Romantic Dave Koz has great sax appeal

By Christiani S. Tumelap

JAKARTA (JP): When Adolphe Sax invented the saxophone in the late 19th century, little did he know that the instrument would spawn such greats as Charlie Parker, Grover Washington Jr, David Sanborn, Kenny G, Dave Koz or even Indonesian Embong Rahardjo.

These men made their hobby central to their lives, and at the same time gave plenty of enjoyment to others.

If Washington Jr is known for his graceful harmony and Sanborn for his funky beats, then Koz is recognized for the heavy romantic influences in his compositions. This holds true even though some of his tunes are undeniably vivacious.

Koz, a regular feature of the annual JakJazz festival, struck a common chord among jazz aficionados the first time he came to town in 1993.

His popularity was already firmly in place when he arrived, as his video for You Make Me Smile played at least five times daily on TV. His easy-listening music captured the ears and hearts of fans here, especially women and young people.

Hundreds flocked wherever he performed, including a free gig held in cooperation with the University of Indonesia. It rained, but hundreds of students gathered around the stage, ignoring the drizzle as they swayed to Koz's dynamite sax.

Koz's star had started to shine in 1990, when he released his self-titled debut album.

Castle of Dreams, a supremely romantic tune on the album, was his first composition to land on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart that same year.

His second album, Lucky Man, released two years later, brought him greater success and international fame. It spent over two years on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart and sold more than 650,000 copies in both CDs and cassettes.

The album also presented Koz his first gold record.

Why the saxophone, and not the more popular piano or guitar?

"Just like many other people, I love to hear saxophone because it is such an easy-to-play instrument which would sound beautiful even if it was played by an amateur," says Koz, again one of the highlights of JakJazz earlier this month.

Saxophone is perhaps the most versatile instrument which has transcended time, crossed through so many genres and had an uncanny ability to create vastly different moods, he says.

"Many people say: 'You write such a romantic song'. But, it is really more the saxophone. Because, the minute you play, it is like aah...people like the sound which is very emotional...

"Saxophone is an instrument which is closest to the human voice in its ability to put forth emotion thorough songs."

Koz, now in his 30s, says he fell in love with the saxophone when he was 13.

He was captivated by the Tower of Power's horn section duo of Lenny Pickett on tenor and Doc Kupka on baritone in the 1970s.

"Saxophone is very much associated with love," he says. "It is a very romantic instrument."

He acknowledges that the instrument can also be downright raunchy, jubilant, somber, happy, sweet and gritty.

Do his compositions qualify as jazz?

"There is some jazz element in my songs. Some of the harmonies and the saxophone itself are the jazz on it," he says.

"I wouldn't call myself strictly a jazz musician. I would call myself really more a contemporary instrumentalist."

He prefers writing songs with people appeal.

"I like creating melodies that people want to listen to, and I enjoy playing them in an emotional and powerful way as well. That's what I think I do best."

Koz demurs that he is not a strict saxophonist specialist, knowledgeable on all the techniques and finer points.

As a music enthusiast, he loves to listen to mainstream jazz in which the saxophonist casts an entrancing spell.

"I love that. When I put on music to listen to in my house, I love listening other saxophone players. But for me, I just enjoy playing songs."

Koz's first performance this year at JakJazz was on Saturday, Nov. 7, the second day of the festival, at Kuningan's Sumantri Brodjonegoro Sport Stadium.

He opened his show with the title track from his 1996 album, Don't Look Back (DLB).

Love filled the air at the stadium as Koz played 10 beautiful numbers in the one-hour show.

Hundreds of couples held each other tight as they were lulled by the sweet, euphonious tunes.

Most of the numbers were from the Don't Look Back (DLB) and Lucky Man (LM) albums.

Among them were Smile (LM), Ready (DLB), Leave the Light On (DLB), Shakin' the Shack (LM), That's the Way I Feel and Flat Feet (DLB).

There was also the searingly romantic Faces of the Heart, off Lucky Man, penned as the theme tune for U.S. TV soap opera General Hospital.

"It's very romantic, you know, as a soap opera has a lot of different things going on," Koz recalls about the process of writing the number. "People, marriages, romantic love affairs... People cheating on each other and all kinds of crazy things.

So it was written to kind of encapsulate all of those different feelings into one song."

He closed with Castle of Dreams, the blasting, funky Saxman (LM) and energetic Wake Up Call (DLB).

Koz wrote Saxman with A. Willis in celebration of the saxophone, and in tribute to all the great sax players of the past.

In his second and final performance on Sunday, he changed the set slightly.

Ready and That's the Way I Feel were out. Let My Count the Ways, taken from his newest album, was in.

Too bad he did not play the tug-at-the-heart-strings, inconceivably romantic Lucky Man. Many fans, especially women, were disappointed by the omission of some of his best-known tunes.

His magnificent performances over two nights made up for the let down.

Koz and his gang -- Bruce Watson and Doug Pettibone on guitars, Stephen "Stevo" Theard on drums, Mark Harris on bass and Phil Parlapiano on keyboards -- presented attractive and lively performances.

Koz justified his reputation as an excellent musician with extraordinary public relations skill. He succeeded in establishing and maintaining a rapport with his audience, drawing their undivided attention to the stage.

"We've had a very nice time here," he said in wrapping up the final show here. "People here are incredible. That's really what makes it fun for us: to be able to come here and play for such energetic crowds."