We Need A Little Christmas! Dave Koz And Friends CHRISTMAS TOUR 2018 Comes To The McCallum.
By: David Green Dec. 03, 2018
The McCallum Theatre presents Dave Koz & Friends "Christmas Tour 2018" on Tuesday, December 18, at 8:00pm as part of the Fitz's Jazz Café at the McCallum series. A holiday tradition returns to the McCallum as Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2018 brings together a magical combination of musicians to celebrate this special season. Celebrated saxophonist Koz will be joined by special guests Mindi Abair, Jonathan Butler and Keiko Matsui performing their hits and jamming on fresh, lively arrangements of seasonal favorites in a high-energy show for the entire family.
Dave Koz
In a career that spans more than three decades, saxophonist Dave Koz has racked up nine Grammy nominations, nine #1 albums on Billboard's Current Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, numerous world tours, playing for multiple Presidents, a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and more.
Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Dave picked up the saxophone as a way to join his brother's band. After earning his degree in mass communications from UCLA, Koz made the decision to become a professional musician. Within weeks, he was a touring member of Bobby Caldwell's band. Koz befriended Jeff Lorber who invited him to play on one of his tours. That stint was followed by a fourteen-month tour with Richard Marx.
Koz released his self-titled debut album in 1990, the first of many best-sellers, including Lucky Man (1993); Off the Beaten Path (1996); December Makes Me Feel This Way (1997); The Dance(1999); A Smooth Jazz Christmas (2001); Saxophonic (2003); At the Movies (2007); Memories Of A Winter's Night (2007); Hello Tomorrow (2010); Summer Horns (2013); 20th Anniversary Christmas (2017); and Summer Horns II (2018).
Outside of recording and performing, Koz is busy with other projects. Late in 2017, Koz appeared as himself in a Hallmark movie called Sharing Christmas which used music from the 20th Anniversary Christmas album. Then, there is the Dave Koz & Friends at Sea Cruise. Koz also co-owns a restaurant in Los Angeles called Citizen. And, he hosts two radio programs: "The Dave Koz Radio Show," on the air for close to 25 years, and "The Dave Koz Lounge" which can be heard on SiriusXM. Koz works with the Starlight Children's Foundation which helps kids who are hospitalized for long periods of time and their families. And, he's made a wine for close to 10 years called Koz Wine that raises money specifically for Starlight; sales of the wine have raised well over a half a million dollars for Starlight. Koz completed a four-year term on the Grammy Foundation Artists Committee and has served as National Trustee for the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS).
Koz returns to the road this holiday season for his 21st annual "Dave Koz Christmas Tour 2018." Joining Dave this year are Mindi Abair, pop/blues saxophonist/singer who will be making her first Christmas Tour appearance; South African guitarist/singer, Jonathan Butler, who returns for another wonderful time with Dave; and Japanese keyboard sensation Keiko Matsui. The tour, now in its 21st year, has received nationwide critical acclaim since its 1997 inception.
"Always front and center is the music. It's humbling, this many years in such a fickle business, to still have a career, still be able to go out and tour and make records," Koz says. "Music has been such a blessing to me, and we need it more than ever today."
Mindi Abair
One of the most recognized saxophonists/vocalists, two-time Grammy nominee Mindi Abair has been electrifying audiences with her live performances and command of the saxophone since her debut album in 2000. She has garnered ten #1 radio hits, six Top 5 solo records, and two #1 spots on the Billboard album charts. In 2014, after two seasons as the featured saxophonist on "American Idol," Mindi released Wild Heart. This LP showcased a compilation of grittier rock and soul tracks featuring some of the biggest names in music. To help translate this sound to her live shows, Mindi enlisted longtime friend and The Boneshakers founder Randy Jacobs to inject his brand of Detroit Blues Rock. The collaboration was undeniable and it led to a decision to join forces creatively. Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers LIVE in Seattle was released in 2015 to critical acclaim and a 2½ year non-stop tour schedule. In 2017, the band released their first studio record, The EastWest Sessions, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart. The band won 8 Independent Blues Awards including Artist of the Year. Mindi authored the book How To Play Madison Square Garden - A Guide to Stage Performance and serves as a National Trustee for The Recording Academy. The artists she's toured with and/or recorded with are a testament to her talent, including Aerosmith, Smokey Robinson, Duran Duran, Adam Sandler, Lee Ritenour, The Backstreet Boys, Booker T. Jones, Jimmy Webb, Mandy Moore, Max Weinberg, Teena Marie, Bobby Lyle, and Jonathan Butler.
JONATHAN BUTLER
Jonathan grew up in the townships of South Africa and started singing and playing guitar at age seven. He released his first album in 1973 and won the "Best New Artist" Grammy in South Africa the following year at age 12. Jonathan's premiere single became the first by a black artist to be played on white radio stations in South Africa. He earned three Gold records in 1975 as he became a teenager. His first international album went Gold in 1987. He received Grammy nominations for Best R&B Song for "Lies" and for Best Jazz Song for the instrumental "Going Home." His 2004 album Surrender went Gold in South Africa. Jonathan's albums and worldwide concert tours have afforded him a lifestyle far from what he ever could have imagined, but more importantly, it brought him the freedom to follow his passion for music on his own terms. He launched the Jonathan Butler Foundation in South Africa, serving children aged 4-17, to fund music education programs. Jonathan is a powerful performer in headline dates, festival shows and music cruises. He thrives on interacting with his fans, and for the past four years, has led a group of 35 guests each fall on the Jonathan Butler Safari, sharing his South Africa by visiting landmarks in his life and historic locales, including Robben Island prison where Nelson Mandela was jailed. When Jonathan Butler sings, he testifies to the glory and healing power of love. When he plays guitar, his fast fingers innately find notes of passion and divinity.
KEIKO MATSUI
Keiko Matsui's unique melting pot of musical influences has a devout international following. The eloquent and soft-spoken musician tours relentlessly and seeks to make a genuine connection with her audience. Keiko Matsui made her U.S. recording debut in 1987 with A Drop of Water. Subsequent albums of note include Northern Lights (1989), No Borders (1990), Night Waltz(1991), Cherry Blossom (1992), Doll (1994), Sapphire (1995) and Dream Walk (1996), which remained on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart for over 15 months. 1998's Full Moon and the Shrine was accompanied by the PBS-TV special Keiko Matsui: Light Above the Trees. Keiko Matsui's CD Deep Blue (2001) topped Billboard's Contemporary Jazz charts for three consecutive weeks; Keiko became the first Japanese artist to ever achieve this honor. Additional albums include The Ring (2002), The Piano (2003), Moyo (2007), The Road (2011), Altair & Vega (2011), and Soul Quest (2013). Her most recent release Journey to the Heart (2016) marks the 30th anniversary of her recording debut. Keiko has lent her voice to raise awareness for such causes as The Daniel Pearl Foundation, The United Nations World Food Programme, The Susan G. Komen Foundation, Y-Me Breast Cancer Organization, A3M (Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches), Be the Match Marrow Registry, and The National Donor Program and Marrow Foundation. She has lent her efforts to the continued revitalization of Japan in the wake of the Fukushima disaster and the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Matsui will be returning to the McCallum Theatre on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 8pm as part of the Fitz's Jazz Café at the McCallum Theatre series.
Tickets for this performance are priced at $102, $92, $82 and $62. Tickets are available at the Theatre's website at www.mccallumtheatre.com or by calling the McCallum Theatre Box Office at (760) 340-2787.
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