DAVE KOZ AND FRIENDS CHRISTMAS TOUR 2023 At Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, Cerritos CAOne of the great joys of being a longtime smooth jazz enthusiast is the opportunity every so oftento share the festive, ever-grooving magic of my favorite artists in a live setting with friends whohaven’t yet had the pleasure. Early in his Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2023 Saturdayshow at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center, the saxophonist and always engaging hostmentioned it’s been an annual tradition since 1997 – over 25 years! I’ve lost count of how manyI’ve attended – 10, 12, maybe – but one thing’s for sure. It’s always the musical highlight of theseason. Still after attending so many great performances, there’s always the possibility of takingthem for granted, like comfortable annual rituals rather than the fresh, marvelous evergreenevents they truly are.So it was a unique pleasure for me to share the evening with a wonderful friend new to the KozChristmas experience and to experience through her eyes the wonder and nuance of everyexciting performance, each fresh arrangement of a holiday classic, the mix of R&B/funk,intimacy and uplifting gospel energy. A fusion of exquisite beauty and ongoing party, the Kozversion of Santa’s workshop, drew my friend into the holiday spirit - and made me appreciateevery detail of just how special and essential the show is to, to borrow a familiar lyric, makingthe season bright.

While the “and friends” Koz usually invites to join the fun of his cross-country December toursare usually other genre A-lister stars, he switched things up delightfully this year, complementingthe core of him and “my brother” Jonathan Butler with equally brilliant but slightly lesser knownperformers like saxophonist Marcus Anderson, vocalist Rebecca Jade and 16-year old SouthAfrican born multi-instrumentalist phenom Justin Lee Schultz, whose 2023 debut album Just InThe Moment is one of the genre’s best of the year.Koz and Butler kicked off the nearly two-hour show showcasing their dynamic sax-guitar-vocalchemistry on an engaging medley of freshly arranged classics, seamlessly flowing through“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “White Christmas,” “We Need a Little Christmas,”“Joy to the World and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” Everything seemed like a“normal” but of course wonderful Koz Christmas show until Schultz popped in with a soulfulversion of “This Christmas” that featured him, in rapid succession on vocals, fiery electric guitarand acoustic piano. Then came the blazing sax and stage commanding charisma of Anderson,followed by Jade performing (with Anderson and Schultz on harmonies) a fascinating, funkedout twist on “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” with a completely new melody.Likewise, Anderson played one of the peppiest spins through the usually staid and sacred “SilentNight” that I’ve ever heard.After Koz and Butler joined them for a full cast romp through a playfully choreographed “SantaClaus is Coming to Town,” Koz took center stage (with Schultz on piano) to share his newsingle, “When You Wish Upon A Star” (part of an upcoming Disney themed EP), easing fromlush balladry to a whimsical, percussive samba arrangement. The one aspect of the show that setit apart from previous Koz extravaganzas was when the five principals gathered around the piano

for intimate talk (and of course, brief performances) of their very favorite holiday songs. Theseranged from Anderson’s perky “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” and Jade’s sweet “MerryChristmas Darling” to Koz’s hilarious “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!”The cultural-religious balance of a Koz holiday show is always a treat as well, this timemanifested with Koz complementing his folksy dance “Eight Candles” with snippets traditionalHanukah songs; Jade and Butler offering a shimmering, goose-bump inducing duet on “MaryDid You Know?”; Jade making a joyful noise to the Lord on “O Come All Ye Faithful” with afaux stained glass church window on the screen behind her; and Butler’s showstopping “O HolyNight,” performed with a meditational grace that invited everyone in the audience to feel eachword on a soul-deep level.Energy-wise, the flip side of that was when the whole cast joined forces as Butler took thecongregation to church on his fiery gospel jam “Brand New Day.” Koz and Friends closed theevening on a thoughtful note, with some Beatlesque messaging for a world in need, starting witha thoughtful rendition of “Imagine” topped with a swelling chorus of “All You Need is Love.”