The Golden Hour

by Dave Koz, Cory Wong

Overview

The first collaboration between guitarist Cory Wong and alto saxophonist Dave Koz, 2021's ebullient and funky Golden Hour maximizes the best aspects of each performer. An established crossover jazz star, Koz has a style that brings together pop lyricism with a rhythmically infectious brand of R&B. Wong, a prolific artist in his own right, has worked on a variety of genre-bending projects, including albums with funk collective Vulfpeck and keyboardist Jon Batiste, with whom he recorded the Grammy-nominated 2020 new age album Meditations. Produced by Wong, Golden Hour finds the duo bringing all of their previous experience to bear on a set of original, primarily instrumental songs. Backed by a full rhythm section and horns, Koz and Wong's music evokes a classic, late-'70s and early-'80s soul vibe, but with a sleek, contemporary energy. Cuts like the title track, "Family Reunion," and the infectious "Engine 71," are hooky, R&B-influenced songs that bring to mind the work of Tower of Power and the Dap-Kings, or even the Saturday Night Live Band. There is also a nice vocal addition from British singer Phoebe Katis, who joins the group for "Your Side of Town (Art of Key Noise)." Wong's crisp electric guitar riffs are a nice counterpoint to Koz's bright, high-energy sax playing. Recognized for his many smooth jazz hits since the '90s, Koz has grown into a soulful performer, and his work with Wong nicely showcases his charismatic phrasing and throaty, vocal-like sax sound. A vibrant production with an unexpectedly earthy vibe, Golden Hour is all about Koz and Wong's warm creative synergy. ~ Matt Collar

Product Details

Release Date:	06/11/2021
Label:	Just Koz
UPC:	0843563138809
Rank:	2041

Tracks

1. Today
2. Getaway Car
3. Feed the Id
4. The Golden Hour
5. Junkyard Dunebuggy
6. Little Rascals
7. Family Reunion
8. Engine 71
9. Your Side of Town (Art of Keynoise)
10. Together Again
11. Gratitude

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Cory Wong   Primary Artist,Bass,Vocals,Keyboards,Percussion,Guitar (Electric)
Dave Koz   Primary Artist,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
Kenni Holmen   Soloist,Clarinet,Sax (Tenor),Flute
Sam Greenfield   Flute,Soloist,Clarinet,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone),Clarinet (Bass)
Phoebe Katis   Vocals,Featured Artist
Kevin Macintire   Bass (Electric)
Steve Goold   Drums
Nate Smith   Drums
Matt Salazar   Trumpet
Steve Strand   Trumpet
Michael Nelson   Trombone,Euphonium
Yohannes Tona   Bass (Electric)
Alison Comerford   Viola,Violin
Adam Meckler   Trumpet
Kevin Gastonguay   Keyboards,Organ (Hammond)
Ian Gray   Trombone
Peter Janjic   Drums

Technical Credits

Phoebe Katis   Composer
Sebastian White   Design,Artwork
Colin Peck   Photography
Bob Mallory   Engineer
Will Quinnell   Mastering
John Fields   Mixing
John Burk   A&R
Jeff Koz   Composer
John Schimpf   Engineer
Dave Koz   Composer
Cory Wong   Composer,Producer
Michael Nelson   Composer,Horn Arrangements
Miles Hanson   Engineer
Kevin Gastonguay   Composer