Dave Koz
@ the PizzaExpress Jazz Club
2 - 8 April 2010

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Biography

In a career spanning two decades, Dave Koz has established himself as a platinum-selling artist, humanitarian, entrepreneur, radio host, and instrumental music advocate. A six-time Grammy® nominee, he was honored in 2009 by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce with a star in the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame. The list of artists who Koz has played with bears testament to his talent and includes such musical luminaries as Burt Bacharach, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Kenny Loggins, U2, Michael McDonald, Luther Vandross, and Rod Stewart.

Born and raised in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley, Koz initially picked up the saxophone to gain entry into his big brother's band. What began as a ploy became a lifelong obsession. Years later, after earning his degree in mass communications from UCLA, Koz decided to become a professional musician. Within weeks of that decision, he was recruited as a touring member of Bobby Caldwell’s band. It was during this time that Koz befriended keyboardist Jeff Lorber, who invited Koz to come play on one of his tours. That stint was followed by a fourteen-month tour with pop singer Richard Marx.

Signed to Capitol Records by Bruce Lundvall, Koz released his self-titled solo debut album in 1990. This was the first in a body of best-selling work, which includes the gold-certified “Lucky Man” (1993), “Off The Beaten Path” (1996), and the holiday-themed albums “December Makes Me Feel This Way” (1997) and “Dave Koz & Friends - A Smooth Jazz Christmas” (2001). His gold-certified fifth album, “The Dance” (1999), spawned no less than five Top 5 contemporary jazz hits. “Saxophonic” (2003) produced another four Top 5 singles and garnered Koz two Grammy nominations spanning two consecutive years.

In 2007, Koz released two chart-topping collections of standards. “At The Movies”, his lush, romantic celebration of timeless melodies from cinema, spent 12 weeks atop Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz chart. Produced by the legendary Phil Ramone, it was nominated for a Grammy in the “Best Pop Instrumental Album” category. “Memories Of A Winter’s Night”, a festive collection of holiday standards,hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz chart in December 2007. “Dave Koz At The Movies” Double Feature CD + DVD followed in early 2008, which featured the “At The Movies” CD with two never-before-released bonus audio tracks, a new DVD and a track-by-track commentary.

Capitol Records released Dave Koz – “Greatest Hits”, his first-ever retrospective album, in the fall of 2008 and it debuted at No. 1 on both Billboard’s Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and iTunes’ Jazz Album chart. The collection included many of Koz’s smash singles – including “Castle of Dreams,” “Can’t Let You Go” featuring the late Luther Vandross, “Together Again,” “Honey-Dipped” and “All I See Is You” – plus four new brand new songs. Lead single “Life In The Fast Lane,” which Koz co-wrote with writer/producer Darren Rahn, spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the R&R Monitored Smooth Jazz chart. It was followed by the Top 10 single “Bada Bing.”

Koz serves as a radio personality in two different outlets: on weekdays, as the host of an afternoon radio show that’s nationally distributed on the Smooth Jazz Radio Network; and on weekends, as the host of the syndicated Dave Koz Radio Show, now in its eleventh year, in approximately 120 markets.

As an entrepreneur, Koz founded Rendezvous Entertainment. As a philanthropist, he serves as Global Ambassador for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, recently completed a four-year term on the Grammy Foundation Artists Committee, has served as National Trustee for the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS) and is an ongoing member of the Board Of Governors for the Grammy® Foundation.

Koz is constantly touring, summer and winter, on land and by sea, with a summer tour, holiday tour, and Dave Koz-branded cruises.

With a triumphant career as an artist and radio personality, and the well-earned respect of the recording industry, Dave Koz’s artistry, commitment and influence continue to grow.

Desert Island Discs

Which 2 albums would you take with you to a desert island?

Tower of Power - Back To Oakland
Steely Dan -Aja.

"And about 100 more (if I could)!"