``Dave Koz & Friends A Smooth Jazz Christmas'' CD Includes Guests Brenda Russell, Kenny Loggins, David Benoit, Rick Braun and Peter White on Festive Mix of Traditional and Original Songs

Business Wire, July 30, 2001

Entertainment Editors & Music Writers

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--July 30, 2001

"Beneath the Moonlit Sky" is First Single in Advance of Sept. 25

Album In-store Date; 5th Annual "Smooth Jazz Christmas" Tour Dates

to be Announced

Capitol recording artist Dave Koz, who set the all-time NAC Smooth Jazz chart record this month in R&R (Radio & Records) when he logged the fifth consecutive top 10 hit single from his best-selling album "The Dance," has just put the finishing touches on his next album, "Dave Koz & Friends A Smooth Jazz Christmas," featuring special guest appearances by singers Brenda Russell and Kenny Loggins, David Benoit on piano, Rick Braun on trumpet and fluegelhorn, and Peter White on acoustic guitar.

"Beneath the Moonlit Sky," an original instrumental composition written by Koz and Benoit, will be the first single from "A Smooth Jazz Christmas." The new album has been scheduled for Sept. 25 in-store date. Two weeks later, "The Dance" -- now in its 96th week on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart -- will celebrate its 104th week (two years!) on the chart.

A mixture of traditional tunes, standards and holiday-inspired original compositions, "Dave Koz & Friends A Smooth Jazz Christmas" grew out of the annual series of "Dave Koz & Friends Smooth Jazz Christmas" tours that the award-winning saxophonist and his band, along with Russell, Benoit, Braun and White, have made since 1997. The cast assembled in the historic Capitol Records Studios in Hollywood and recorded the album "live," in just one week, with everyone reprising their concert numbers and new performances.

"We recorded it as if it were 1959, live, on 2-inch tape, in the same Capitol studio where Nat 'King' Cole recorded his holiday album," Koz told L.A. Life columnist Stephanie DuBois in the Los Angeles Daily News. "It has that quality of warm nostalgia that's perfect for the holidays."

"Beneath the Moonlit Sky" is one of three original compositions that Koz co-wrote for the holiday album, along with "December Makes Me Feel This Way," which features Loggins on lead vocals, and "Eight Candles (A Song For Hanukkah)." Russell also contributes one of her own, "Get Here (For the Holidays)," on which she sings lead.

"Dave Koz & Friends A Smooth Jazz Christmas" is rich in traditional music, including the instrumental version of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and Russell's voice leading the way on "O Tannenbaum/Sleigh Ride (Medley)." Contemporary yuletide standards include instrumentals of "Little Drummer Boy" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," while Russell takes the reins on Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song" and Irving Berlin's "White Christmas."

The new album is clearly a labor of love, starting with the opening "Smooth Jazz Christmas Overture" medley of "Let It Snow/Winter Wonderland" (a showcase for Koz on sax), "What Child Is This (Greensleeves)" (featuring White's acoustic guitar), "Angels We Have Heard On High" (spotlighting pianist Benoit), "Jingle Bells" (with Braun's trumpet), and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (Russell stealing the show). The album closes with the hippest version ever of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." In addition to its five special guests, the album features Koz's regular working band: guitarist Paul Jackson, Jr., bassist Bill Sharpe, Brian Simpson on keyboards, drummer Stevo Theard, percussionist Brian Kilgore, Nick Lane on tenor and bass trombone, and background vocalists Bridgette Bryant, Ester Nicholson and Sandy Simmons.

A portion of Koz's proceeds from "A Smooth Jazz Christmas" will be donated to the Starlight Children's Foundation, an international non-profit organization that he has been involved with for the past eight years. Starlight Children's Foundation (www.starlight.org) is dedicated to improving the quality of life for seriously ill children and their families.

"A Smooth Jazz Christmas" will benefit from the success of "The Dance." The album (released September 1999) now boasts its fifth consecutive top 10 NAC single, as "The Bright Side," featuring the acoustic guitar and scat-singing of guest Jonathan Butler, joins its four predecessors: "Together Again" (No. 1 for 5 weeks), "Surrender," "Can't Let You Go" (also No. 1, with Luther Vandross), and "Love Is On the Way." The multiformat album also includes the Urban AC cover of the Wham!/George Michael hit, "Careless Whisper" (with Montell Jordan) and the AC chart track "Know You By Heart."

"The Dance" was named the No. 3 Contemporary Jazz album of the year in the Billboard magazine 2000 year-end results, and Koz was named the No. 3 Contemporary Jazz artist. At this year's prestigious Oasis/Smooth Jazz awards held in Chicago, "The Dance" won CD of the Year honors, while Koz walked away with the ultimate trifecta -- Best Saxophonist, Male Artist of the Year, and overall Artist of the Year.

Nominated this year for an NAACP Image Award as Outstanding Jazz Artist, Koz continues in his seventh year as host of the syndicated smooth jazz program, The Dave Koz Radio Show. At the same time, he continues to serve in his brand new role as morning host at Los Angeles smooth jazz radio station KTWV, "The Wave."