One of the most beloved performers in contemporary jazz, saxophonist Dave Koz, returns to San Diego for a show at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay on August 29.
Koz recently released a collaborative album with piano legend Bob James, Just Us, but the man never pauses for very long. Currently touring with the Summer Horns, Koz and friends; Marcus Anderson, Jeff Bradshaw, Leo P, Evan Taylor and Marcel Anderson, are playing in support of a new single, a killer cover version of the Ides of March 1970 hit, “Vehicle,” with a setlist full of classic tunes from the 70’s, all featuring an incredible horn section. The perfect match of artist and venue, it’s a great way to spend a late summer evening in San Diego.
The inspiration for the Summer Horns dates back to 2013, “when we made our first album with the original lineup,” Koz recalled. “It was a chance for the four of us, all saxophone players of a certain age, to celebrate the music that we grew up listening to, which was the era of the horn bands like Tower of Power, Earth Wind & Fire, Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago, etc. This is music that just never goes out of style, always still sounds so good and felt like it was right to do new versions of.”
He’s proud of the intricate arrangements of the songs on the tour. “It’s really kind of an interesting fine line; how do you create new versions of these songs that everybody loves? You can’t just copy them, you have to take them to a new place,” Koz said. There have been Summer Horns album releases in 2013 and 2018, as well as several tours with various musician lineups leading up the current road trip. “There is so much meat on the bones of these groups (we cover),” Koz remarked. “You can go for a long time, which is why we have been continuing to do these tours, to show the love we have for this music, plus sprinkling in a few of our tunes as well.”
What inspired Koz to become a musician? “I was kind of a crazy mixed up kid growing up,” he recalled good naturedly. “I tried other instruments (besides saxophone). My brother, sister and I were forced by my mom to play piano. I hated piano and rebelled against my mom and dad and took up the drums. I was even worse on the drums (laughs). It wasn’t until somebody stuck a saxophone in my hand (that things changed), I was 13 years old. Honestly, it felt like I had found my best friend. I was going through a tremendous amount that I didn’t have words for. I was a gay kid in a time when you really couldn’t talk about it. The saxophone became this vehicle for me to get my emotions out, all the things I had going on inside that I didn’t have words for. But I never imagined that it would be my livelihood. That’s a big gulf to cross.”
Things moved quickly once Koz graduated college. “’I was fully planning to go into marketing, I was a communications major. But I met a few people that really changed my life very quickly after graduating, and they pushed me into this world. They saw something in me that I didn’t know was there, and the next thing I knew I was signed to Capitol Records and I was making my first album. It’s been like a magic carpet ride ever since.”
Koz has performed in San Diego many times, but his connection to the city actually predates his touring days. “It’s like a second home to me,” he said. “I’m from Los Angeles, born and raised, so we used to go as a family to San Diego all the time. (As a musician) I’ve been coming to San Diego since the very beginning of my career.” He considers it to be a top spot for music. “Whether we’re talking about the Gaslamp Jazz Festival that KIFM used to put on, or playing at the Rady Shell a couple of times, or playing the Balboa Theatre for our Christmas show so many times, or at one of our favorite venues in the world, Humphreys, there’s always so many great venues in San Diego to play at, and always, and I mean always, a great audience,” Koz said.
“It’s interesting how much San Diego is a part of our sound,” he continued. “And it’s not just my sound, but the sound of modern contemporary jazz music. When you think about this kind of music, I imagine that most people in their head conjure up the image of San Diego, with sun and sand, and great people, and great food, and great culture. It has been a staple for me since the beginning of my career and always remains one of the tour stops that we look most forward to.”
Koz notes that live music is especially important at the moment. “It’s just a very complicated time,” he said. “There is a heavy feeling in the world right now, regardless of where you are. Our mission this year, considering how complex and just how weird our world is every day, (is) to give the people that come to our shows a chance to let their hair down, relax, just let the music wash over them, and have a good time.”
