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Dave Koz is the King of Smooth Jazz, and his Memories of a Winter's Night is high royalty. The title is apt, especially since many tracks may conjure up memories of Koz's earlier holiday releases; five of the 12 tracks previously appeared on December Makes Me Feel This Way (1997) or A Smooth Jazz Christmas (2001). Even so, the album sounds vibrant and fresh, and the newly-recorded White Christmas is worth the price of admission all by itself.

This is buoyant, bouncy stuff, and Koz's excellent sax-playing provides the sensual core. The offering opens with the quiet sparkle of December snow as the sound slowly builds to present Koz's jazzy saxophone strains, a warm welcome to a great holiday release. The playful Santa Claus Is Coming to Town has a syncopated vibe that had me boppin' all over the place. Although the album mostly consists of instrumentals, there are two brand new duets featuring Kimberly Locke (of American Idol fame) and Kelly Sweet. White Christmas is largely Sweet's showcase, and her breathy, innocent, crystalline soprano is achingly beautiful and may have you dreaming of a "White Christmas" and other holiday delights, too. Locke lets loose her textured alto on the richly entertaining Please Come Home for Christmas; she did not win the American Idol competition, but perhaps she should have! The release is packed with gems, including the title track. This cool Koz original celebrates Hanukkah with a contemplative, slightly mournful melody that sticks long after the final bars.

Fans of Dave Koz need no persuasion; I am confident that Memories of a Winter's Night has already made their Christmas list. For those who are not yet Koz-o-philes, here is an opportunity to open yourself up to the adult contemporary pleasures of the Sax Man, the King of Smooth Jazz. Who knows? You may become his next loyal subject!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2007)

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From the liner notes:

Dave Koz: Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxophones; Piano.

Compilation Produced by Dave Koz.
Mastered by Dave McEowen at Capitol Mastering Studios.

Tracks 1,4,6,7
Brian Culbertson: Piano, Keyboards, Drum Programming, Percussion and Trombone.
Kelly Sweet, Kimberley Locke: Lead and Background Vocals.
Michael Thompson: Guitars on White Christmas.
Jim Culbertson: Trumpet on Please Come Home for Christmas.
Eddie Miller: Wurlitzer & B3 organ on Please Come Home for Christmas.
Ray Parker, Jr.: Guitar on Please Come Home for Christmas.
Bruce Watson: Guitars on Deck the Halls.
Alex Al: Bass on Please Come Home for Christmas.
Fernando Perdomo: Bass on White Christmas.
Recorded at BCM Studios by Brian Culbertson.

Tracks 2,8,10,12
Bruce Watson: Acoustic and Electric Guitars.
Phil Parlapiano: Keyboards and Acoustic Guitars.
David Piltch: Acoustic Bass.
Doug Pettibone: Acoustic and Electric Guitars.
Stephen Theard (Stevo): Drums.
Jeff Koz: Nylon-String Guitar.
Mixed by Thom Panunzio and John Aguto at A&M Studios, Los Angeles, CA.

Tracks 3,5
Donn Wyatt: Piano and Keyboards.
Bill Sharpe: Bass.
Tony Maiden: Electric Guitar and Vocals.
Gerry Brown: Drums.
Gigi Worth: Vocals.

Track 11
David Benoit: Piano.
Brenda Russell: Vocals.
Peter White: Acoustic Guitar.
Rick Braun: Trumpet.
Paul Jackson Jr.: Electric Guitar.
Stevo Theard: Drums.
Brian Simpson: Keyboards and Piano.
Bill Sharpe (The Rubberhand Man): Bass.
Brian Kilgore: Percussion.
Nick Lane: Trombones.
Bridgette Bryant, Ester Nicholson and Sandy Simmons: Background Vocals.
Recorded and mixed by Al Schmitt at Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA.

For many of us, The Holidays produce the most memorable moments of our lifetimes. And every year, those special memories of years past come flooding back... and hopefully wonderful new ones come in as well.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of our Smooth Jazz Christmas Tour. In celebrating this milestone, it seemed the right time to create this CD, as over these past years on tour you have given me so many incredible "memories of a Winter's night"--moments (on stage and off) that will stay with me forever. I thank you, my extended family, for giving me that gift& it is what The Holidays are all about, and I am grateful.

May this holiday season and every one that follows bring blessings to you and your family--with wonderful memoires of these special Winter nights.

--Dave Koz (Christmas 2007)

Dave Koz

Memories of a Winter's Night

Artist link

Track List