Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/13061
JULY 2010 HEALTH & HAPPINESS 44 FEATURE : JAZZ IT UP LBM: You were born in Encino. What was it like growing up in the Koz household? DK: Yes, I am a 'valley boy', and proud of it! Both my parents were in the medical profession, my dad a dermatologist and my mom, a pharmacist. And ironically, all three of their kids went into some aspect of the music business. Go figure. There was lots of music around growing up though, that's for sure. A wide mix too — from Sinatra to Tower of Power to Peter Gabriel to Earth, Wind and Fire — and about everything in between. My parents were extremely supportive of us following our passion, and that made all the difference in having the confidence to try a life in the music world. LBM: The saxophone is a very unique instrument. Is that the very first instrument you learned to play? DK: Actually, piano was my first and I hated it. That whole 'having to practice' thing! I rebelled and took up the drums at 10. But I really sucked on the drums — I remember my teacher pulling my dad aside after a lesson and saying "you might want to think about sports with David, as the drums is obviously not his calling!" But I persevered — and in 7th grade, found the sax. It was kinda like finding my long-lost best friend — and it's been a great relationship ever since. LBM: Is this your first time performing at the Long Beach Jazz Festival? DK: I played the festival once before, but it's been a long time, so it's really cool to be coming back. I know it's the place to be — and has been that way for years and years now. I'm really looking forward to seeing the other artists on the bill too — that's always the A CONVERSATION WITH DAVE KOZ WRITTEN BY DANIEL ALBERT DAVE KOZ