Engaging Festivities With Dave Koz

Smooth jazz on the radio has its jejune qualities, overflowing with too many bland repetitions slipping quickly away from one’s conscious regard. Which makes it all the more surprising that so many performers in the smooth jazz arena are so much more engaging in their live concert outings.

Dave Koz’s “Smooth Jazz Christmas” show at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday night was a perfect case in point. Bland moments were few and far between, and Koz and his friends--trumpeter Rick Braun, guitarist Peter White, singer Brenda Russell and pianist David Benoit--offered a spirited, three-hour performance that was a celebration of the season and an affirmation of smooth jazz’s entertaining qualities.

A good portion of the concert recapitulated the program on Koz’s recently released Capitol Records album, “Dave Koz & Friends: A Smooth Jazz Christmas.” But there was much more--both in the considerably more lively in-person performances, as well as via the addition of such supplementary items as Russell’s vocals on “Walkin’ in New York” and “So Good, So Right.” Beyond that, there was the effervescent quality of the performance--obviously a direct reflection of the performers’ participatory pleasure.

Sure, some of the material was silly: Koz and Braun having a horn battle as they strolled through the audience; the jive dance steps occasionally engaged in by the front line of instruments; the irrepressible energy that kept Koz in constant motion. But it was fun silly, a welcome episode of seasonal joy at a time when it is deeply needed.

And there were, in addition, some impressive, sheer musical moments as well. “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus,” in which Russell was backed by a hard-swinging rhythmic drive, grabbed the urban blues style of the ‘40s and ‘50s, transforming it into a vividly contemporary expression; Benoit’s segment of music from “Peanuts” reminded us of the wonder of composer Vince Guaraldi’s melodic magic; White’s “Silent Night” was a lovely salute to the fact that the Christmas classic had originally been composed on the guitar.

Best of all, in this musical embrace of the season, there was a warm and amiable segment in which each of the stars offered his or her own, engaging personal reminiscences. In the fourth year of his “Smooth Jazz Christmas” shows, Koz has come up with a true musical evergreen.