Released Date: June 11, 2013
Label: Concord Records
Summer Horns
Nine-time GRAMMY® nominee Dave Koz remembers a time when the summers lasted forever, and the most popular rock, R&B, soul and funk bands of the day were propelled by high-octane, richly arranged horn sections. Indeed, from the late 1960s through the ‘70s, bands like Sly & the Family Stone, Tower of Power, Earth Wind & Fire, Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears and other brassy juggernauts of the era ruled the airwaves and opened his young ears to the saxophone’s limitless possibilities as a solo instrument as well as a collaborative voice with the trumpet and trombone.
Four decades later, Koz has assembled three of his most talented and trusted colleagues – Gerald Albright, Richard Elliot and Mindi Abair – to revisit this golden age with new arrangements of classic songs from this period in the history of popular music. Dave Koz and Friends Summer Horns, produced by Paul Brown (Al Jarreau, George Benson, June Tabor, Boney James), is a collaborative effort that throws the spotlight on four high-profile saxophonists, and augments the team with several other equally talented musicians and vocalists. Summer Horns, set for release on June 11, 2013, on Concord Records, turns up the heat just in time for the summer tour season.
Credits
| Artist | Credit |
| Mindi Abair | Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone) |
| Greg Adams | Flugelhorn, Horn Arrangements, Trumpet |
| Gerald Albright | Horn Arrangements, Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor) |
| Greg Allen | Art Direction, Design, Photography |
| Randy Alpert | Composer |
| Andy Armer | Composer |
| Philip Bailey | Composer |
| Marco Basci | Drum Programming, Horn Arrangements, Keyboards, Organ, Rhythm Arrangements |
| Sean Billings | Trumpet |
| Rick Braun | Composer, Featured Artist, Flugelhorn, Trumpet |
| James Brown | Composer |
| Mel Brown | Bass |
| Paul Brown | Composer, Engineer, Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Mixing, Producer, Rhythm Arrangements, Steel String |
| Dave Brubeck | Tributee |
| John Burk | Executive Producer |
| Jonathan Butler | Featured Artist, Vocals |
| Jeff Carruthers | Drum Programming, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Rhythm Arrangements |
| Tracy Carter | Hammond B3, Keyboards, Piano, Rhythm Arrangements, Wurlitzer |
| Emilio Castillo | Composer |
| Lenny Castro | Percussion |
| Larissa Collins | Creative Director |
| Brian Culbertson | Composer, Featured Artist, Trombone |
| Paul Desmond | Composer |
| Richard Elliot | Sax (Tenor) |
| Gordon Goodwin | Arranger |
| Jay Gore | Guitar |
| Carmen Grillo | Engineer |
| Lee Herschberg | Mastering |
| Arthur Herzog, Jr. | Composer |
| Mary Hogan | A&R |
| Billie Holiday | Composer |
| Randy Jacobs | Guitar |
| William Jeffrey | Composer |
| Dave Koz | Composer, Executive Producer, Flute, Primary Artist, Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone), Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor) |
| Dave Koz and Friends | Primary Artist |
| Stephen "Doc" Kupka | Composer |
| Robert Lamm | Composer |
| Nick Lane | Trombone |
| Ronnie Laws | Composer |
| Ricky Lawson | Drums |
| Johnny Lee | Engineer |
| John Lennon | Composer |
| Paul McCartney | Composer |
| Michael McDonald | Featured Artist, Vocals |
| Billy Mondragon | Vocals (Background) |
| Eric Mondragon | Vocals (Background) |
| Stevland Morris | Composer |
| Nikki Nouvelle | Make-Up |
| Jeffrey Osborne | Featured Artist, Vocals |
| Darren Rahn | Arranger, Drum Programming, Engineer, Hammond B3, Keyboards, Producer, Synthesizer |
| Damon Reel | Vocals (Background) |
| Monica Schweiger | Stylist |
| Tom Scott | Horn Arrangements |
| Frank Selman | Guitar |
| Charles Stepney | Composer |
| Michael Stever | Copyist |
| Sylvester "Sly Stone" Stewart | Composer |
| Lee Thornberg | Flugelhorn, Trombone, Trumpet |
| Roberto Vally | Bass, Bass (Acoustic) |
| Tony Vin | Hair Stylist |
| Grady Walker | Engineer |
| Maurice White | Composer |
| Jon Woodhead | Guitar |
| Khalid Woods | Drum Programming, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Rhythm Arrangements, Synthesizer Bass |
GRAMMY Awards
| Year | Category | Peak | |
| 2014 | Best Pop Instrumental | Nominee |
Billboard Albums
| Year | Album | Chart | Peak |
| 2013 | Dave Koz And Friends: Summer Horns | Jazz Albums | 2 |
| 2013 | Dave Koz And Friends: Summer Horns | The Billboard 200 | 84 |
“Summer Horns doesn't pretend to be anything other than it is: a good-time record that sounds like it was as much fun to make as it is to listen to.”
“Saxophone reigns supreme”
“‘Take Five,’ the defining Desmond-Brubeck tune...does surface on ‘Summer Horns,’ Mr. Koz’s new album, where its treatment is instructive. As on the rest of the album, it features harmonized parts for four saxophonists: Mr. Koz, Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright and Richard Elliot. Unlike the rest of the album, it has no drums or guitar or keyboards. (The arrangement, by Gordon Goodwin, augments those saxophones with just a bass line.) Somehow the sparseness helps make this gesture seem timely and respectful...”
“…it's hard to argue with a nice sunny afternoon full of Dave Koz...The Grammy-nominated jazz phenom is gearing up to release Summer Horns, a collaboration with his fellow players Gerald Albright, Richard Elliot and Mindi Abair. The project throws a saxophonist's spotlight on some cool tunes from the '60s and '70s that'll be just right for a July picnic or August poolside evening.”
“Dave Koz has taken the time to get the grooves just right...The selections chosen range from the jump and invigoration of ‘Got to Get You into My Life’ or ‘Hot Fun in the Summertime’ to beautiful and distinctively original takes on the ‘summertime’ blues with ‘God Bless the Child’ and ‘Take Five’...with summer blooming on the horizon, nothing beats the blast and class of a full-horn section.”
“Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, Richard Elliot & Gerald Albright each have had successful albums and tours in their own right, but for the Summer Horns project, Koz and friends join forces to create a truly one of a kind, all star section, and an album that tips it hat to an era when classic, big horn, feel good songs ruled the airwaves…Summer Horns not only offers the listener material that covers the real breadth of the instrument, but it also features songs with a little more ‘meat on the bone’. Sure, it’s a tribute to summer and good times, but more importantly, Summer Horns is an album about the real power of friendship.”
“Koz revisits the 1960s and '70s, a heyday for horns...’25 Or 6 To 4’ packs a wallop. ‘Hot Fun In The Summertime’ is a finger-popper. ‘So Very Hard to Go’ features guest vocalist Michael McDonald. Jeffrey Osbourne adds to the soul of ‘God Bless The Child.’ And ‘I Got You (I Feel Good),’ the James Brown classic, proves to be a funk-filled fun fest here.”
“together they make the most enjoyable music that's perfect for a summer day at the beach or a backyard barbeque. The title track is fresh, fun, and addicting. This is the perfect CD to pop into your car and listen to while you're breezing down the highway...”
“Dave Koz and friends Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright, and Richard Elliot share an incredible chemistry...[and onstage] that chemistry turns into pure musical energy, as I witnessed on the opening night of their ‘Summer Horns’ tour at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, FL."
“…It’s a great show to see any of these fine artists on stage. It’s a privilege to see them all together. Go see Summer Horns…”
“retro-minded Concord album Summer Horns...put contemporary twists on brass-fired classics by Sly & The Family Stone (‘Hot Fun in the Summertime’), Chicago (‘25 Or 6 To 4’), Earth, Wind & Fire (‘Reasons,’ EWF’s arrangement of The Beatles’ ‘Got To Get You Into My Life’), James Brown (‘I Feel Good: I Got You’) and Tower of Power (‘So Very Hard To Go,’ featuring Michael McDonald.)”
“Summer Horns’ tracks allow the quartet to flaunt their considerable skills. They deserve credit for not picking entirely obvious songs for summer, and the album will serve as a calm soundtrack for many parties this warm season.”
“Dave Koz turns up the volume and steps to the front with fellow horn players Richard Elliot, Mindi Abair and Gerald Albright on his new CD, Summer Horns (Concord Records). Koz and friends revisit the ’60s and ’70s for an eclectic collection of instrumentals that receive crystal clear production by Paul Brown. Earth Wind and Fire’s ‘Got To Get You Into My Life’ is made with thrilling results by the rich saxes at work that could easily be mixed into the original. These guys were respectful to these songs but added the right touch of their own character to deliver something fresh.”
“It’s a wonderful invitation to summer throughout. Well done.”
“Dave Koz’s newest work, Summer Horns, is the perfect summer CD.”
“All in all, this project is a very solid and creative one. When the Summer Horns tour comes your way, you would do well to catch it. The album and upcoming tour have ‘memorable experience’ written all over them.”
“Dave Koz is bringing saxy back. The Grammy®-nominated saxophonist is everywhere this summer, taking his smooth jazz sounds on the road, across the seas and to the top of the charts.”
“Riddle me this... how many horns does it take to make an outstanding jazz CD? Answer: As many as Dave Koz and Friends want or need…[Summer Horns is] a great summer treat”
“Fresh off his critically acclaimed live release, Dave Koz and Friends’ Summer Horns would have to be a critic’s best friend as this is a review that literally writes itself. A brilliantly balanced recording that appeals to all tastes. Dave Koz crushes this project!”
