Dave Koz - Off The Beaten Path (1996)

Tracklist
1 Don't Look Back 4:07
2 I'm Ready 4:37
3 Wake Up Call 4:52
4 Let Me Count The Ways 4:20
5 Follow Me Home 5:44
6 Awakenings 3:34
7 Flat Feet 3:50
8 Lullaby For A Rainy Night 4:56
9 That's The Way I Feel About You 4:41
10 Leave The Light On 4:09
11 Under The Spell Of The Moon 4:50
12 My Back Porch 5:13
13 Rememberance 2:41

personnel :
Dave Koz - Saxophones, Vocals
Greg Adams - Trumpet
Kenny Aronoff - Drums, Percussion
Gregg Arreguin - Guitars
Sweet Pea Atkinson - Background Vocal
Phil Ayling - Tin Whistle
Sir Harry Bowen - Background Vocal
Lenny Castro - Percussion
Sharon Celani - Background Vocal
Larry Corbett - Cello
Jim Cox - Hammond B-3 Organ, Wurlitzer Electric Piano
Chuck Findley - Trumpet
Jim Gilstrap - Background Vocal
Gary Herbig - Tenor and Baritone Sax
Brian Kilgore - Maracas
Leo Kottke - Acoustic Guitar
Jeff Koz - Guitars
Nick Lane - Trombone
Greg Leisz - Guitars
Kipp Lennon - Background Vocal
Mark Lennon - Background Vocal
Brian Mann - Accordion
Arnold McCuller - Background Vocal
Jamie Muhoberac - Keyboards
Stevie Nicks - Background Vocal (on track 4)
Tollak Ollestad - Harmonica
Sid Page - Fiddle
John Pierce - Bass
Tim Pierce - Guitars
David Piltch - Bass
Mark Schulman - Drums
Chester Thompson - Hammond B-3 Organ
Dave Koz's complete 180 twist Off the Beaten Path is full-fledged musical proof that digging deep and exposing certain vulnerabilities can yield dead-on results. The saxman's first two hits (including the gold "Lucky Man") were solid pop/funk gems, but heavy on the slick, urban-tinged production machinery. If it ain't broke, don't fix it? How droll and uninspiring. Instead, Koz has chosen to veer slightly off the smooth and onto a rockier, less certain road for a more organic, acoustic-oriented experience, all of which reflects the sweeping changes in his life these past few years. A combination of high energy and tight synergy with his supporting players shines through from the raw, fast, and furious folk-to-rock fusion drive-time cut "Don't Look Back" to a wild, brassy, and bluesy "Wake Up Call" and on through the polyrhythmic alto jam "Follow Me Home" (featuring violin and Irish pennywhistle). Hootie & the Blowfish would envy the Jeff Lorber-tinged Southern rocker "Flat Feet," a true barn burner that features call and response between Koz and Greg Leisz's pedal steel guitar. The trappings may have changed, but the sweetheart in Koz's soul isn't far away melodically, judging by the silky "Lullaby for a Rainy Night" and "I'm Ready." Hard to say where Sausalito meets the Southern porch swings, but there's a definite John Grisham film score feel on many of the cuts. Guest wise, it might be more fun to mention Stevie Nicks asking Koz to "Let Me Count the Ways," but Brian Mann's accordion actually makes more impact.~Jonathan Widran
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