Rooted in their decades-long friendship and driven by an adventurous spirit of creative camaraderie, contemporary jazz icons Bob James and Dave Koz mark a unique milestone in both their careers with the aptly titled duo album Just Us. A piano- and saxophone-only collection of fresh originals and colorful reinterpretations of Great American Songbook standards, the inspired format—free of the usual additional support of a traditional rhythm section—frees both to spontaneously move beyond the signature sounds that fueled their superstardom and years of Billboard chart success—and into a more spontaneous, organic soundscape full of dynamic new possibilities. “Recording this album with Bob James was one of the greatest life (and music) experiences for me—I learned so much from this treasure of a man,” said Dave Koz. “This duet project is just acoustic piano and saxophone, in all their raw beauty. Talk about being vulnerable! But with Bob at the piano, all concern goes away…like playing on a bed of clouds. I can't wait to perform these songs with him in front of a live audience.” “This is a totally unplugged and, as partner Dave points out, vulnerable set,” adds Bob James. “Both he and I have had the good fortune to record many times with great rhythm sections and sophisticated production. This time, all that is stripped away, and it's just us. We hope the intimacy of these musical one-to-one conversations conveys the spirit we both felt. It was a unique opportunity for me to collaborate and be inspired by the passionate romanticism of my duo partner.” The album came about spontaneously after Koz invited James to headline the main show room aboard the Seaborn Ovation in September 2024 as part of Somma Italia, the saxophonist’s first Somma Cruise, a deluxe extension of the mega-popular Dave Koz Cruise. James agreed on one condition: that the two make a new recording to give to attendees. The collaboration was recorded primarily in Bob James’ home base of Traverse City, MI. The ballad “Sommation” references the cruise, and “My Ship” was inspired by Miles Davis’ 1957 arrangement of the classic Kurt Weil/Ira Gershwin composition. “T W O” is an original track, as are “The Naked Ballet,” the dreamy “Protea,” and the French-inspired ballad “Rue de Rivoli.” ‘All the Way’ is of course a romantic cover, as is Charlie Chaplin’s ‘Smile’, while ‘Fountain d’Alice’ is more avant-garde. The original single ‘New Hope’ is an elegant, soulful floating and deeply emotional reminder that we can be optimistic and dare to dream, even in uncertain times. Dave wrote the song with Todd Schroeder when the two were in Saudi Arabia for the first time. To close it off you get the bonus track ‘On the Sunny Side of the Street’, which can only be found on the CD. A special duet album, in which you can clearly hear the essence of both musicians, the piano playing of Bob James and the saxophone of Dave Koz. To quietly enjoy!
		Website Bob James Dave Koz Tracks: Sommation My Ship T W O All The Way Fontaine d’Alice The Naked Ballet Smile Rue de Rivoli Protea New Hope Sunny Side of the Street