Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Summer Concert Series (photo by Ambrosevents/Ellis Moore Photography)
“I just got off the Dave Koz cruise, and l coming to see this show again!” a woman exclaim while handing her keys to the valet upon her arrival at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach for the Dave Koz & Friends “Summer Horns” concert.
Dave Koz & Gerald Albright (photo by Ambrosevents.com/Ellis Moore Photography)
As I entered the grassy, outdoor amphitheatre overlooking Back Bay at sunset, I spotted a man wearing one of the jazz shirts we sell. I approached him and said, “I recognize that shirt!” Not recognizing me, the person who sold it to him, he responded, “I bought this several years ago at the Seabreeze Jazz Festival.” I told him that he bought it at the Smooth Jazz News booth at that festival in Panama City Beach, Florida. “That’s right!” he said, then explained that he was a subscriber, found out about this show from the ad in the magazine, and flew from Georgia to see Dave Koz & his friends Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright and Richard Elliot performing one of their final “Summer Horns” shows of 2014.
Summer Horns Encore at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Summer Concert Series (photo by Ambrosevents.com/Ellis Moore Photography)
The standing-room-only crowd danced, cheered and clapped along for two hours of instrumental covers (with vocals by Tracy Carter and Mindi on some of the tunes) from some of the best horn-based songs from bands such as Chicago, Tower of Power, Earth Wind & Fire, James Brown, and an exceptionally soul-stirring rendition of Dave Brubeck’s “Take 5.”
Mindi Abair singing to an excited crowd at the Hyatt (photo by Ambrosevents.com/Ellis Moore Photography)
After a week suffering through record heat, humidity and a destructive storm that ravaged parts of Southern California (compliments of Hurricane Odile), it was so refreshing to enjoy cooler temperatures, near the coast, all the while being entertained by Dave Koz & his extremely talented friends!
Here are some other photos from last night’s show:
Mindi Abair, Richard Elliot, Gerald Albright & Dave Koz signing autographs at the Hyatt (photo by Ambrosevents.com/Ellis Moore Photography)
Dave Koz & Mindi Abair (photo by Ambrosevents.com/Ellis Moore Photography)
Nathaniel Kearny Jr. & Dave Koz (photo by Ambrosevents.com/Ellis Moore Photography)
The Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Summer Concert Series presents three more shows for its 2014 season: Natalie Cole (Sept. 26), Brian Culbertson (Oct. 3) and Tower of Power with Average White Band (Oct. 10). For tickets or information, visit www.hyattconcerts.com or call 949-360-7800.