SAXOPHONIST DAVE KOZ GETS A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS ON COLLABORATIONS: 25th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION, SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE ON JULY 31

Collaborations: 25^th Anniversary Collection, scheduled for release on July 31, 2015 via Concord Records, shines a light on some of his most memorable creative partnerships, drawing from Koz’s extensive catalog as well as other artists’ recording projects. The album also includes three new tracks that send a clear message that there’s still plenty in store in the next 25 years. See below for track listing.

“Some of my favorite moments in the last 25 years have been collaborations with people whom I just love and treasure, and from whom I’ve learned so much – mentors and friends and people whom I never would have expected to meet,” says Koz. “And that’s the power of music. It will come up against any wall that can divide people and bring it right down.”

Koz will be touring this summer with Rick Braun and special guest Kenny Lattimore. See below for itinerary. The three tour mates recorded “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” (originally a No. 1 R&B hit for Jackie Wilson in 1967) for Collaborations: 25^th Anniversary Collection. The rousing track – one of three newly recorded songs that appear on the album – is the first single.

“‘Higher And Higher’ is a great vehicle for the three of us,” Koz says. “Amazing horn parts for Rick and I to play, and a very soulful melody and lyric that Kenny just crushes! The saxophone and trumpet together have been such an amazing sound on so many hit records over the past several decades – be they pop, R&B or jazz. But it only works when you have the right combination of people playing the sax and the trumpet. Rick and I have played on each other’s records, we’ve written songs together and we’ve toured together. We have a musical kinship that spans so many years.”

“Good Foot,” another new song, features keyboardist Jeff Lorber, who co-wrote the song with Dave. “Jeff was the first person to say to me, ‘You need to be a recording artist,’ recalls Koz. “The initial demos I made with him got me signed to Capitol Records, so he changed my life.”

Koz’s soaring instrumental version of “Let It Go” from the 2013 Disney film, Frozen, is the third new song that appears on Collaborations: 25^th Anniversary Collection. It was co-produced by Carl Sturken (who also plays keyboards and guitar) and Evan Rogers – both of whom produced tracks on Koz’s very first album in 1990 and several since.

Previously released tracks that were hand-picked by Dave for the collection include 1999’s “Can’t Let You Go (The Sha La Song),” which features the legendary vocals of Luther Vandross, “When Will I Know for Sure,” Koz’s 2010 duet with saxophonist Boney James, and “Let Me Count the Ways,” which features Stevie Nicks on vocals.

Vocalist Michael McDonald and the Summer Horns – saxophonists Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright and Richard Elliott – appear on “So Very Hard to Go,” a rendition of a classic Tower of Power hit that originally appeared on Koz’s GRAMMY-nominated 2013 release, Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns. Trumpeter Herb Alpert lends a hand with “This Guy’s in Love with You,” the Burt Bacharach/Hal David song that Alpert himself had a hit with in 1968. “Think Big” features trombonist Brian Culbertson and slide guitarist Keb’ Mo’. The stirring rendition of the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love,” which originally appeared on Koz’s The 25^th of December, features Eric Benét, Johnny Mathis, Heather Headley, Richard Marx, Jonathan Butler, Maysa, BeBe Winans, Gloria Estefan and Stevie Wonder.

“Apartment 2G: I Hear Her Playing Music” is a track from Barry Manilow’s 2001 concept album, Here at the Mayflower. “He wrote this song about a woman in an apartment who would listen to my music late at night,” says Koz. “I went into the studio to play on the track and listened to the song, and towards the end I hear this line that goes: ‘I hear her playing Dave Koz in the middle of the night.’ I just said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ And Barry said, ‘Yeah, that’s you.’ Barry’s an amazing musician and I was so honored when he asked me to open for him this year on his One Last Time! Tour.”

The classic ballad “(I Love You) for Sentimental Reasons” features Rod Stewart on vocals, and originally appeared on Stewart’s Stardust: The Great American Songbook Vol. 3. “Linus and Lucy,” featuring David Benoit, is from the compilation 40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas. Koz originally recorded the jazz waltz version of “Game of Thrones Theme (The Smooth Version)” for a YouTube video with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox. The poignant “Cryin’ for Me (Wayman’s Song)” features country artist Toby Keith and Marcus Miller. Originally released on Keith’s 2009 album, American Ride, the song was written and recorded in tribute to athlete and musician Wayman Tisdale, who died earlier that year.

For more information:

Judi Kerr/Judi Kerr Public Relations at 310-477-8191

[email protected]

Mike Wilpizeski at 718-459-2117

[email protected]

Downloadable Images, Profile, Press Release & Album Art available at:

http://mediakits.concordmusicgroup.com/p/collaborations-25th-anniversary/

Track Listing:

2.   “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” – featuring Kenny Lattimore and Rick Braun (4:01)

3.   “When Will I Know for Sure” – featuring Boney James (4:51)

4.   “So Very Hard to Go” – featuring Michael McDonald and Summer Horns (4:39)

5.   “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons” − Rod Stewart featuring Dave Koz (3:02)

6.   “Let Me Count the Ways” – featuring Stevie Nicks (4:22)

7.   “This Guy’s in Love with You” – featuring Herb Alpert (4:54)

8.   “Linus and Lucy” – David Benoit and Dave Koz (4:02)

9.   “Can’t Let You Go (The Sha La Song)” – featuring Luther Vandross (4:18)

10.   “All You Need Is Love” – featuring Eric Benét, Johnny Mathis, Heather Headley, Richard Marx, Jonathan Butler, Maysa, BeBe Winans, Gloria Estefan and Stevie Wonder (5:41)

11.   “Game of Thrones Theme (The Smooth Version)” – Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox featuring Dave Koz (5:20)

12.   “Cryin’ for Me (Wayman’s Song)” – Toby Keith featuring Dave Koz and Marcus Miller (4:46)

13.   “Think Big” – featuring Brian Culbertson and Keb’ Mo’ (4:59)

14.   “Apartment 2G: I Hear Her Playing Music” – Barry Manilow featuring Dave Koz 4:09)

Dave Koz Tour Dates: