DAVE KOZ AND FRIENDS ANNOUNCE 2023 CHRISTMAS TOUR
Tour Kicks Off Thanksgiving Weekend
Christmas Ballads (25thAnniversary Collection) Available HERE
Dave Koz and Friends announced the 26th anniversary edition of the longest-running jazz-based Christmas tour. Beginning the next era of this rich musical tradition, Koz and Friends will perform fresh renditions of timeless Christmas classics – including songs from the GRAMMY®-nominated saxophonist’s latest holiday album, Christmas Ballads (25thAnniversary Collection) – plus a Chanukah medley and hits from each artist’s respective catalogue. The tour reunites Koz with long-time musical partner, guitarist/singer Jonathan Butler, and will feature special guests saxophonist/flutist Marcus Anderson, making his Dave Koz and Friends debut, and vocalist Rebecca Jade, marking her third outing with the tour. The run will also introduce musical prodigy Justin-Lee Schultz, a 16-year-old South Africa-born, U.S.-based pianist/guitarist/vocalist and social media sensation.
Dave Koz and Friends will traverse 24 cities over the course of one month, beginning with a Black Friday show at Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre (November 24). They’ll play two-night stands at Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, AZ (December 13 and 14) and Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts in Southern California (December 15and 16). See below for the full itinerary.Tickets are on sale now at https://www.davekoz.com/tour.
The Dave Koz and Friends at Sea cruise embarked on an unforgettable journey across the open waters in May, raising an impressive $250,000 for Starlight Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to delivering happiness to hospitalized kids and their families. These funds will allow Starlight to place its vital programs – including Hospital Gowns, Virtual Reality, Gaming and Toy Deliveries – in 30 affiliate hospitals where they are most needed along Koz’sChristmas tour route, just in time for the peak holiday season. Dave plans to help the nonprofit deliver smiles to kids by dropping in at one of the hospitals along the tour route to present them with Starlight programs and engage with pediatric patients. Since joining forces with Starlight in 1993, Koz and his community of friends and fans have raised over $1.5 million through various initiatives for Starlight.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Dave and his community for their continuous support over the years to bring joy to hospitalized kids battling illnesses and injuries. Dave and his community exemplify the power that individuals and grassroots donors can have in making a huge impact on hospitalized kids and their families,” said Adam Garone, Starlight Children’s Foundation CEO. “This generous gift will help us continue our work in transforming hospital experiences so young patients can rediscover the joy of childhood, no matter what they’re going through.”
Dave Koz’s new single, “When You Wish Upon A Star,” and Justin-Lee Schultz’s“Fellowship” ft. Dave Koz are currently climbing the Smooth Jazz Top 100 chart.
Esquire said, “A man who digs Dave Koz, is a man who digs life.” Covering last year’s show for The Oakland Press, Gary Graff observed, “Twenty-five years ago saxophonist Dave Koz launched a Christmas tour with modest expectations. Now it’s become a holiday institution.” 360° Sound called the tour a “kick-ass holiday party, with our host Santa Koz making all our holiday dreams come true.”
Christmas Ballads – Koz’s eighth holiday album, which features the upcoming single “Christmas Waltz” – has also won acclaim.Downbeat said, “Christmas Ballads…provide mellow aural bliss to anyone relaxing near a fireplace of crackling logs on a wintry night.” The Mercury News noted, “the smooth jazz master explores the romantic side of the season as he offers up such ballads as ‘Merry Christmas Darling’ and ‘Ave Maria.’ The performances, of course, are top-notch…” Cleveland Scene praised “Happy Xmas (War is Over) / Imagine” feat. Rebecca Jade as “an album standout.”
Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2023
11/24 – Atlanta, GA – Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
11/25 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
11/26 – Naples, FL – Artis-Naples
11/28 – Fort Pierce, FL – The Sunrise Theatre Foundation
11/29 – Sarasota, FL – Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
11/30 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
12/1 – Miami, FL – Knight Concert Hall
12/2 – Newport News, VA – Ferguson Center For The Arts
12/3 – Bethesda, MD – Strathmore
12/5 – Carmel, IN – The Palladium At The Center For The Performing Arts
12/6 – Munhall, PA – Carnegie Library Of Homestead
12/7 – Detroit, MI – Music Hall Center For the Performing Arts
12/8 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre
12/9 – Chicago, IL – Auditorium Theatre
12/10 – Cleveland, OH – KeyBank State Theatre
12/12 – El Paso, TX – Abraham Chavez Theatre
12/13 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center
12/14 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center
12/15 – Cerritos, CA – Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts
12/16 – Cerritos, CA – Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts
12/18 – Palm Desert, CA – McCallum Theatre
12/19 – San Diego, CA – Balboa Theatre
12/20 – Santa Rosa, CA – Luther Burbank Center For The Arts
12/21 – San Jose, CA – San Jose Civic
12/22 – Fresno, CA – The Tower Theatre
12/23 – Modesto, CA – Gallo Center For The Arts
Dave Koz has racked up an astoundingly impressive array of honors and achievements: nine GRAMMY® nominations, 12 No. 1 albums on Billboard’s Current Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, numerous world tours, performances for multiple U.S. presidents, a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and more. A Platinum-selling artist, the California native is also known as a humanitarian, entrepreneur, radio host and instrumental music advocate.
His 2020 album, A New Day, reached the No. 1 position on numerous jazz charts, including iTunes and Amazon, and delivered an unprecedented four back-to-back No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Smooth Jazz Airplay chart – “Side By Side” ft. David Sanborn, “Dr. Norm” ft. Paul Jackson, Jr., “The Closer We Get” and “Summertime in NYC.” Koz broke new ground with his 2021 release, The Golden Hour. Recorded live in the studio with a large jazz ensemble, the album marked his first full-length collaboration with guitarist/producer/internet sensation Cory Wong. In 2022, Koz celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Dave Koz and Friends Christmas tour with the release of his eighth and most intimate holiday album to date, Christmas Ballads, and a new all-star, 25-date tour.
In May 2024, Dave Koz and Friends at Sea will visit Greece, Turkey and Egypt on the two sold-out Cradle of Civilization voyages, bringing the total number of sold-out voyages since the cruise’s inception to 18. Koz recently announced a new cruise brand – SOMMA – which will offer the ultimate in luxury, relaxation and entertainment. Cabins for the inaugural SOMMA – Italia cruise, which will sail the Italian coast in September 2024 on Seabourn’s Ovation, have already sold out. For details, visit https://somma.life/.
Jonathan Butler is a shining example of purposeful excellence in a time when artists of optimism are at a premium. From recording local hits as a teenager growing up during the apartheid of South Africa, Butler went on to become a world-renowned singer, guitarist and songwriter, delivering soulful salvos of R&B, gospel, jazz and pop. Touring professionally by age seven, Butler’s first single, “Please Stay,” was the first by a Black artist played on white radio in segregated South Africa. Jonathan became a national icon. His music even provided solace to Nelson Mandela, who later met Butler and told him that listening to his music had helped him endure time in prison.
On his new album, Ubuntu, Butler swings full circle back to his homeland, going back 60 years to his upbringing in apartheid-era Cape Town, which shaped his world view, prompted years of advocacy and instilled the ideology of ‘Oneness’ (Ubuntu). Featuring producer/bassist Marcus Miller and special guests Keb’ Mo’ and Stevie Wonder on harmonica, the new album serves both as a rebirth of musical creativity and reconciliation with systemically biased history to forge a brighter future.
Accomplished singer/songwriter Rebecca Jade has opened for Jeffrey Osborne, Boney James and Musiq Soulchild and, in 2020, she performed with Sir Elton John at the Academy Awards. Jade has also had the opportunity to tour with the Queen of Percussion, Sheila E., since 2017. An 8x San Diego Music Award winner, she has released five full-length records, including an album of Cole Porter classics, Planet Cole Porter, with jazz guitar virtuoso Peter Sprague. She wrote and co-produced her newest album, A Shade of Jade, with Carnell Harrell. Also an athlete, Jade graduated from UC Berkeley on a full basketball scholarship. She will release her first-ever Christmas EP this holiday season.
GRAMMY and Stellar Award-nominated saxophonist Marcus Anderson has 16 studio albums on his list of accomplishments. The fusion jazz artist combines R&B, pop, rock and funk to make music that puts listeners in another atmosphere. His work with the late Prince and the New Power Generation has led him to perform on stages with the likes of CeeLo Green, Judith Hill, Stevie Wonder and Liv Warfield, just to name a few. Prince also featured Marcus on his last release, Hit n Run Phase 2, playing on “Revelation” and “Look at Me Look at You.” Whether he is performing for dignitaries such as President Barack Obama, Jesse Jackson and Hillary Clinton or blazing the stage with Sheila E., Anthony Hamilton or Miguel in a collaborative effort, Anderson is always the man of the hour, delivering stellar musicianship every time. A new CD, Christmas Romance, is set for release in November.
Born in South Africa and now based in Los Angeles, Justin-Lee Schultz is a 16-year-old multi-instrumental prodigy. His musical quest began as a toddler when he began playing with his bassist father, Julius, and drum-playing sister (four years his senior), Jamie-Leigh. Justin made his recording debut in 2020 with the album Gruv Kid. He has already collaborated with such artists as Bob James, PJ Morton, Sheila E. and others.
His new album, Just In The Moment, is imbued with soul, fire, and passion and showcases nine original songs. Produced by Paul Brown, it features Dave Koz, Richard Elliot and Robert Glasper – the latter is heard in the intro to the lone cover on the album, Eddie Harris’ 1960s hit, “Freedom Jazz Dance.” Justin has prompted both Quincy Jones and Harry Connick Jr. to rave, “This kid is something special.” Robert Glasper exclaimed, “Justin is an older man in a boy’s body!! It’s so great to see somebody so young have such a vast love of ALL kinds of music!! He sounds amazing.” Down Beat Magazine declared Justin’s “Unique brilliance is undeniable.”
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