The celebrated pianist and saxophonist play a sold-out show at Traverse City’s The Alluvion on Thursday, kicking off a U.S. tour behind a new recording, “Just Us.” The Local Spins interview.
‘Just Us’: Bob James and Dave Koz launch a national tour as a duo in Traverse City this week. (Courtesy Photo/Tyler Franz)
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The fact that longtime contemporary jazz mainstays Bob James and Dave Koz pair are embarking on a brief tour is not necessarily news. The two have performed across the globe for years.
What’s different? It’s an all-acoustic tour, and all of the concerts will include just James on piano and Koz on saxophone. No rhythm section, no electronic accompaniment, just the two of them.
To hear them tell it, it’s equal parts daunting and enticing.
“I’m nervous to have it all stripped away,” says James, who makes his home in Traverse City. “It’s very different for both of us.”
“I’m so excited and equal part terrified,” adds Koz.
James: Launching the tour in his hometown. (Courtesy Photo)
The six-date “Just Us” tour kicks off with a sold-out show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (March 13) at The Alluvion in Traverse City.
The tour takes its name from their duo’s new album, “Just Us,” released last week via Just Koz Entertainment. It features both James and Koz originals as well as two co-writes and three standards.
Koz, who lives in California, calls the process of making the recording “an interesting experiment,” as that was not their original intention. “We didn’t set out to make an album. It was organic.”
“It just unfolded,” agrees James. “We had no plan in advance. We’d mention a song. A couple we tried didn’t work.”
It all dates back to the jazz-themed cruises Koz has hosted for years. Last year, he asked James to perform with him, and James agreed. Then James upped the ante, suggesting they record a couple of tunes as a duo to give to the people on board as an extra. Koz agreed, and they got together this past summer at James’ home and home studio.
Then came the first surprise: What was originally going to be a brief session for two tunes turned into four. “He came here and we had so much fun we kept going,” James says.
In fact, they had such a good time that Koz returned later in the year, and the project eventually turned into a full-on recording — much to their surprise and delight. “We backed into an album. We didn’t expect to make it,” says Koz.
LISTEN: Bob James & Dave Koz, “New Hope” (from “Just Us”)
The musicians became intoxicated by the sound of just an acoustic piano and saxophone – period.
“There was nothing (else) competing for the sonic space of sax and piano. You hear all the imperfections, the full sound of saxophone, clicks, spit,” says Koz.
With careers defined in large part by the umbrella term “smooth jazz,” a format typically featuring the interplay of keyboards, bass, guitar, drums and horns atop washes of electronic backing, Koz says their typical audience will be surprised. “What people expect, this is not that.”
Koz: Just the ‘full sound’ of saxophone and piano. (Courtesy Photo)
What was never intended to be an album birthed a similarly unanticipated tour. “We never expected it would be a thing where we’d go on stage,” says James. “It’s very different for both of us. I’m feeling so exposed.”
James says he’s usually supported by an array of keyboards, a rhythm section and a large production. Here, it’s just him on piano and Koz on a saxophone – no bass, no drums, no sequencers, no strings. “They’re not going to be there,” he says almost plaintively.
Instead, fans will see 10 magic fingers on a piano and 10 more on saxophone. “My orchestra has to be more prepared,” James says with a laugh.
Fortunately, he says they’ll be ready to go, especially after Koz called to say he wanted to come in a week early to rehearse. “I don’t think I’ve ever had the opportunity of a week’s worth of rehearsal,” James says.
While they’ve known each other for decades, the pair’s friendship deepened as a result of spending so much time together last year.
“Anything to have that many days with him, to see more about the man behind this musical treasure,” Koz says. “I love watching Bob create. Seeing it in real time, how he goes about looking at it and digesting it is fascinating.”
Koz says the recording process also gave him a chance to learn more about his own playing. “Very early on, I’d listen (to the recording) and say, ‘Dang, that sounds good.’ I was shocked. I’ve been playing saxophone a long, long time, but never considered myself a technician.
“It doesn’t sound like me. It pushed me and my musicianship to a quadrant I didn’t know existed.”
James similarly says the recording allowed him to stretch out in ways he doesn’t always have the chance to. “I liked the opportunity trying to play Dave’s songs in his vein. I felt I could have an arrangement for a rhythm section, but to do just piano is a big challenge.
“I’ve known him for a long time but this project was rewarding for both of us.”
Duo Dynamics: Bob James and Dave Koz (Courtesy Photo)
LISTEN: Bob James & Dave Koz, “Sommation”
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