and guest vocalists Jonathan Butler, Kenny Lattimore, and Sheléa. The material ranged from the horn-driven R&B and jazz to funk and hip-hop with covers of songs by Earth Wind & Fire, the Crusaders, Chicago, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Jay-Z, and more. 2020 saw Koz release his 20th studio LP, A New Day, his first collection of original material in a decade.~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dave-koz-mn0000961133/biography

A Romantic Night In (The Love Songs Album)

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Dave Koz - A New Day

Styles: Saxofone Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:06
Size: 115,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:09) 1. Summertime In NYC
(4:13) 2. The Closer We Get
(4:43) 3. Still Got It
(3:26) 4. Yesterday
(4:57) 5. Side By Side
(3:33) 6. Long Goodbyes
(4:10) 7. Dr. Norm
(4:09) 8. Barcelona
(4:23) 9. All The Love In The World
(4:35) 10. Highwire
(4:21) 11. A New Day
(3:21) 12. It's All Love

Dave Koz’s ‘A New Day’ is the saxophonist’s first solo album of original material since ‘Hello Tomorrow’ in 2010. This legend of Smooth Jazz delivers an album that will not disappoint his legion of fans and ranks, alongside the classic ‘The Dance’ from 1999, as his finest work. The album starts with the breezy ‘Summertime In NYC’ that features Brian McKnight on vocals. It enjoys a retro Soul feel, not dissimilar to Bill Withers’ Lovely Day’. There is a joyful optimism to the uplifting ‘The Closer We Get’, whilst Koz gets into a smooth funky groove on ‘Still Got It’. Fellow alto man, Dave Sanborn joins Dave on the slightly slower ‘Side By Side’. The mellow lament ‘Long Goodbyes’ is subtle and endearing with a lovely contribution from piano maestro Bob James. There are several fine instrumentals such as ‘Barcelona’, ‘Dr. Norm’ and the funkier ‘Highwire’. Koz reveals his renowned, romantic side on the title number and ‘It’s All Love’. Guests sound like a who’s who including Jeff Lorber, Marc Antoine, Meshell Mdegeocello and Rick Braun amongst many others. ‘A New Day’, recorded under COVID distancing restrictions, is a fine album and a candidate for Smooth Jazz album of the year. https://soulbrother.com/shop/a-new-day-7/

A New Day

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Dave Koz And Friends - Summer Horns II From A To Z

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:54
Size: 126,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:28) 1. Medley: Getaway / That’s The Way (I Like It)
(5:05) 2. More Today Than Yesterday
(4:50) 3. Keep That Same Old Feeling
(5:28) 4. Medley: From A To Z (Take The “A” Train / Make The Road By Walking)
(4:10) 5. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) (feat. Kenny Lattimore & Sheléa)
(4:55) 6. Before I Let Go
(5:09) 7. Late In The Evening (feat. Jonathan Butler)
(4:43) 8. If You Really Love Me
(4:44) 9. Conga (feat. Aubrey Logan & Gloria Estefan)
(5:58) 10. Earth Song
(5:19) 11. Route 66 (feat. Aubrey Logan)

It’s easy to see why Dave Koz wanted to record a part two to his Summer Horns album. Part 1, which dropped in 2013, brought together four of contemporary jazz’s best-known saxophonists Koz, Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair, and Richard Elliott - to cover tunes from pop and R&B bands that had world famous horn sections. The original Summer Horns featured cuts by Chicago, Tower of Power, Sly and the Family Stone, the Beatles and Earth, Wind & Fire (actually two EW&F songs, since their 1978 cover of the Fab Four’s “Got to Get You Into My Life” served as the inspiration for the track included on Summer Horns.)Summer Horns became a commercial and creative success, earning a Grammy nod, and receiving considerable airplay on terrestrial, satellite and internet radio. The band also spent two years touring following its release. With all that positivity surrounding the original, a sequel could be viewed as an economic necessity. However, the music industry is like a river in that artists never creatively cross twice. It’s been five years since the original Summer Horns dropped, and so it’s not surprising that the four principles were not in the same place.

Changing times presented Koz with an opportunity to make the same type of album different, and he took advantage on Summer Horns II: From A to Z by adding trumpeter Rick Braun and trombonist and vocalist Aubrey Logan to give the brass ensemble a larger and more diverse sound to accompany the returning Albright and Elliott. Summer Horns II also features more vocals from Logan, as well as Kenny Lattimore, Shelea, Gloria Estefan and Jonathan Butler. The addition of trumpet and trombone seemed to inform the album’s musical selections. “This Will Be,” the album’s best track, opens with a honking baritone saxophone and is joined in with the other players giving the track a big band sound. And while the balance of the track plays it pretty close to Natalie Cole’s original, the decision to turn the cut into a duet featuring Lattimore and Shelea pays off, as they transform Cole’s loving soliloquy about the eternal nature of that special love into a swinging yet sensual conversation between two lovers. The horns combine with the African infused percussion, backing vocals and Jonathan Butler’s acoustic guitar work and rangy vocals on the cover of Paul Simon’s “Late in the Evening.” Whereas Simon’s vocals were subdued and wry, Butler brings elements of his gospel roots to this soulful rendition. Acoustic bass and the harmonic horn play combine with Logan’s vocals to create a swinging version of “Route 66.” The vocal tracks on Summer Horns II are so strong that I had to wonder if the group missed some opportunities with sticking primarily with instrumentals on several covers. I would love to see what creative arrangements Koz and his crew could have come up with if Lattimore had been turned loose on “More Today than Yesterday,” “Before I Let Go,” or if paired in duet with Estefan (who paired with Logan on a remake of her 1986 hit “Conga”) on “If You Really Love Me.” But, my desire for a few more vocals aside, this is a worthy follow up to the smash original collaboration, and an extremely enjoyable soundtrack to Summer 2018. Recommended. By Howard Dukes https://www.soultracks.com/album-review-dave-koz-summer-horns-II-from-a-to-z

Personnel: Dave Koz, Gerald Albright, Gloria Estefan, Jonathan Butler, Mindi Abair, Richard Elliot

Summer Horns II From A To Z

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Craig Chaquico - Once In A Blue Universe

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:03
Size: 109,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:03)  1. Midnight Swim
(4:08)  2. Holding Back The Years
(5:49)  3. Dreamcatcher
(5:15)  4. Blue Universe
(4:54)  5. Trade Winds
(3:29)  6. Lights Out San Francisco
(5:03)  7. Dipsea Trail
(5:09)  8. Oceans Apart
(4:35)  9. Feelin' Alright
(3:34) 10. Indian Spring

Former Jefferson Starship guitarist Craig Chaquico is one of the most successful and reliable of the crop of rock musicians who have recently switched genres into contemporary jazz. His fourth CD, Once in a Blue Universe continues to broaden his jazz horizons while providing some very satisfying and distinctive music. Fans of Craig's first two albums ( Acoustic Planet and Acoustic Highway ) will find the same improvisational and eclectic guitar style prevalent on those albums. Those who welcomed Craig's turn toward more complex compositions and arrangements on A Thousand Pictures will enjoy the additional moods and extended saxophone presence. The first few notes of the first song ("Midnight Swim") set the beat with a funky bass line and readily identifies the artist with Craig's signature style on acoustic guitar. Dave Koz assists with a strong and funky sax line for an all-around finger-snapping tune. Craig's companion on the Guitars, Saxophones and More Tour, Richard Elliot, makes a strong guest appearance with his distinctive tenor saxophone on "Dreamcatcher," one of the first cuts to receive radio play. Another GS&M tour member, Peter White makes an appearance on "Lights Out San Francisco"; the guitar interplay between Craig and Peter makes this mellow track a winner. Other notable cuts include the romantic soft-tempo title song, subtitled "Kimberly's Eyes" featuring John Klemmer and Third Force, "Oceans Apart" and a mellow cover of pop tune "Holding Back the Years," one of the only non-original compositions on the disc. Those who saw Craig and Douglas Spotted Eagle together at the Catalina Island Jazz Festival in 1996 will recognize the diverse percussion and arrangement from Spotted Eagle on the end-cut "Indian Spring. "Produced by long-time keyboardist and producer Ozzie Ahlers, Once in a Blue Universe is a solid addition to any contemporary jazz or guitar collection, filled with tunes you will be humming days later. Highly recommended. ~ AAJ Staff https://www.allaboutjazz.com/once-in-a-blue-universe-craig-chaquico-higher-octave-music-review-by-aaj-staff.php

Musicians: Guitar-Craig Chaquico; Spanish Guitar-Peter White; Keyboards-Ozzie Ahlers, William Aura; Saxophone-Richard Elliot, John Klemmer, Dave Koz, Kevin Paladini; Drums & Percussion-Lenny Castro, Alain Eskinasi, Carlos Vega, G.G. Gonaway, Wade Olson, Douglas Spotted Eagle; Bass Guitar-Larry Kimpel, Jim Reitzel; Piano-Gregg Karukas

Once In A Blue Universe

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Jeff Lorber - Kickin' It

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:34
Size: 100,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:17)  1. Snakebite
(3:54)  2. Ain't Nobody
(4:25)  3. Happy Endings
(3:58)  4. Chopsticks
(4:33)  5. Keep That Same Ol' Feelin'
(4:40)  6. Reflections
(4:52)  7. The Bijou
(4:08)  8. Kickin' It
(4:05)  9. The In Crowd
(4:37) 10. What It Is

Jeff Lorber's label debut on Samson Records is a typical jazz fusion effort that will sound familiar to fans of his band of the 1970s and '80s, the Jeff Lorber Fusion. Teaming with co-writer/producer/arranger Steve Dubin, Lorber constructs a series of upbeat rhythm tracks over which he plays melodically on either acoustic piano or Fender Rhodes electric. He is joined on nearly every track by a guest saxophonist and/or guitarist. Tenor saxophonist Gerald Albright sits in on "Snakebite," "Keep That Same Ol' Feelin'," and "Kickin' It" (with guitarist Stuart Wylen); soprano saxophonist Dave Koz on "Happy Endings" (with guitarist Michael Landau) and "The Bijou"; tenor saxophonist Steve Cole on "Chopsticks"; soprano saxophonist Gary Meek on "Reflections" (with Wylen) and "What It Is"; and tenor saxophonist Richard Elliot on "The 'In' Crowd." Lorber cedes considerable space to his guests, but he still finds room for his own improvisations. He also brings in a horn section on several cuts, notably "Keep That Same Ol' Feelin'," which sounds enough like a lost Steely Dan track that you keep expecting Donald Fagen to start singing on instead of Siedah Garrett, who intones the repeated lines "Keep on/Keep that same ol' feelin'." "Ain't Nobody" is the 1983 Rufus and Chaka Khan hit, here rendered with an appropriately funky feel, and "The 'In' Crowd" is, of course, the 1965 Ramsey Lewis Trio hit, a nod to an obvious predecessor of Lorber's. The keyboardist slows the pace for "Reflections," but most of these tracks are lively pieces with lots of interplay that is only ended when they fade out. ~ William Ruhlmann https://www.allmusic.com/album/kickin-it-mw0000115527

Personnel:  Jeff plays Yamaha DS6 piano, Fender Rhodes,other keyboards, synth bass, mute guitar; Alex Al – Bass; Dave Koz – Soprano, Alto sax on track 3 and 7; Gary Meek – Soprano, Tenor sax; Gerald Albright – Tenor sax on track 1, 5, 8 Jerry Hey – Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Horn arrangements; John “Little John” Roberts – Drums; Lenny Castro – Percussion; Richard Elliot – Tenor sax on track 9; Siedah Garrett – Vocals on track 5; Steve Cole – Tenor sax on track 4; Tony Maiden – Guitar; Wah Wah Watson – Guitar

Kickin' It

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Jeff Lorber - Worth Waiting For

Styles: Jazz Fusion, Jazz Funk 
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:31
Size: 132,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:19)  1. Rain Song
(4:46)  2. The Underground
(4:26)  3. Yellowstone
(5:02)  4. Punta Del Este
(5:20)  5. Lost With You
(5:28)  6. Worth Waiting For
(5:58)  7. High Wire
(6:04)  8. Wavelength
(5:24)  9. Columbus Ave
(5:16) 10. Do What It Takes
(4:22) 11. Jazzery

After a seven year layoff, feisty veteran funkmaster Lorber steps out from the producer's chair with a fun filled all star project. The keyboardist, best known for his fusion years, has been far from idle during that time, producing for pop jazz sax gods Kenny G and Eric Marienthal, and mixing for U2 and Paula Abdul. His latest lives up to its title...though not resoundingly so. As he did with Marienthal's brilliant Oasis, Lorber divides his keyboard time between punchy, soulful rhythms and mellifluous textures that pour on the romance. Easygoing exercises like "Yellowstone" and the Latin tinged "Punta Del Soul" inspire a cool charm, but it's danceable cookers like "High Wire" and "Jazzery" that keep the disc spiraling. The only track that seems out of step is "Do What It Takes," whose production takes on a dated, 70s Crusaders sheen. Spirited performances surround Lorber's tasty keywork, most notably those of Art Porter, Gary Meek, Dave Koz and Bruce Hornsby. ~ Jonathan Widran https://www.allmusic.com/album/worth-waiting-for-mw0000097821

Personnel:  Alto Saxophone – Art Porter (tracks: 1), Dave Koz (tracks: 7), Gary Meek (tracks: 11); Drum Programming, Hihat – Curt Bisquera (tracks: 10); Drums – John Robinson  (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11); Electric Bass – Alec Milstein (tracks: 1-4, 6-11); Flute – Gary Meek (tracks: 3); Guitar – Buzz Feiten (tracks: 8), Oliver Leiber (tracks: 7), Paul Jackson Jr. (tracks: 1-4, 6-10); Guitar [Nylon] – Lee Ritenour (tracks: 10);  Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa (tracks: 1-6, 8-10); Piano [Additional] – Bruce Hornsby (tracks: 3); Producer, Written-By – Jeff Lorber (tracks: All); Soprano Saxophone – Art Porter (tracks: 9), Dave Koz (tracks: 6), Gary Meek (tracks: 2, 3, 8); Vocals – Alec Milstein (tracks: 4), Eric Jordan (tracks: 5), Janis Siegel (tracks: 4)

Worth Waiting For

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Clint Holmes - Rendezvous

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:35
Size: 118,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:21)  1. Stop This Train
(6:56)  2. At The Rendezvous
(4:49)  3. I Loves You Porgy/There's A Boat That's Leavin' Soon For New York
(4:31)  4. Every Time We Say Goodbye
(5:28)  5. All Of Me
(3:38)  6. Say Something
(4:27)  7. Maria
(3:33)  8. The Perfect Trance
(4:06)  9. Marie
(5:18) 10. My Way
(3:21) 11. What You Leave Behind

Clint Holmes’ original charge was simply to make a great album. But the underlying objective, sometimes mentioned just slyly, was to make it great enough to be nominated for a Grammy.With “Rendezvous,” Holmes not only met, but exceeded those goals.The latest release from the popular Vegas showman and interpreter of songs has been nominated for a pair of Grammy Awards, as the field was announced Tuesday morning. Two songs from “Rendezvous” are on the list of nominees for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals: “Every Time We Say Goodbye,” his duet with jazz great Jane Monheit; and “I Loves You Porgy/There’s A Boat That’s Leavin’ Soon For New York” from “Porgy and Bess,” which Holmes recorded with another acclaimed jazz vocalist, Dee Dee Bridgewater. The arranger on “Every Time We Say Goodbye,” Jorge Calandrelli, is a six-time Grammy winner known for his work on “The Color Purple.” Holmes, producer Gregg Field, master pianist and composer Shelly Berg, and pianist/sax man/composer Gordon Goodwin teamed for the arrangement on “Porgy and Bess.” Field himself has won three Grammys in his five nominations, and as a topnotch drummer also toured with the Count Basie Orchestra in the early 1980s and the Basie Orchestra backed Holmes on “Rendezvous.” 

“This is an incredible feeling and a real achievement for everyone who made the album happen,” Holmes said Tuesday morning. “As you know, this was a long process, and receiving a Grammy nomination is something we really did want, even if we felt we didn’t want to jinx our chances by talking about it.” “Rendezvous” was recorded and mixed over a 2 ½-year period at Capitol Records. The album was largely a jazz project, especially with the contributions from Monheit, Bridgewater and sax master Dave Koz (who wrote the music to Holmes’ “What You Leave Behind”). But there is a significant pop feel to “Rendezvous,” too, which actually prevented the album from being considered in nomination in the jazz field (if an album is deemed 51 percent pop by Grammy officials, it is entered into the open pop categories). Thus, Holmes is in what he calls “tall cotton” with his fellow nominees. Also entered in his category are the cast of “La La Land” and Justin Hurwitz with “Another Day of Sun,” Seth MacFarlane and arranger Joel McNeely for “I Like Myself,” and Randy Newman with “Putin.” Newman is a two-time Academy Award winner and has been nominated for 20 Oscars. He’s also won six Grammys and three Emmys. “It would be a long shot, but this whole album has been a long shot,” said Holmes, who hopes to attend the Jan. 28 ceremony in New York. “But we are nominated. I’ll now always be a Grammy nominee, and it feels good.”https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/kats/clint-holmes-rendezvous-receives-a-pair-of-grammy-noms/

Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jane Monheit, Ledisi, Joey DeFrancesco, Dave Koz and Patti Austin help bring the veteran crooner’s story to life on Clint Holmes’ album, “Rendezvous.”

Rendezvous

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Eric Marienthal - One Touch

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:54
Size: 112,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:33)  1. No Doubt About It
(4:03)  2. That's The Way
(4:48)  3. One For James
(5:26)  4. Walk Throught The Fire
(4:36)  5. Ouch !
(5:08)  6. Westland
(6:00)  7. The Village
(4:40)  8. Tanto Amor
(3:57)  9. Backtalk
(5:39) 10. Where Are You ?

Altoist Eric Marienthal (who is also heard on tenor, soprano and baritone) plays well throughout One Touch but he is the only reason to acquire this disc. The backup, which includes keyboardist-producer Jeff Lorber, a few vocalists and guest appearances from pianist David Benoit and bassist John Patitucci, is mostly pretty anonymous. The originals are forgettable and usually fade out when the music gets too heated. With all of the selections clocking in between three-and-a-half and almost five minutes, potential radio airplay was obviously the main purpose behind the music, which is consistently commercial, accessible, mildly soulful and very predictable. At best, One Touch succeeds as background music but a close listen will frustrate listeners who know that Eric Marienthal is capable of much more. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/one-touch-mw0000618989

Personnel:  Eric Marienthal - alto saxophone (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9); soprano saxophone (2, 8, 10); tenor saxophone (3); baritone saxophone (3);  Dave Koz - soprano saxophone (2);  Paul Jackson, Jr. - guitar (1, 2, 4, 6, 9);  James Harrah - guitar (3, 7);  Oliver Leiber - guitar (5);  Peter Sprague - guitar (8);  Alec Milstein - bass (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9);  John Pattitucci - bass (1, 5: solos);  Jimmy Haslip - bass (3, 7, 8, 10);  Jeff Lorber - synthesizers, sequencing, drum programming (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9);  Russell Ferrante - piano, keyboards (3, 7, 8); sequence programming (3, 7);  David Benoit - piano, keyboard sequencing (10);  John Robinson - drums (3, 7, 10);  Paulinho Da Costa - percussion (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9);  Alex Acuña - percussion (7, 8, 10); drums (8);  Wayne Bergeron - trumpet (3);  Andy Martin - trombone (3);  Carl Anderson - vocals (4);  Ivan Lins - vocals (8);  Kiki Ebsen - background vocals (2);  Randy Hall - background vocals (2);  Benet - background vocals (4)

One Touch

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Dave Koz & Friends - Summer Horns

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:11
Size: 126.3 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[4:03] 1. Always There
[5:37] 2. Got To Get You Into My Life
[5:06] 3. Rise
[4:37] 4. So Very Hard To Go
[4:26] 5. Hot Fun In The Summertime
[4:10] 6. Take 5
[4:46] 7. 25 Or 6 To 4
[4:44] 8. Reasons
[4:14] 9. I Got You (I Feel Good)
[3:44] 10. You Haven’t Done Nothin’
[5:43] 11. God Bless The Child
[3:56] 12. Summer Horns

Nine-time GRAMMY® nominee Dave Koz remembers a time when the summers lasted forever, and the most popular rock, R&B, soul and funk bands of the day were propelled by high-octane, richly arranged horn sections. Indeed, from the late 1960s through the ‘70s, bands like Sly & the Family Stone, Tower of Power, Earth Wind & Fire, Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears and other brassy juggernauts of the era ruled the airwaves and opened his young ears to the saxophone’s limitless possibilities as a solo instrument as well as a collaborative voice with the trumpet and trombone.

Four decades later, Koz has assembled three of his most talented and trusted colleagues – Gerald Albright, Richard Elliot and Mindi Abair – to revisit this golden age with new arrangements of classic songs from this period in the history of popular music. Dave Koz and Friends Summer Horns, produced by Paul Brown (Al Jarreau, George Benson, June Tabor, Boney James), is a collaborative effort that throws the spotlight on four high-profile saxophonists, and augments the team with several other equally talented musicians and vocalists. Summer Horns, released on June 11, 2013 on Concord Records, turns up the heat just in time for the summer tour season.

Summer Horns mc
Summer Horns zippy

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Rick Braun - Can You Feel It

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:13
Size: 113,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:06)  1. Can You Feel It
(4:26)  2. Back to Back
(4:35)  3. Take Me to the River
(4:09)  4. Mallorca
(4:25)  5. Get up and Dance
(4:57)  6. Another Kind of Blue
(4:11)  7. Delta
(5:35)  8. Silk
(3:52)  9. Radar
(4:39) 10. The Dream
(4:13) 11. Dr. Funkenstein

Celebrated trumpeter Rick Braun's release can you feel it is aptly titled. The veteran purveyor of the smooth jazz sound does not disappoint on his latest offering. Some of Braun's musical friends on this eleven song collection include: Brian Culbertson-piano, Euge Goove-tenor sax, Jeff Lorber-keyboards and guitar, Dave Koz-tenor sax, and Nate Phillips-bass.  In typical Braun fashion, the entire record production is clean and at a high standard. The title and first track "Feel It" has a breezy summer's day sensitivity to it that should put you in a relaxed state of mind. On the second song "Back To Back," the dependable band led by Braun, continues to roll along in the groove established by the opening track.

The popular trumpeter provides a pleasant surprise with Al Green's 1974 gospel flavored hit "Take Me To The River." This is the sole vocal track presented here with a cool Braun intro and Elliot Yamin's bouncy interpretation of this soul/gospel classic. (Bryan Ferry, Levon Helm, Talking Heads and Foghat also recorded the song.) The Braun/Harner composition "Get Up And Dance" is another fine example of Braun's signature sound. The horns are clear with the trumpet and saxophone working competently together. "Another Kind Of Blue" is a mellow ballad delivered with Braun's lonely flugelhorn, giving the song a nice melancholy tinge. "Radar" is approached with the easy alacrity that Braun has consistently demonstrated throughout his long career. "Mallorca," "Delta," "Silk," and "The Dream" help contribute to the CD's overall ambience. The album closes strongly with the Braun/Phillips/Gonzalez song "Dr. Funkenstein." In addition to the horns, the very capable rhythm section gets to stretch out. Bass and drums are prominent on the finale that actually rocks. This stand out tune is a great way to conclude Braun's latest record.  Successful songwriter/multi instrumentalist Rick Braun has recorded and produced another polished disc to add to your contemporary jazz collection. Braun's can you feel it will appeal to his loyal fans and supporters of the smooth jazz genre. ~ Walter Atkins https://www.allaboutjazz.com/can-you-feel-it-rick-braun-artistry-music-review-by-walter-atkins.php

Personnel: Rick Braun, trumpets, trombone, flugelhorn and keyboards; Brian Culbertson, piano; Phil Davis, piano; Brandon Fields, tenor and baritone sax; Mike Finnigan, Hammond B3; Richard Fremont, flute; John Gilutin, Hammond B3; Sergio Gonzalez, drums; Euge Goove, tenor sax; Adam Hawley, guitar; Randy Jacobs, guitar; Nathaniel Kearny Jr, bass; Dave Koz, tenor sax; Braylon Lacey, bass; Jeff Lorber, keyboards and guitar; Tony Moore, drums; Nate Phillips, bass; Frank Richardson, drums; Philippe Saisse, keyboards; Freddie Washington, bass; Elliot Yamin, vocals; Ramon Yslas, percussion

Can You Feel It

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Patrick Bradley - Can You Hear Me

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:06
Size: 108,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:58)  1. All In
(4:00)  2. Blue Skies (Feat. Eric Marienthal)
(5:01)  3. North Of Evermore (Feat. Jeff Lorber, Michael Thompson & Jimmy Hasslip)
(5:04)  4. Can You Hear Me (Feat. Dave Koz)
(4:27)  5. Daylight (Feat. Eric Marienthal & Dwight Sills)
(4:35)  6. Shoreline (Feat. Eric Marienthal)
(5:01)  7. Catalan (Feat. Jeff Lorber & Eric Marienthal)
(4:49)  8. For Her
(4:36)  9. Sierra (Feat. Dwight Sills)
(4:31) 10. Voyage (Feat. Rick Braun)

Can You Hear Me is Patrick Bradley’s third solo release. Bringing Bradley’s music to life are top flight musicians such as saxophonists Eric Marienthal (Chick Corea Elektric Band) and Dave Koz, trumpeter Rick Braun, guitarists Michael Thompson and Dwight Sills, bassist Jimmy Haslip (formerly of the Yellowjackets) and drummer Gary Novak. At the helm of it all is prolific producer/composer/keyboardist Lorber who Bradley swears fits his musicality like a glove. Collaborating on their second album together, Bradley and Lorber composed and arranged all ten songs on “Can You Hear Me.” Bradley nimbly emotes graceful harmonies on piano, adds depth and texture via Moog synthesizer embellishments and uncorks feverish organ blasts with reckless abandon when the mood to pontificate strikes. A variety of jazz visages fusion, contemporary and smooth emerge from tracks rooted in R&B that reflect prisms of funk, soul and blues with the deep-pocketed grooves stitched by bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Gary Novak. David Mann’s fiery horns and crisp horn arrangements fatten the sound on “Blue Skies,” “Daylight,” “For Her” and “Voyage” with hitman Rick Braun captured blowing away on trumpet on a pair of cuts (“Blue Skies” and “Voyage”) and Eric Marienthal chiming in some swinging sax on a few numbers (“Blue Skies,” “Shoreline” and “Catalan”). Lorber’s keyboard and Dwight Sills’ guitar riff rhythmically throughout the session with Sills and guitarist Michael Thompson dousing kerosene before slash and burn solos. Both Bradley and Lorber solo on the blistering progressive rock thrill ride “North Of Evermore.” The first radio single “Can You Hear Me” featuring Dave Koz on soprano sax is a beautiful melody written for Bradley’s mother who passed away in 2008.  “I’ve been playing my whole life and I’m trying to be heard in this noisy world as a musician. My mom passed before hearing my last album (“Under The Sun”) including the song I wrote for my (late) father (“Tears From The Sky”). I wonder if she can hear me and my music. I wrote ‘Can You Hear Me’ with her in mind” said Bradley, a man of faith who hails from Southern California. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/patrickbradley4

Can You Hear Me

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Patrick Bradley - Under the Sun

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:55
Size: 122,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:30)  1. Straight Path
(4:11)  2. Into the Sunset
(4:56)  3. A Message
(4:57)  4. Just Let Go
(4:40)  5. Slipstream
(5:02)  6. Time and Chance
(4:41)  7. Crows on the Lawn
(5:58)  8. Tears from the Sky
(4:16)  9. Rush Street
(3:46) 10. Under the Sun
(5:52) 11. The Empress of Dalmatia

Jazz fusion keyboardist Patrick Bradley taps a luminous cast for the spiritually-inspired Under the Sun. The album released April 26, 2011 offers hope and a boundary pushing musical adventure. Four years after the release of his debut CD Come Rain or Shine. The long awaited release will surely prove a worthy wait. Legendary keyboardist, writer and producer Jeff Lorber produced the CD and plays additional Keyboards as well. The All star cast includes Dave Koz, Rick Braun, Eric Marienthal, Dwight Sills, Michael Thompson, Dave Weckl, Tony Moore, Alex Al, Nate Phillips, David Mann and IreneB. Patrick Bradley and Jeff Lorber collaborated on much of this project. The two-powerhouse keyboardist coupled with an all-star cast truly created a fresh unique sound and writing style. The project strikes a remarkable balance between highlighting the talent and songwriting of Bradley while sharing the space freely with the enormously gifted cast of musicians. When everything is said and done the songwriting is tremendous, and adventurous.

Patrick is playing piano as his main instrument on the project. But Under the Sun beckons back to Bradley’s roots. The Hammond B-3 was the instrument of Bradley’s early upbringing. So, there is no surprise hearing the soaring organ solos throughout the project. Some of Bradley’s early influences of Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman and Chick Corea peer through the hidden veil creating a dynamic style yet with a warm and welcoming approachability for all listeners. Patrick was quoted saying; “Under The Sun is a project born during times of difficulty and triumph yet all with a sense of celebrating all that life has to offer. Musically I want to help encourage hopefulness and to help remind us all to keep the important priorities of life in view, having an eternal perspective, loving and caring for our families, loved ones, friends and all the relationships we all value. Time flies by all too fast so let’s celebrate our brief time under the sun.” Patrick Bradley is a self-taught musician who began playing at the age of eight. He has a diverse background of jazz-fusion, smooth jazz, gospel, rock, progressive rock and classical music. As an independent artist Patrick’s 2007 debut record sold internationally in 14 countries along with the single Come Rain or Shine reaching #26 on the charts. Outside of music, Bradley serves a s the regional president of Whole Foods Market Southern Pacific region. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/patrickbradley2

Personnel:  Patrick Bradley, Jeff Lorber - piano, Dave Koz, Eric Marienthal - sax, Rick Braun - flugelhorn and trumpet, Dwight Sills, Michael Thompson - guitar, Alex Aland, Nate Phillips -bass, Tony Moore, Dave Weckl -drums, David Mann - horn section, Irene B. - voice.

Under the Sun

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Kirk Whalum - The Babyface Songbook

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:19
Size: 131,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:42)  1. Exhale (Shoop Shoop)
(4:22)  2. I'll Make Love To You
(4:36)  3. Ca We Talk
(4:47)  4. When Can I See You
(4:44)  5. For The Cool In You
(4:27)  6. Breathe Again
(5:00)  7. Betcha Never
(5:17)  8. Someon To Love
(4:50)  9. Not Goin' Cry
(5:25) 10. Whip Appeal
(4:07) 11. I Said I Love You
(4:57) 12. Wey U

The title of saxophonist Kirk Whalum's 2005 album Kirk Whalum Performs the Babyface Songbook speaks for itself. You get smooth jazz icon Whalum taking on R&B icon Babyface's best songs of the past 15 years, including "Waiting to Exhale (Shoop Shoop)," "I'll Make Love to You," "When Can I See You," and others. Joining in the intimate and stylish proceedings are other smooth jazz notables, including trumpeter Rick Braun, who adds a boppish elan to "Can We Talk," soprano superstar Dave Koz, and guitarists Norman Brown and Chuck Loeb among others. Fans of Whalum and Babyface alike should find much to enjoy here.~Matt Collar http://www.allmusic.com/album/kirk-whalum-performs-the-babyface-songbook-mw0000174120

Personnel: Kirk Whalum (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Kirk Whalum; John Stoddart (vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Norman Brown (guitar); Mark Portmann (strings, keyboards, programming); Takana Miyamoto (piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Ricky Peterson (Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond b-3 organ, keyboards); Andy Snitzer (keyboards, programming); Christian McBride (bass guitar); Bashiri Johnson (percussion); Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Juan Winans, Melinda Doolittle, Babyface (background vocals); Chuck Loeb (acoustic guitar); Dave Koz (soprano saxophone); Rick Braun (trumpet, flugelhorn).

The Babyface Songbook

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Dave Koz - Live At Blue Note Tokyo

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:25
Size: 132,2 MB
Art: Front

(2:50)  1. What You Leave Behind
(5:13)  2. Together Again
(5:36)  3. Put the Top Down
(3:28)  4. Let It Free
(3:31)  5. Anything's Possible
(6:04)  6. Love Is on the Way
(3:59)  7. It's Always Been You
(4:16)  8. All I See Is You
(4:37)  9. Honeydipped
(4:40) 10. Faces of the Heart
(5:42) 11. Silverlining
(7:22) 12. You Make Me Smile

Saxophonist Dave Koz has been recording as a solo artist since 1990. During that time he's issued more than a dozen albums of surprising variety, and has been nominated eight times for Grammy Awards. In an age when the live album has become a compulsory thing for artists who sometimes have only a single studio album to draw from, Koz waited until now to issue his first concert date, Live at the Blue Note Tokyo (recorded in 2011), which finds the saxophonist backed by a stellar quintet that includes musical director Brian Simpson on keyboards, guitarist Randy Jacobs, drummer Jay Williams, bassist André Berry, and Tio Banks on additional keyboards. 

The set was recorded impeccably by the gifted engineer Melissa Britton, who captured all of the spontaneity and warmth on display that evening. The material includes a number of excellent versions of tunes from Koz's then-current studio album, 2010's excellent Hello Tomorrow ("What You Leave Behind," "Anything's Possible," "Put the Top Down") and some killer new takes on catalog jams including "Together Again" and the hit "Love Is on the Way" from 1999's The Dance; "All I See Is You" and "Honey-Dipped" from 2003's Saxophonic; and even the funky "Silverlining," the ballad "Faces of the Heart" (which became the theme song for the soap opera General Hospital for a time), and an extended jam on "You Make Me Smile," all from 1993's Lucky Man. 

The stellar playing and the obvious love affair that takes place between audience and performers on Live at the Blue Note Tokyo make Koz's first live album one of his catalog's highlights. ~ Thom Jurek  http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-the-blue-note-tokyo-mw0002468987

Personnel: Dave Koz (saxophone); Randy Jacobs (guitar); Tio Banks, Brian Simpson (keyboards); Jay Williams (drums).

Live At Blue Note Tokyo

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Dave Koz - Collaborations: 25th Anniversary Collection

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:27
Size: 140,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:14)  1. Good Foot
(4:01) 2. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher
(4:50)  3. When Will I Know For Sure
(4:36)  4. So Very Hard To Go
(2:59)  5. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
(4:09)  6. A Kiss Under The Moonlight
(4:54)  7. This Guy's In Love With You
(5:40)  8. All You Need Is Love
(4:02)  9. Linus And Lucy
(4:46) 10. Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song)
(4:57) 11. Think Big
(4:10) 12. I Hear Her Playing Music
(4:31) 13. Start All Over Again
(3:31) 14. Let It Go

The 2015 Dave Koz compilation, Collaborations: 25th Anniversary Collection, brings together duets and other collaborative recordings culled from the smooth jazz saxophonist's over-two-decades-long album history. Included are pairings with such luminaries as Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Herb Alpert, and Luther Vandross. Also included are several brand new recordings including a take on the Jackie Wilson soul classic "Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher," featuring vocalist Kenny Lattimore and trumpeter Rick Braun. Also included is Koz's version of the Academy Award-winning song "Let It Go" from Disney's Frozen, as well as the song "Good Foot," with longtime associate and keyboardist Jeff Lorber. ~ Matt Collar  http://www.allmusic.com/album/collaborations-25th-anniversary-collection-mw0002851261

Collaborations: 25th Anniversary Collection

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