Saxophonist Dave Koz has become one of the most successful and beloved instrumentalists of his time, and helped establish smooth jazz as a musical force to be reckoned with. His career catapulted with 1993's Lucky Man, one of Koz' slickest and most commercial releases (which is not a bad thing by any means) to date. The album has an undeniably crisp and clean feel, akin to the color schemes used in the artwork. The musical styles range from funky and peppy, as in the opening "Shakin' the Shack," "Silverlining," and the evergreen "You Make Me Smile," to tender and sweet, as in "Faces of the Heart," "Lucky Man," and "Tender Is the Night," which features hypnotic vocals courtesy of Phil Perry. A definite highlight is the unstoppable and downright electrifying "Saxman," which features an A list who's who of influential saxophonists jamming along with Koz. The album also utilizes hip-hop scratches and beats on his wonderfully soulful cover of "Don't Look Any Further" (which features former C+C Music Factory belter Zelma Davis) and a gospel choir on "Show Me the Way." Closing with his wonderful and touching rendition of "Misty," Lucky Man is a must for any fan of contemporary and smooth jazz, and ranks as an absolute highlight in Dave Koz' enduring catalog. (by Jose F. Promis)
Personnel:
John Barnes (piano)
Curt Bisquera (drums)
Alex Brown (background vocals)
Robbie Buchanan (keyboards)
Teddy Castellucci (guitar)
Lenny Castro (percussion)
Clarence Clemons (saxophone on 07.)
Brad Cole (keyboards)
Paulinho da Costa (percussion)
Zelma Davis (vocals on 05.)
Nathan East (bass)
Howard "Buzz" Feiten (guitar)
Michael Fisher (percussion)
Robben Ford (guitar on 01.)
Claude Gaudette (keyboards)
Jim Gilstrap (background vocals)
Franne Golde (background vocals)
Ed Greene (drums)
Rayford Griffin (drums)
Jimmy Haslip (bass)
Phillip Ingram (background vocals)
Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar)
Booker T. Jones (organ on 07.)
Evelyn King (background vocals)
Dave Koz (saxophone)
Jeff Koz (guitar)
Stephen "Doc" Kupka (saxophone on 07.)
Dennis Lambert (background Vocals)
Ricky Lawson (drums)
Oliver Leiber (guitar)
Jheryl Lockhart (background vocals)
Jeff Lorber (keyboards)
Bob Mann (guitar)
Jean McClain (background vocals)
Alec Milstein (bass)
Monalisa (background vocals)
Kenny Moore (piano)
Edward James Olmos (spoken introduction on 07.)
Pino Palladino (bass)
Maceo Parker (saxophone on 07.)
Bill Payne (piano)
John Pena (bass)
Katrina Perkins (background vocals)
Phil Perry (vocals on 06.)
Jeff Pescetto (background vocals)
Charles Pettigrew (vocals on 09.)
Greg Phillinganes (piano)
Steve Reid (percussion)
Carlos Rios (guitar)
John Robinson (drums)
Evan Rogers (background vocals)
Machito Sanchez (percussion)
Mark Schulman (drums)
Leslie Smith (background vocals)
Carl Sturken (guitar, Keyboards)
Chester Thompson (organ on 01.)
Michael Thompson (guitar)
Yvonne Williams (background vocals)
Gigi Worth (background vocals)
Terry Young (background vocals)
Tracklist:
01. Shakin' The Shack" (D.Koz/Lorber) 6.05
02. You Make Me Smile (J.Koz/D.Koz) 4.17
03. Faces Of The Heart" (D.Koz/J.Koz/Urbont) 3.42
04. Don't Look Any Further (Prelude) 0.40
05. Don't Look Any Further" (Golde/Lambert/Hitchings) 5.19
06. Tender Is the Night" (featuring Phil Perry) D.Koz, Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken 5:55
07. Saxman (Willis/D.Koz) 4.25
08. After Dark (Lorber/D.Koz) 6.22
09. Lucky Man" (featuring Charles Pettigrew) Jud Friedman, D.Koz 3:26
10. Silver Lining (D.Koz/Lorber) 5.15
11. Wait A Little While (Rios/D.Koz) 5.39
12. Show Me The Way (D.Koz/J.Koz) 5.22
13. Misty (Garner) 3.19
