Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Koz recorded two albums. 2020’s A New Day, released exactly 30 years and one day after his self-titled debut album, was his 20th album overall and first full set of original material in 10 years. It reached the No. 1 position on numerous jazz charts, including iTunes and Amazon. With an unprecedented four back-to-back No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Smooth Jazz Airplay chart – “Side By Side” ft. David Sanborn, “Dr. Norm” ft. Paul Jackson, Jr., “The Closer We Get” and “Summertime in NYC” – the album proved to be a smash hit at radio.  Other special guests on A New Day included Brian McKnight, Antwaun Stanley of Vulfpeck, Meshell Ndegeocello, Bob James, Marc Antoine, Rick Braun, Jeff Lorber and Chris "Big Dog" Davis. Koz broke new ground with his June 2021 release, The Golden Hour. Recorded live in the studio with a large jazz ensemble, the album marked his first full-length collaboration with guitarist/producer/internet sensation Cory Wong. 

When live entertainment returned, Koz took to the road in 2021 with the Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns tour and the Dave Koz & Friends Christmas tour. In 2022, he celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Dave Koz & Friends Christmas tour with the release of his eighth and most intimate holiday album to date, Christmas Ballads, and a new all-star, 25-date tour. Dave Koz & Friends returned to the road in 2023 with Summer Horns and Christmas tours. In 2024, Koz will perform as Special Guest at “Opening Night at the Bowl: Henry Mancini 100th Celebration” in June and launch the 27th Annual Dave Koz & Friends Christmas tour in November.

The Dave Koz & Friends at Sea Cruise returned in 2022 with two sold-out, back-to-back voyages to Amsterdam and the British Isles. 2023’s three sold-out, back-to-back cruises visited Spain, Morocco and Portugal while 2024’s two sold-out, back-to-back cruises explored Greece, Malta and Sicily. Cabins are on sale now for Dave Koz & Friends’ two 2025 back-to-back cruises to Iceland, Norway and The Netherlands. Koz recently announced a new cruise brand – SOMMA – which will offer the ultimate in luxury, relaxation and entertainment. Its sold-out inaugural cruise will sail the Italian coast in September 2024. 

In March 2024, Dave released the EP Dave Koz Does Disney, which featured modern renditions of beloved Disney songs from numerous eras – from Pinocchio’s “When You Wish Upon A Star” and Mulan’s “Reflection” to “Let It Go” from Frozen and “Dos Oruguitas” from Encanto, a song written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He’ll embark on the Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour 2024 on Black Friday. The outing features Jonathan Butler with special guests, Vincent Ingala, Adam Hawley and Rebecca Jade.

Born and raised in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, Koz became a professional musician after graduating college. He immediately found work as a sideman and was subsequently signed to Capitol Records in 1987.  Koz released his self-titled solo debut album in the fall of 1990, followed by a large body of best-selling work, including several Gold-certified albums and numerous Top 5 singles. In 2010, he signed with Concord Records and released the No. 1 album Hello Tomorrow. Live at the Blue Note Tokyo, Koz’s first live CD, was released by Concord in 2012. He has since topped Billboard’s Current Contemporary Jazz Albums chart with Summer Horns (2013), The 25th of December (2014), Collaborations: 25th Anniversary Collection (2015), Dave Koz and Friends 20th Anniversary Christmas (2017), Summer Horns II From A To Z (2018) and Gifts of the Season (2019). In 2019, Koz also released Live From The Dave Koz Cruise.

Koz, the recipient of the 2023 Starlight Children’s Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, has served as global ambassador for the Foundation for 30 years. With help from his fans, he has raised over two million dollars for Starlight through the Dave Koz & Friends At Sea cruise silent auction.  

He has collaborated with many artists over the years, including Burt Bacharach, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Barry Manilow, Valerie Simpson, Gloria Estefan, Luther Vandross, Shelby Lynne, Kenny Loggins, U2, Michael McDonald, Rod Stewart and The Foo Fighters. He also hosts two radio programs: The Dave Koz Radio Show and The Dave Koz Lounge, which appears on SiriusXM Watercolors and airs nationally every Sunday. Koz completed a four-year term on the GRAMMY® Foundation Artists Committee and has served as National Trustee for the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS). In 2024, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the Christian Bible Institute and Seminary for his humanitarian efforts.

In over 30 years of constant touring, Koz has graced the stages of some of the most prestigious venues the world over, including Royal Albert Hall in London, Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Carnegie Hall in New York and various symphony orchestras across the country. Koz also headlines The Hollywood Bowl every other Summer season as one of the legendary venue’s “regulars.”

“Music has been such a blessing to me, and we need it more than ever today,” Koz says about his remarkable career.