Dave Koz Saxophonic CD

"Honey-Dipped" was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

The phenomenon of smooth jazz could not have taken hold the way it has without guiding lights in the form of artists who have found a way to peak through formulaic production. Dave Koz's sound is one of those beacons, an uncannily vocal-inflected saxophone (see "Love Changes Everything") that is shot through and through with potent emotion. Along with partner and fellow fusician Jeff Lorber on SAXOPHONIC, Koz has crafted a suite of tunes in three acts with a curtain call to boot. Of course, it also helps that Koz understands the centrality of a strong hook in pop music. Act II kicks of with "Let It Free" replete with one of those uplifting release choruses that seems destined for repeated airplay. "Saxophonic (Come On Up)" is a masterful blend of slinky grooves and sexy, cooing R&B. Also featured are supporting performances by Brian McKnight, Chris Botti, and Marc Antoine. With tight arrangements seamlessly blending the real (horns, guitars, drums, etc.) and the virtual (samples that include Lee Morgan's classic "The Sidewinder," processed instruments, and vocals), Koz and company have compiled a tasty menu of diverse moods, from the funky to the serene.

Brian McKnight (vocals, piano); Javier, Evan Rogers, John Stoddart (vocals); Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Brian Culbertson (trumpet, trombone, synthesizer, programming); Chris Botti (trumpet); Bill Reichenbach (trombone); Brad Cole (piano); Jeff Lorber (Wurlitzer piano, Clavinet, keyboards, electric guitar); Carl Sturken (keyboards, acoustic guitar, bass, programming); Jeff Koz (keyboards, acoustic guitar, programming); Michael Thompson (acoustic & electric guitars, E-bow); Paul Jackson, Jr. (acoustic guitar, sound effects); Marc Antoine (acoustic guitar); Tony Maiden (electric guitar); Alex Al, Nathan East (bass); John Robinson (drums); Bobby Caldwell (background vocals).

Producers include: Jeff Lorber, Dave Koz, Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken, Brian Culbertson.

Personnel: Dave Koz (saxophone, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, hand claps); Brian McKnight (vocals, piano, background vocals); Javier (vocals, background vocals); John Stoddart (vocals); Evan Rogers (whistling, background vocals); Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar, acoustic guitar); Tony Maiden (guitar, electric guitar, wah-wah guitar); Jeff Koz (guitar, keyboards, drum programming); Norman Brown (guitar); Michael Hart Thompson (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, steel guitar, E-bow, guitar synthesizer); Carl Sturken (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, drum programming); Marc Antoine (acoustic guitar, nylon-string guitar); Jeff Lorber (electric guitar, Clavinet, Wurlitzer organ, keyboards, hand claps); Gloria Justin, Igor Szwec, Emma Kummrow (violin); Peter Nocella (viola); Jennie Lorenzo (cello); Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Brian Culbertson (trumpet, trombone, piano, keyboards, bass synthesizer, drum programming, sound effects); Chris Botti (trumpet); Bill Reichenbach Jr. (trombone); Brad Cole (piano); Nathan East, Alex Al (electric bass); John "J.R." Robinson , Gary Novak (drums); Janice Dela Cruz, Liz Healy, Lois Gleckman, Gary Morris, Audrey Koz, Hyman Katz (hand claps); Lenny Castro (percussion); Charles Crawford (scratches, turntables); Bobby Caldwell (background vocals).

DJ: Charles Crawford.

Audio Mixer: Peter Mokran.

Recording information: BCM Studios, Los Angeles, CA; HUM Studios, Santa Monica, CA; JHL SOund, Pacific Palisades, CA; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA; The Back Room Studios, Glendale, CA; The Cole Mine, North Hollywood, CA; The Lab, New York, NY; The Loft, Bronxville, NY; The Palisades Zoo, Pacific Palisades, CA; The Studio, Philadelphia, PA.

Photographer: Eltie Semotan.

Arrangers: Dave Koz; Evan Rogers; Jeff Koz; Jeff Lorber; Brad Cole ; Brian Culbertson; Carl Sturken.

Personnel: Dave Koz (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone);