Dave Koz and Friends – The 25th of December
Dave Koz and Friends – The 25th of December: The First Noel, It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, This Christmas, Do You Hear What I Hear? My Grown Up Christmas List, Another Silent Night, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! The 25th of December, I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, O Holy Night, Medley: O Come All Ye Faithful/Angels We Have Heard on High/Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, All You Need Is Love
Dave Koz and Friends – The 25th of December was produced by Rickey Minor and Executive Producers John Burk and Dave Koz on the Concord Records label, and is the perfect accompaniment for celebrating the holidays. So gather your family and friends and sing along with Dave Koz and friends and have yourself a merry little holiday!
Dave writes in the liner notes, "I love the holidays…and I’ve been blessed over the last almost two decades to be on the road touring during this special time of the year. No matter the city we’re in, each venue becomes a sort of ‘living room’ for us – replete with the warmth of good friends, that particular air of specialness, and of course…beloved Christmas songs. Nothing sets the tone for the holidays better than the music – it’s why we love hearing these songs, year after year. They’re more than just notes or lyrics – the songs become guideposts of our lives…reminders of Christmases past, of special moments spent with family and friends – they can return us to childlike innocence and jog our memories back to simpler times."
"This album was made with that spirit in mind…an abundance of love and joy went into every single note. For me, making it was like hosting the best holiday party ever! I invited some wonderfully talented friends over…we ate, we drank, we reminisced, and then we retired to the living room, sat around the piano, and sang some songs – first, each duet partner and me; then before the party was over, we all came together for one last song: the Beatles gem ‘All You Need Is Love.’ Though not a Christmas song, it truly holds the message of the holidays (and really, of life), for me."
The release opens with one of the most traditional holiday favorites, The First Noel with Dave Koz – alto saxophone, Lenny Wee – piano, Dave Delhomme – keyboards, Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar, Chuck Berghofer – bass, Kevin Ricard – percussion, Lisa Dondunger – violin, Pamela Gates – violin, Christine Wu – violin, Leah Katz – viola, Ginger Murphy – cello, and a choir of Vernon Allen, Elizabeth Morgan, Sharon Norwood, Jason White, and Akua Willis.
Next in the line-up is the 1963 George Wyle and Edward Pola song, It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year featuring the iconic vocals of Johnny Mathis, Dave Koz – tenor saxophone, Billy Childs – piano, Dave Delhomme – keyboards, Chuck Berghofer – bass, Clayton Cameron – drums, and Kevin Ricard – percussion.
This Christmas, written in 1970 by Nadine McKinnor and Donny Hathaway, is an R&B classic and features Eric Benét providing background vocals, Dave Koz – alto saxophone, Jason White – piano, Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar, Dave Delhomme – keyboards, bass synth, Teddy Campbell – drums, and Kevin Ricard – percussion.
Moving on is the Gloria Shayne and Noel Regney Christmas standard written in 1962, Do You Hear What I Hear? featuring Gloria Estefan, Dave Koz – alto saxophone, Jason White – electric piano, organ, Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar, Dave Delhomme – keyboards, Ricky Minor – bass, Teddy Campbell – drums, Kevin Ricard – percussion, and background vocals by Sharlotte Gibson, Kenya Hathaway, and Sy Smith.
My Grown Up Christmas List written by David Foster and Linda Thompson Jenner in 1990 follows and features the vocals of Heather Headley, Dave Koz – soprano saxophone, Jason White – electric piano, Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar, Dave Delhomme – keyboards, Ricky Minor – bass, Teddy Campbell – drums, Kevin Ricard – percussion, and Sharlotte Gibson providing background vocals.
Another Silent Night is an original song written by Richard Marx, Dave Koz, and Trey Bruce for this release and features Richard Marx – vocals and piano, Dave Koz – alto saxophone, Jason White – keyboards, Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar, Dave Delhomme – keyboards, Jay Leach – pedal steel, Ricky Minor – bass, Teddy Campbell – drums, and Kevin Ricard – percussion.
The 1945 Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! features Kenny G, on soprano saxophone and Dave Koz on alto saxophone, with Randy Waldman – piano, Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar, Chuck Berghofer – bass, Dave Delhomme – keyboards, Teddy Campbell – drums, Kevin Ricard – percussion, Jeff Driscoll – Big Band saxophones, and Chris Walden – trumpets, and trombones.
The 25th of December is a new original song written for this release by Bebe Winans and Lenny Wee and features Bebe Winans contributing vocals, Dave Koz – alto saxophone, Jason White – electric piano, Dave Delhomme – keyboards, Chuck Berghofer – bass, Kevin Ricard – percussion, Lisa Dondunger – violin, Pamela Gates – violin, Christine Wu – violin, Leah Katz – viola, and Ginger Murphy – cello.
India Arie does justice to the 1937 Irving Berlin song, I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm with her gorgeous vocals and also features Trombone Shorty on trombone, with Dave Koz – tenor saxophone, John Beasley – piano, Dave Delhomme – keyboards, Paul Jackson Jr. – acoustic guitar, Chuck Berghofer – bass, Teddy Campbell – drums, and Craig Fundyga – vibes.
Next is the 1847 Adolphe Adam and Placide Cappeau song, O Holy Night featuring Jonathan Butler providing vocals and acoustic guitar, Dave Koz – tenor saxophone,Jason White – piano, Dave Delhomme – keyboards, Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar, Rickey Minor – bass, Chuck Berghofer – bass, Kevin Ricard – percussion, Teddy Campbell – drums, background vocals by Sharlotte Gibson, Kenya Hathaway, Sy Smith, and a choir of Sharon Norwood, Jason White, and Akua Willis.
Medley: O Come All Ye Faithful/Angels We Have Heard on High/Hark! The Herald Angels Sing features Fantasia, Dave Koz – alto saxophone; Fantasia – vocals, Jason White – piano, organ, Dave Delhomme – keyboards, Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar, Rickey Minor – bass, Kevin Ricard – percussion, Teddy Campbell – drums, and a choir of Vernon Allen, Elizabeth Morgan, Sharon Norwood, Jason White, and Akua Willis.
The release ends with the impressive group finale singing the 1967 Beetles tune, All You Need Is Love with Dave Koz – vocals and alto saxophone, and vocals by Eric Benét, Johnny Mathis, Heather Headley, Richard Marx, Jonathan Butler, Maysa, Bebe Winans, Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder – vocals and harmonica, Jason White – Rhodes, Dave Delhomme – keyboards, Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar, Rickey Minor – bass, Kevin Ricard – percussion, Teddy Campbell – drums, and background vocals by Sharlotte Gibson, Kenya Hathaway, and Sy Smith.
The musicianship and the vocals on this stunning release is like listening to a perfect present with its big band sound, so hit the play button on your CD player and get in the spirit of the holidays!
Click the link to listen to Dave Koz and Friends – The 25th of December: www.YouTube.com/watch?v=tmcjwBfKQHw
For information on upcoming performances please visit: www.DaveKoz.com
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Websites where you can procure Dave Koz and Friends – The 25th of December are Amazon and Best Buy.
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