Dave Koz Plays Sandman With New CD

In September, Dave Koz (pictured) will put you to sleep with smooth jazz. He can’t get angry at me for writing that. The Koz wants it that way. The saxophonist recently gathered his buddies—mellow fellows like Rick Braun, Norman Brown, David Benoit, Brian Culbertson and Peter White—to record Golden Slumbers: A Father’s Lullaby, a set of sleepy-time favorites including “Brahm’s Lullaby” and “Hush Little Baby.” The album will also include original tunes and sedating versions of two songs from the Lennon/McCartney songbook, among other covers.

Golden Slumbers is intended to be played in the nursery, music for the child who can’t get any shut-eye. “The credit really goes to my sister-in-law, Unique, who was having trouble getting my neice to sleep,” says Koz (Unique is the wife of Koz’s brother Jeff, who plays guitar on the CD). “She discovered that most of the lullaby recordings on the market were very lively and bright and seemed to stimulate the baby rather than soothe and relax her. Unique suggested that Jeff and I put together a few tracks that would create a more comforting, relaxing environment in the nursery.”

The CD, due out Sept. 24, is the first disc for Redezvous Entertainment, a new label co-founded by Dave Koz, Hyman Katz and Frank Cody. Redezvous titles will enjoy wide distribution through an association with Warner Bros. Records.

Golden Slumbers track list:

Blackbird

Isn’t She Lovely

Charlotte’s Song

Brahm’s Lullaby

You’ll Be In My Heart

Twinkle Twinkle

When You Wish Upon a Star

Hush Little Baby

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Lullaby for Isabella

Afro Cuban Lullaby

All the Pretty Horses

You Can Close Your Eyes

Golden Slumbers

Originally Published August 17, 2002