Luxury Experience - Dave Koz and Friends

Dave Koz and Friends – Summer Horns features multi-talented saxophonists Dave Koz, Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair, and Richard Eliot. Joined by special guests Michael McDonald, Jeffrey Osborne, Brian Culbertson, Rick Braun, and Jonathan Butler, and released on the Concord Records label, the 12-track Dave Koz and Friends – Summer Horns is the perfect musical complement for your summer parties.

Dave Koz and Friends – Summer Horns: Always There, Got To Get You Into My Life, Rise, So Very Hard To Go, Hot Fun In The Summertime, Take Five, 25 Or 6 To 4, Reasons, I Got You (I Feel Good), You Haven’t Done Nothin’, God Bless the Child, Summer Horns

Personnel: Dave Koz - Alto, Tenor, Soprano, and Baritone Saxophone; Gerald Albright - Alto, Tenor, and Baritone Saxophone; Mindi Abair - Alto and Baritone Saxophone; Richard Eliot - Tenor Saxophone; special guests Michael McDonald - vocals - So Very Hard To Go, Jeffrey Osborne – vocals - God Bless the Child, Brian Culbertson – Trombone - Hot Fun In The Summertime, You Haven’t Done Nothin’, Rick Braun – Flugelhorn, Trumpet - You Haven’t Done Nothin’, Jonathan Butler – vocals - Hot Fun In The Summertime, You Haven’t Done Nothin’

Dave Koz and Friends – Summer Horns was produced by Paul Brown and Executive Producers John Burk and Dave Koz on the Concord Records label.

The 12-track release opens with the William Jeffrey/Ronnie Laws song Always There, to get the party rolling, where Dave and friends are joined by Ricky Lawson on drums, Paul Brown on guitar, Greg Adams on flugelhorn, and Lee Thornberg on flugelhorn and trombone.

Next in the line-up is the Lennon/McCarthy song, Got To Get You Into My Life, where contributors include Jay Gore on guitar, Paul Brown on guitar, Tracy Carter on Wurlitzer, and Hammond B3 organ, Ricky Lawson on drums, Sean Billings on trumpet, and Nick Lane on trombone.

So Very Hard To Go, features Michael McDonald’s impressive vocals and is gorgeous, a song made for dancing; Tracy Carter contributes piano, Hammond B3 organ, and Wurlitzer, Ricky Lawson joins in on drums, Lenny Castro on percussion, Greg Adams on trumpet, and Lee Thornberg adds trumpet and trombone.

Hot Fun In The Summertime is exactly that, fun, no matter what the season. The Paul Desmond song, Take Five is in memory to the late, legendary Dave Brubeck, with an arrangement by Gordon Goodwin, and features the four saxophonists and Roberto Vally who contributes acoustic bass.

The Robert Lamm song, 25 Or 6 To 4, cooks with its horn arrangement from Tom Scott and rhythm arrangement by Tracy Carter, with Tracy Carter on keyboards, Hammond B3 organ, and piano, Paul Brown on electric and steel string guitars, Roberto Vally on bass, Ricky Lawson on drums, and Lenny Castro on percussion.

You Haven’t Done Nothin’ kicks into gear with the four saxophonists, Rick Braun on Flugelhorn, and Trumpet, Jonathan Butler contributes his vocals, Darren Rahn on keyboards, Hammond B3 organ, synth, and drum programming, Frank Selman on guitar, Paul Brown on guitar, Mel Brown on bass, Lenny Castro on percussion, Brian Culbertson on trombone, and Michael Stever – copyist, with a Summer Horns arrangement by Gerald Albright.

The Billie Holliday/Arthur Herzog, Jr. song, God Bless the Child, features Jeffrey Osborne’s luscious vocals to complement the four core, along with Tracy Carter on Hammond B3 organ, Jon Woodhead on guitar, Roberto Vally on bass, and Ricky Lawson on drums, and gets the Tom Scott treatment with a Summer Horns arrangement, and rhythm arrangement by Tracy Carter.

The release aptly closes with the title track, Summer Horns, composed by Rick Braun, Brian Culbertson, and Dave Koz, that like summer itself, you wish would last just a little bit longer. Along with Dave, Mindi, Gerald, and Richard, Marco Basci joins in on keyboards, Randy Jacobs on guitar, Roberto Vally on bass, Ricky Lawson on drums, and Lenny Castro on percussion to round out the players.

Speaking about the release, Dave Koz said, “I enlisted the help of three of the finest sax players I know, each with their own distinctive approach, each at the top of their game. Playing together as a unit, we found our own unique sound, and that sound is the essence of Summer Horns. Playing tribute to some of our favorite bands, our favorite horn sections and horn players, along with arrangements from the finest horn arrangers in pop music history, we embarked on an extremely gratifying journey through this monumentally rich era. Have a blast with this music – it lives forever and we’re all beyond being thrilled to be part of keeping its legacy alive and intact.”

Mindy Abair said, “What an honor it is to make music with my friends as well as three of the best saxophonists on the planet. The pure energy in the studio with the four of us shoulder to shoulder playing off each other was incredibly inspiring. I couldn’t be prouder of the music we’ve made together … so much heart, soul, and love went into every note.”

Gerald Albright contributed, “Summer Horns! Completing the wonderful project was fun, enlightening, and exemplary of ultimate teamwork. Thanks to Dave, Mindi, and Richard, and all the people who put their heart and soul in making this project stellar!”

Richard Eliot wrote, “What a wonderful experience. To Dave, Mindi, Gerald, and Paul, this project has been a daily regimen of laughs, musical inspiration, and chemistry. It doesn’t get any better than that! Thanks to everyone who put so much time and effort into this very special endeavor.”

For information on the Dave Koz and Friends Summer Horns Tour 2013, please visit: www,davekoz.com/tour/

Websites where you can procure Dave Koz and Friends – Summer Horns are Amazon, CD Universe, and Best Buy.