Delco Gets Smooth With Dave Koz and Friends

The Lansdowne Theater in Lansdowne, Delaware County opened its doors in 1927.

It was home to performances for 60 years, but an electrical fire shuttered its doors. A dedicated group of supporters helped restore the theater and it was back open for business this August.

On a chilly December Saturday night, the Lansdowne welcomed Dave Koz’s 28th annual Christmas tour. That Dave has been able to do the tour for nearly three decades shows his longevity. He’s 62, but hardly slowing down. It had been years, however, since his Christmas show was in the immediate Philadelphia area. Delco was truly in for a treat.

Dave is a smooth jazz saxophonist and one of the staples of the format since the mid-1990s. If you listen to WXVU evenings or the weekends, you’ll hear plenty of Dave’s music.

But his Christmas show truly offers something for everyone. For about the last 20 years, the multi-talented Jonathan Butler accompanies Dave. With roots in jazz and gospel, he gives his all in every performance and the crowd can sense it.

He collaborates with Dave very well. It was evident on their rendition of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”

But the patrons of this show who have seen it before will tell you — there’s nothing like Jonathan’s version of “O Holy Night.” It’s chill-inducing.

I really enjoyed the three new cast members of Dave’s Christmas show this year. Outstanding pianist Kayla Waters is poised to be part of the smooth jazz genre for the next two to three decades. Her sound is just perfect, and it’s not just because she comes from fantastic smooth jazz lineage — the daughter of saxophonist Kim Waters, who was in attendance.

Kayla talked about how her faith means a lot to her, and it showed in her medley of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.”

Talented vocalist Haley Reinhart was also new to the tour this year. She dazzled with her version of “Ave Maria,” as well as the song that made her a streaming sensation, Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You.”

The multi-talented Casey Abrams added a joyful, jovial flare to the show. As a vocalist and bassist, he performed his original song for the tour, “The Best Part of Christmas Is the Jazz,” with lyrics that pay homage to the voices we hear most this time of year — Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and others.

The audience was enthralled and as a credit to the Lansdowne, the sound of the performers was outstanding.

I felt fortunate to be in attendance with my mother, spending a December night listening to music we enjoy so much.