It was a festive Saturday night at the Kodak Theatre as a sold-out crowd gathered to hear Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Norman Brown and Patti Austin. The stage was set, literally, with trees and huge wrapped presents and stars were hanging from the ceiling. With the beautiful multi-colored lighting, it was a sight to behold.

Then "Joy to the World" began to play and Stevo Theard (drummer/vocals), Tony Maiden (guitar/vocals), Brian Simpson (keyboards/music director) and André Berry (bass/vocals) took their places. Dave started the magical night with "Let it Snow" and "Winter Wonderland." Brian Culbertson was introduced and played a hopped-up "Jingle Bells" and Norman joined them onstage with "Sleighride" and "Angels We Have Heard on High." When we thought it couldn’t get any better, out comes Patti singing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and Brian jammed on his trombone with Dave.

The collaboration onstage was unbelievable! It’s almost as fun to watch the antics in the background as it is watching the performer in the spotlight. They were having as much fun as we were and it just added to the show. You can tell they love what they’re doing!

Patti sang a beautiful, mellow "The Christmas Song" with Dave playing a sweet solo. Dave took center stage and played a crowd favorite, "Together Again," and the crowd loved the synchronized stroll by Dave, Tony and André! Norman pleased the crowd next with "Just Chillin'" (great scatting) and "Up & At 'Em" with Dave and Brian (on 'bone) hopping up on top of Christmas presents to play on opposite ends of the stage. Brian took over the stage with "Say What" and then he and Dave played a wonderfully sweet arrangement of "Deck the Halls" (you can find it on the Best Buy Sweet Tracks CD).

Dave was back front-and-center playing the beautiful "All I See Is You" from his Grammy-nominated CD, Saxophonic. Dave and André faced off and got down and Tony joined the mix and they all showed how they groove. Dave took the mic and said that we now needed a little femininity and it wasn’t him, which cracked everyone up! Patti headed back out on stage and sang two of my favorites, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" (the best rendition I’ve ever heard) and "Boogie Woogie Santa," which had Dave, Brian and Patti doing the bump. Then she said she was going to sing a “medley of my hit” and explained that normally James Ingram would be singing the male part but she’d make it work without him. She did a GREAT job of "Baby, Come to Me" singing both parts… extremely well, I might add!! Are we sure she didn’t record it that way? It was a lot of fun for everyone.

Prior to singing her next song, Patti said she was thirsty and Tony wheeled out a service cart with a martini shaker and a couple of glasses. Pretty funny! Dave was headed off stage when Patti beckoned him back with "Baby, It’s Cold Outside" and Dave Koz sang! We’ve heard it before with his original December Makes Me Feel This Way and it was great to hear him exercising his vocal cords again! They did a hilarious “skit” during the song and had everyone laughing. Dave ended up nestled in Patti’s chest… warming up his face! Norman ended the first set with a favorite, "That’s The Way Love Goes" and left us wanting more at intermission!

The second set started with a medley… Norman playing "This Christmas" and then Patti sang "White Christmas" while Dave stood to the side on a box and slowly released "snow" from his hand that was gently blown up and scattered around. It "snowed" throughout the song and was absolutely beautiful. Patti sang "Silent Night" and then Dave said there was a special guest joining them and Jonathan Butler took the stage amid cheers to play "First Noel."

Dave then played his traditional Hanukkah song, the lively "Eight Candles"! Brian played the sexy, haunting "On My Mind" after he asked the band to put their heads down or turn around so those in attendance could cuddle. Brian’s moves when he plays are so much fun to watch. His stage presence is much more relaxed in recent years and as much fun to watch as Dave’s.

Next up was a treat from Patti to us (Patti alone is a treat to us!)… she sang a “story” of the "Twelve Days of Christmas" and added hilarious asides regarding the mess the “people” (lords and geese and maids and dancers) left in her house. Norman returned to the stage to play his beautiful song, "Lydian." Dave was back with a fan favorite, "You Make Me Smile," and he was joined on stage by Norman, Brian and Jonathan. Brian then played a "So Good" medley where he hit the keyboards and the trombone with flair and ease… to the joy of everyone there!

Patti closed the show with "I’ll Be Home for Christmas" with Dave, Norman, Brian, Jonathan and the band adding their melodic contributions. Of course, when the song was over the crowd wasn’t ready for the show to end, so they all came back out on stage one at a time, everyone in their Christmas garb except Dave who was in his Chasidic attire and "read" "Twas the Night Before Christmas"… the traditional end to Dave’s Smooth Jazz Christmas shows. It was a wonderful night and this Christmas present wrapped up with a bow (the bending forward at the hips kind, not the nicely tied on a package kind)… and wild cheers from the grateful crowd! Always a night to remember and a show that will keep you coming back year after year after year! It’s the best way to officially start the holiday season!

Susan Johnson

Photography by Bonnie Schendell (taken at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC)