Saxophonist Dave Koz has become one of the most successful and beloved instrumentalists of his time, and helped establish smooth jazz as a musical force to be reckoned with. His career catapulted with 1993's Lucky Man, one of Koz' slickest and most commercial releases (which is not a bad thing by any means) to date. The album has an undeniably crisp and clean feel, akin to the color schemes used in the artwork. The musical styles range from funky and peppy, as in the opening "Shakin' the Shack," "Silverlining," and the evergreen "You Make Me Smile," to tender and sweet, as in "Faces of the Heart," "Lucky Man," and "Tender Is the Night," which features hypnotic vocals courtesy of Phil Perry. A definite highlight is the unstoppable and downright electrifying "Saxman," which features an A list who's who of influential saxophonists jamming along with Koz. The album also utilizes hip-hop scratches and beats on his wonderfully soulful cover of "Don't Look Any Further" (which features former C+C Music Factory belter Zelma Davis) and a gospel choir on "Show Me the Way." Closing with his wonderful and touching rendition of "Misty," Lucky Man is a must for any fan of contemporary and smooth jazz, and ranks as an absolute highlight in Dave Koz' enduring catalog. ~ Jose F. Promis, All Music Guide
Eddie Murphy (Engineer), Robben Ford (Guitar (Electric)), Robben Ford (Performer), Robben Ford (?), Dave Koz (Guitar (Acoustic)), Dave Koz (Bass), Dave Koz (Arranger), Dave Koz (Guitar (Electric)), Dave Koz (Keyboards), Dave Koz (Sax (Alto)), Dave Koz (Sax (Baritone)), Dave Koz (Sax (Soprano)), Dave Koz (Sax (Tenor)), Dave Koz (Sound Effects), Dave Koz (Vocals (Background)), Dave Koz (Producer), Dave Koz (Chant), Dave Koz (Main Performer), Dave Koz (EWI), Dave Koz (Associate Producer), Dave Koz (Drum Programming), Jeremy Lubbock (Conductor), Jeremy Lubbock (String Arrangements), Steve Reid (Percussion), Jeff Lorber (Synthesizer), Jeff Lorber (Arranger), Jeff Lorber (Keyboards), Jeff Lorber (Programming), Jeff Lorber (Producer), Jeff Lorber (Engineer), Jeff Lorber (Drum Programming), Chester Thompson (?), Phil Perry (Vocals), Clarence Clemons (Sax (Tenor)), Clarence Clemons (Performer), Clarence Clemons (?), Maceo Parker (Sax (Alto)), Maceo Parker (Performer), Maceo Parker (?), Ken Moore (Piano), Michael Thompson (Guitar (Electric)), Evan Rogers (Arranger), Evan Rogers (Vocals (Background)), Evan Rogers (Producer), Franne Golde (Vocals (Background)), Franne Golde (Chant), Jimmy Haslip (Fretless Bass), John Barnes (Piano), Curt Bisquera (Drums), Dan Bosworth (Engineer), Dan Bosworth (Second Engineer), Alex Brown (Choir, Chorus), Martin Brumbach (Engineer), Martin Brumbach (Second Engineer), Robbie Buchanan (Arranger), Robbie Buchanan (Keyboards), Robbie Buchanan (Programming), Teddy Castellucci (Guitar (Acoustic)), Teddy Castellucci (Guitar (Electric)), Lenny Castro (Percussion), Jim Champagne (Engineer), Jim Champagne (Second Engineer), Brad Cole (Piano), Brad Cole (Arranger), Brad Cole (Keyboards), Brad Cole (Saxophone Arrangement), Paulinho Da Costa (Percussion), Zelma Davis (Vocals), Zelma Davis (Vocals (Background)), Tony DeTiege (Arranger), Tony DeTiege (Keyboard Programming), Tony DeTiege (Pre-Production), Nathan East (Bass), Nathan East (Bass (Electric)), Howard "Buzz" Feiten (Guitar), Howard "Buzz" Feiten (?), Michael Fisher (Percussion), Claude Gaudette (Bass), Claude Gaudette (Piano), Claude Gaudette (Strings), Claude Gaudette (Keyboards), Claude Gaudette (String Arrangements), Claude Gaudette (Drum Programming), Claude Gaudette (Synthesizer Bass), Jim Gilstrap (Choir, Chorus), Ed Greene (Drums), Ray Griffin (Drums), Phillip Ingram (Choir, Chorus), Paul Jackson, Jr. (Guitar), Paul Jackson, Jr. (Guitar (Rhythm)), Kimm James (Mixing Assistant), Kimm James (Second Engineer), Evelyn "Champagne" King (Vocals (Background)), Evelyn "Champagne" King (Chant), Stephen "Doc" Kupka (Sax (Baritone)), Dennis Lambert (Arranger), Dennis Lambert (Vocals (Background)), Dennis Lambert (Producer), Dennis Lambert (Chant), Ricky Lawson (Drums), Oliver Leiber (Guitar), Mona Lisa (Choir, Chorus), Jheryl Lockhart (Vocals (Background)), Jheryl Lockhart (Chant), Bob Mann (Guitar (Acoustic)), Jean McClain (Vocals (Background)), Jean McClain (Chant), Alan Meyerson (Mixing), Alec Milstein (Bass), Alec Milstein (Bass (Electric)), Gabriel Moffat (Engineer), Billy Moss (Arranger), Billy Moss (Keyboard Programming), Billy Moss (Pre-Production), Edward Olmos (Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part), Pino Palladino (Fretless Bass), Pino Palladino (?), Bill Payne (Piano), John Pena (Bass), Katrina Perkins (Vocals (Background)), Katrina Perkins (Choir, Chorus), Katrina Perkins (Chant), Jeff Pescetto (Choir, Chorus), Greg Phillinganes (Piano), Doug Rider (Engineer), Doug Rider (Mixing), Carlos Rios (Guitar (Electric)), John "J.R." Robinson (Drums), Thom Russo (Mixing Assistant), Thom Russo (Second Engineer), Machito Sanchez (Percussion), Mark Schulman (Drums), Jeffrey Shannon (Mixing Assistant), Jeffrey Shannon (Second Engineer), Allen Sides (Engineer), Leslie Smith (Choir, Chorus), Mick Stern (Engineer), Mick Stern (Second Engineer), Carl Sturken (Guitar (Acoustic)), Carl Sturken (Arranger), Carl Sturken (Keyboards), Carl Sturken (Producer), Chester Thompson (Organ), Gabe Veltri (Engineer), Yvonne Williams (Choir, Chorus), Howard Willing (Engineer), Howard Willing (Second Engineer), Terry Young (Choir, Chorus), Tommy Steele (Art Direction), Bruce Lundvall (Executive Producer), Charles Pettigrew (Vocals), Charles Pettigrew (?), Eric Rudd (Engineer), Eric Rudd (Second Engineer), Jeff Koz (Guitar (Acoustic)), Jeff Koz (Bass), Jeff Koz (Arranger), Jeff Koz (Guitar (Electric)), Jeff Koz (Keyboards), Jeff Koz (Producer), Jeff Koz (Drum Programming), Bob Loftus (Engineer), Bob Loftus (Second Engineer), Nick Els (Engineer), Edward James Olmos (Narrator), Edward James Olmos (?), Kenny Moore (Piano), Gigi Worth (Choir, Chorus), Tim Carmon (Arranger), Tim Carmon (Keyboard Programming), Tim Carmon (Pre-Production), Jamie Seyberth (Mixing Assistant), John Chamberlin (Mixing Assistant), John Chamberlin (Second Engineer), Jeffery Fey (Art Direction), Jeffery Fey (Design), Carl Haslip (?), Mort Koz (Engineer), Mort Koz (Second Engineer), Doc Kupka (?), John Zaika (Engineer), John Zaika (Second Engineer), Shelly Stewart (Engineer), Shelly Stewart (Second Engineer), Willie Will (Mixing Assistant), Willie Will (Second Engineer), Monalisa (Choir, Chorus), Scott Morgan (Photography), Steve Hall (Mastering), Booker T. Jones III (Organ), Booker T. Jones III (?)
