Christmas music is good! I normally try to avoid injecting such controversial takes into this paper, but it needs to be said. While the detractors of Christmas music are sometimes deafening in their criticism, I sleep well at night knowing that I’m on the same team as Dave Koz. The saxophone virtuoso doesn’t just “make Christmas albums.” This nine-time Grammy nominee has made Christmas music a pillar of his three-decade musical career. Fresh off the heels of his 2021 release The Golden Hour, Koz is in peak form as he brings his campaign of Christmas (and Chanukah!) cheer with him to San Jose Civic.

Dave Koz + Friends
Thu, 8pm, $57.50+
San Jose Civic, San Jose

Saxophonist Dave Koz has played with everyone from Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder, to Celine Dion, U2, and Burt Bacharach. And if you’ve ever wanted to get in on a little Koz-play, the City National Civic is the place for you this week. For the past past years, Koz has helped people ring in the holidays every December with a special set of seasonal tunes. This year, to celebrate the event’s 20th anniversary, the nine-time Grammy nominee reassembles his original holiday quartet of pianist David Benoit, guitarist Peter White and trumpeter Rick Braun.

Dave Koz
Thu, 8pm, $55+
City National Civic, San Jose