good evening from los angeles, i'm tavis smiley. merry christmas. tonight a conversation with musician dave koz. his latest holiday offering titled "the 25th of december." featuring duets with some of his friends, johnny mathis, eric bonet, gloria estefan, india arie, stevie wonder, and jonathan butler. he and jonathan, in fact, will close our show tonight with two classic carols. we're glad you joined us. a conversation and performance from dave koz coming up right now. ♪

and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. always a pleasure and delight to welcome multi grammy nominee and, most importantly, my friend, dave koz, back to the program. his fifth album, "the 25th of december," with the likes of al gore -- of gloria estefan, stevie wonder. and he will finish the show with a solo of "first noel," and duet

with -- speaking of friends -- jonathan butler. love this. "o holy night." great to have you on the program. >> it's my honor. we're all fops -- >> i like that. i owe you a big thank you. jonathan has been here since the walk of fame star thing. for those who may not know -- a great year for me. come on -- >> let's talk about that day. that was one of the great days in hollywood. and you were in your element. i think that you resisted for a while. then finally you let it -- i've had it, too. >> yes, you did. >> i did the same thing. is this really going to happen? did somebody make a big mistake? the day comes, there were hundreds on the side of hollywood boulevard for you. but the best thing of the party afterward which i think you produced. let me just say, it was happening. it was way better than my party. >> no. >> your mom -- your mom was there. and i saw how much -- i'd never seen that side of you. i know other sides of you for many years. that was a beautiful thing to

see. thank you for inviting us -- >> he comes and takes over the show. in the hall is one thing, but not in the chair, man. no, no, no. i was about to say that dave and jonathan butler and -- use performed. people are still talking about. and ray parker jr. was there, jay leno, larry king. a great night. powerful. thank you for doing that. >> congratulation again. >> thank you, to you, as well. >> welcome to the club. >> thank you. i'm glad to be in the club. you've been busy since i saw you last. >> yeah. yeah. >> how crazy recording a christmas -- you've done this five times now -- recording a christmas album when it's like 95 degrees outside. >> that's right. it was the first two weeks of june that we started doing our basic track recordings. it was probably about 95 in hollywood. ricky minor produced this, and ricky, i know you -- a fantastic producer and music director. we have the time of our lives. what i like about shim that he's so prepared.

-- about him is that he's so prepared. he's like the queen bee. and other bees are hovering around. you have an idea, and then five minutes later, you can actually do it. so we did the whole thing with all of these incredible artists. there were -- there's 12 songs. it's a vocal duet. >> we're going to talk about that, yeah. >> we did the whole thing from start to finish in six weeks. also coordinating with wonderful artists and musician. it's an all live album. musicians in the studio. it was so much fun for me. after five christmas albums, i should -- i should out myself as a jew. i'm a jewish kid. >> yeah. >> about ready to do my 17th christmas tour. and five christmas albums, tavis, what's wrong with this picture? >> you know what? it's because -- if there's anything i've learned from you -- i mean this in all seriousness -- if i learned anything from you and the other great art i-270 ist, i consider

great artist, music is music. there snow currency in the world quite like music. >> a beautiful way to put it, too. and i love christmas music. i grew up, of course, celebrating hanukkah with my family. i used to be invited to my friends' tree trimmings and christmas eve. it was that feeling of what christmas feels like. there are certain things that create that feeling. of course, family, beautiful house and a fireplace and christmas tree. but the music is the thing. it's not -- not just about the religious aspects, but it's about the family and the warmth and creating community. it's what we've seen for 17 years, coming up on 17 years on our tour. the christmas tour is creating that feeling of unity and togetherness and family feeling. even if you're going out on a night on the town to see music. >> you have project and product. i want to speak about your product and projects speaking of your christmas tour.

before that, dude, you've got friends. fot -- friends of tavis -- no. dude. johnny mathis, eric bonet, gloria estefan, kenny g., bee bee winans, jonathan butler, fantasia, steifvie. you got friends, man. >> when you say it like that, how did that happen? who got all those people? >> you got friends. >> i credit a lot of there is rickey minor and john burke, executive producer of this album. >> number one, by the way. i just read that. >> yeah. number one -- >> again. >> that's always a nice thing. i think that having christmas -- christmas is an opportunity with holiday music, an opportunity for team express different as pecks of their artistry. take stevie wonder, for example. he sang the last two minutes of the last track, "all you need?

love." beatles classic. i fell in love with it. i heard the arrangement that jonathan sang. he was supposed to use it for his album. he didn't. i heard it, fell in love with it. and i said, i wonder if that song has ever been used in the christmas context. and i don't think it has been. so imagine this c.d. as a recording of the best holiday party everywhere you invite wonderful -- wonderfully talented people over. you have some food, get together. you know, clink glasses of champagne. after a great dinner, you retire to the living room. there's a piano there. all -- all these wonderful performers get up and do one song. i'm right there with my sax for eric and gloria and heather. and at the end, we do one song together before we say good night, and that song is "all you need is love." i'll tell you, when stevie wonder came in to sing in the studio and ricky and i were there -- honestly, people talk about you got to pinch yourself. i pincheded my you know what.

i wanted to make sure i was not dreaming this. it was absolutely out-of-body experience. hearing him sing on one of my songs. >> yeah. one of the great joys of my life, talking about stevie. the absolute great joys of my life. i was home one night here in l.a. and the phone rang. blocked number -- i don't usually answer blocked numbers. this one time i'm glad i did. answer the phone, it's stevie. out of the blue, he's like, "what are you doing?" i had just gotten to bed, long day. just started -- watching tv, veging out. he said, "i'm going to the studio. do you want to go tonight?" 11:00, midnight. he's just rolling in -- >> that's right. >> i said, i said "absolutely." as tired as i was, put my clothes on. went in my car to the studio. got there about 12:15, 12:20. at 8:00 in the morning, we were

going to breakfast. i spent the whole night just watching him do his thing. it was surreal to be in studio with stevie. i've known stevie for years as you have. just to watch him work and put down tracks. you know, all night long. because his studio has no windows, he doesn't know what time it is anyway. not that he would anyway -- sorry, stevie. stevie would laugh at that. we were there all night. i loved it. >> i learned one of the great lessons from him on the project. first of all, it's not his album. he was doing us a favor being there. when he got there, the first thing he did -- he did his first take singing and played harmonica. the first take was perfect. gets to the end and goes, "no, no, give it again." the end of that take, "no, i can do better." he must have done ten takes in a row on singing and harmonica. the first takes are what we used, of course. don't tell him i said that.

i was blown away by here's a guy, arguably one of the great pillars of music, has been and will always be. and still after all these years, doesn't have to do any of this. he's striving for personal excellence. not willing to settle, even a project that's not his own. impressed me so much. >> i read a quote from the chairman of the board, mr. sinatra, who once said something to the effect -- "never accept someone telling you that it's okay if you know you can do better." in the studio, you're stevie wonder to your point -- that was great. frank aem's li frank's like, nah, can do better. which i love. talk about how you chose -- this is always an obligatory question but one that has to be asked of anyone who does a christmas c.d. an interesting question to ask you because you've done a few already. so every time you step to do one of those, how do you decide what

to put on it? of course, there are tons of christmas songs. how do you figure it snout>> the barometer was -- except for "let it snow," the duet with kenny g. -- that was great because we had known each other for years but had never done a duet before. that was fun to do that felt other than that song, all of this material is brand new for me on record. >> yeah. >> so i wanted to do -- when i go into the studio make an album, i like -- if possible, i will like to do something that's new and that challenges me as an artist. and ricky and i made a pact at the very beginning of this project. he said to me, and i agreed, "you will not play one more note than is necessary on this album." and that was a really interesting challenge. a lot of these songs, they're a lot of christmas classics. then there's a few that i will call new classics like "grown-up christmas list" that heather headley sings. a beautiful song. maybe about 15 or 20 years old but not as well known as "the most wonderful time of year" or

"the christmas song." great new christmas songs. and we do two new songs, stevie wonder, our buddy, wrote the title track, "the 25th of december." and richard ma rx, my old boss, wrote "another silent night." enned up singing it. a beautiful -- he ended up singing. a beautiful song. we have a handful of the gems. >> when the disc came across my desk, the song i wanted to hear most was the second track. there are a few songs for me -- pardon me -- it ain't christmas until i've heard the songs. and someone donnie hathaway, "this christmas." if i ain't heard donnie ha hathaway, it ain't christmas yet. you got to have bing crosby and the "white christmas." on that list for me, johnny mathis. ♪ it's the most wonderful time of the year ♪ >> that voice is unbelievable.

i could not wait to hear how you re-imagined this thing with johnny mathis. how cool was it? >> the best. >> yeah. >> it was the best. i knew you were going to say that. he is christmas. when you hear that voice. i thought that he would put up a little bit of a fight because he's already done the quintessential version. >> absolutely. >> why would he need to do it again. >> you know him, he's such a beautiful, wonderful, authentic human being. you know, at 78 years old, he is spry as can be. i called him up. he called right back and said, "i'd love to do it. i would love it, david." calls me david. "david, i would love it. be there tomorrow." this is the brilliance of rickey minor. i said, "john, why don't you come to the studio. we'll pick a key and go over the whole thing." she'd, "i love it, i'll be there." and ricky established an all-star rhythm section, billy childs on piano, clayton cameron

on drums, and the bass -- instead of johnny coming to pick a key, there was that immediacy, capturing the voice with the new jazzier than his original. he got it. he was like, i think this is great to re-imagine this whole thing in a new way. he was all in. and i didn't expect that. now it seems very johnny to be all in. >> that's an all-star band. you can't do that without billy child. he was here not long ago. a minute and a half to go. let's run through projects and products. woo we have the new album, "dave kod and friends, 25th of december." number one. two, i am so excited about the new restaurant. >> yes. >> tell everybody. >> spagatini and dave koz lounge. >> the dave koz lounge. >> you have a permanent seat. we'll put a plaque -- >> i'll be there. >> the tavis booth.

>> you got it. >> fine dining. it's a restaurant that's been in existence in southern california for 26 years. this is a brand new jewett outlet right on north cannon drive, 184, next to spago on the new restaurant row of los angeles. and so it's fine dining and music, world-class music, five nights a week. that area is my area to curate. i'm very excited about that. >> speaking of a project, is the tour -- is the cruise already sole out for next year? >> -- sold out for next year? >> it is. but you know, i'll always hold a cabin for you. how many times have i asked you? >> i've been crazy busy. you're kind. where are you going? >> we're starting in san juan, puerto rico, and cruising to what we call the ultimate caribbean, barbados, antigua, st. lucia. february 21st to the 28th, 2016.

>> i'm going to get there one of these days. >> i've got the cabin. it's free. >> i'm taking you occupy. i'm goi -- taking you up on it. >> it's free. for a week's entertainment, $20. >> i'm coming -- >> screw. keep your 20. >> this is why i love dave koz. he's a good friend and a true gentleman. "dave koz and friends: the 25th of december." the new project. and dave will play two songs tonight. a solo first, "the first noel." and then a duet, "o holy night" with our good friend, jonathan bulletler. good nig -- butler. thank you for coming. enjoy. >> thank you very much. >> thanks for watching. and as always, keep the faith.

♪ [ "the first noel" ] ♪ ♪ ♪

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♪ [ applause ] >> thank you, guys. and now to sing "o holy night" from the "the 25th of december." a great honor and privilege to introduce my good friend, mr. jonathan butler. ♪ o holy night the stars are brightly shining ♪

♪ it is the night of our dear savior's birth ♪ ♪ long lay the world in sin and error pining ♪ ♪ till he appeared and the soul finds its worth ♪ ♪ a thrill of hope a weary world rejoices ♪

♪ for yonder break a new and glorious morning ♪ ♪ fall on your knees o hear the angels' voices ♪ ♪ o night divine o night when christ was born ♪

♪ o night divine o night divine ♪ ♪ fall on your knees o hear the angels' voices ♪ ♪ o night divine o night when christ when christ was born ♪ ♪ o night

divine o night divine ♪ ♪ o holy o holy ♪ ♪ holy holy holy ♪ ♪ you are holy

to me ♪ [ applause ] for more information on today's show, visit tavis smiley at pbs.org. >> hi, i'm tavis smiley. join me next time for a conversation with peter the yeas are a and noel "paul" stookey

from peter, paul, and mary. sfwl aand by contributions viewers like you. thank you.

>> charlie: welcome to the program and merry christmas. it is the end of the year and we are looking back at some of the best conversations from 2014. tonight, a look back at some of theñi authorsçó books that we enjoyed. >> i called them tales because i didn't want people to think we were in the land of total social realism. >> charlie: yes. although we kind of are in a way because i don't cheat. i don't think there are any real zombies or anything in the stories, but there are certainly people who are interested in cut-off hands that crawl around by themselves and otherñiñi+ the form. >> virginia wolf decided she wanted to write a novel without a plot to forgo that device, that convention, and she did a couple of times. the oneçó i liked best is