There was a time in American pop music when no song was complete without a sax solo. When Dave Koz takes the stage at the Lobero Theatre on Friday, August 27, with his Summer Horns tour, it will be like that golden age never ended. The platinum-selling artist has made a career in instrumental music by bringing out the jazz potential of pop material. Koz injects both his original songs and classic covers of tunes by good friends of his like Tower of Power and Earth, Wind & Fire with dynamic opportunities not only for his own playing, but also for that of the other talented musicians in his band. Koz understands the importance of a great chart and the thrilling experience of hearing a live horn section as well as anyone in the music business, and that’s exactly what he and his group will deliver at this upcoming show.
Talking about the other players — Kirk Whalum, Mindi Abair, and Vincent Ingala — who will be appearing with him, Koz told me that “most of us started in a section, and there’s still an excitement level to that you can’t get from anything else.” The sound of four horns locked into a single chord is truly unique, and it’s also not something that you can fully appreciate until you’ve experienced it in person. Koz has never played the Lobero before, and it should be a particularly effective venue for the big sound he cultivates with Summer Horns.
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