Last year, Kenny G, the reigning prince of Smooth Jazz, served up holiday fare with his soprano sax for The 2015 Jazz Roots concert series. Kindred spirit Dave Koz made his Miami debut this year with his own smooth brand of saxy good tidings.
Christmas music seems to cross all religious boundaries, inspiring all who listen to smile, reflect and just feel good.
Radio and TV personality, session musician and Grammy-nominated saxophonist Koz landed in town at The Knight Concert Hall on Nov. 26, with Jonathan Butler, Kenny Lattimore and Valerie Simpson in tow.
If you primarily came to hear Koz rendering holiday classics with his considerable chops, you might have been surprised by the program which showcased the vocal talents of Butler, Lattimore and Simpson. Though they were excellent, it was Koz out front and center who made this 19th annual version of his Christmas show soar.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame star told the crowd that he felt at home on the Knight stage: "It's like being in someone's big living room without the hors d'oeuvres."
The genial musician rotated through his soprano, alto and tenor saxes with Butler, Lattimore and Simpson on vocals, the foursome rendering the holiday classics beautifully with jazzy arrangements and harmonic skill. "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" was a standout, loaded with high energy scatting amidst a flashing and colorful light show.
Koz is a little man with a big sound. He eased his alto sax into his favorite Christmas song, "White Christmas," sliding into every note with a richness of tone, ramping it up and sailing it to the back of the hall.
Koz danced with his alto during a big time solo on "Together Again," trading licks on the high octane piece with drummer Jay Williams. Koz and Williams mashed it up again on the funky "Silver Lining," Nathaniel Kearney Jr. taking a solo turn on his bass with a virtuosic display of rapid slapping and popping.
Doing yeoman's work all evening, pianist Brian Simpson joined Koz on a jazzy version of Styne and Cahn's "Let It Snow." Randy Jacobs, doing double duty as guitarist and music director, must be commended on the tightness and precision of the band.
Butler, Lattimore and Simpson blended well as a trio on the several medleys during the evening, most notably with the opening combination including, "Someday at Christmas," "Jingle Bells," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and "What Christmas Means to Me." Their harmonies rang sweetly in the Motown mix that featured tunes by Ashford and Simpson (yes, the very same Valerie Simpson): "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," "Your Precious Love," "You're All I Need to Get By" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."
The three featured voices joined up again on a wonderfully harmonic rendition of John Lennon and Paul McCartney's "All You Need Is Love."
Grammy-nominated Butler, South African singer-songwriter and guitarist, chanted his way into "Little Drummer Boy," which morphed into "Sleigh Ride" complete with a merengue rhythm. He was outstanding with Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry," soulfully rendering the ballad with some fine guitar work.
Singer-songwriter Lattimore crooned the Bing Crosby hit "I'll Be Home for Christmas" with a Billy Eckstine vibe, relying on the strength of his high to low range. He teamed up with Butler on Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."
Simpson, herself musical royalty, interpreted Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" with emotion and sensitivity. She and Koz were sublime on "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "Do You Hear What I Hear?"
And what would be a Christmas show without a little Chanukah gelt? Koz sang a few lines from Adam Sandler's "The Chanukah Song" and then broke out into a medley of funky Chanukah tunes.
The love fest concluded with all voices and instruments on deck, lighting up the crowd with "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher," Koz encouraging the audience to "spread a little more kindness." They ended with the Ashford and Simpson standard "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)."
Indeed, "Dave Koz's Christmas Tour" made this evening a better place.
Dean Shelly Berg, Artistic Advisor of Jazz Roots, is shepherding Jazz Root’s Ninth Season. For information and tickets about the rest of the season, check out www.arshtcenter.org.
