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.

Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns rehearsal with Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair & Richard Elliot

My favorite show of last summer, Dave Koz and Friends Summer Horns, is back! Koz and his buddies Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright and Richard Elliot are hitting the road together again. They’ll be swinging through the U.S. with 20 shows, performing new versions of the tunes from the GRAMMY-nominated Summer Horns album.

“I remember a particular bus ride last summer, riding along with Richard, Mindi and Gerald—it was to the last gig of what was an incredibly memorable and fun few months of touring together. We were all in a bit of a funk…kind of a bittersweet moment, when we knew this wonderful thing we had built together was coming to an end. Everyone was thinking it, so I just blurted it out…’Hey, why don’t we do it again next summer?’ Well…here we are, summer of 2014, and at it once again!” said Koz from a Los Angeles studio where the group was rehearsing.

“We all jumped at the chance to have another Summer Horns tour because, quite frankly, it’s the most fun you can have on stage. The four of us have such a great bond and a wonderful friendship onstage and off. That, plus our collective love and admiration for the music we play, makes for a really fun and exciting show. We’re thrilled to be back at it!”

The four saxophonists will be accompanied by the stellar band they toured with last year. Once again, the amazing Randy Jacobs will be jammin’ on guitar and performing duties as the show’s music director. They’ll be sharing the stage with keyboardist Tracy Carter, bassist Nathaniel Kearny Jr. and drummer Third Richardson.

I’m curious how the new arrangements will sound. It will be fun to see how they make their already-imaginative takes on the classic hits of Tower of Power, Earth Wind & Fire, Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears and other brassy juggernauts of the ’60s and ’70s any better than they already have.

The Summer Horns “Hot Fun In The Summertime” Tour 2014 starts today at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida. It runs through September, and includes a stop at One World Theatre in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 9.

For a complete schedule, visit www.davekoz.com.

Gerald Albright, Dave Koz, Mindi Abair & Richard Elliot rehearsing for Summer Horns “Hot Fun In The Summertime”

Tag Archives: Summer Horns

Summer Horns at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach

Dave Koz Summer Horns “Hot Fun In The Summertime”