hi reddit! I’m saxophonist Dave Koz (9 Grammy nominations, 11 No. 1 albums). I spent years running from the words “smooth jazz.” Now, I’m proud to wear it. I'm here with director of SMOOTH WORLD, Mickey Duzyj, a film about jazz premiering this week. Ask us anything!

[u/SmoothWorldAMA]

hi reddit! We're Dave Koz and Mickey Duzyj from SMOOTH WORLD, here to answer your questions.

Synopsis: Exiled from radio for being lame, the world of smooth jazz has secretly thrived as an underground paradise for senior citizens. Now, as the last smoothies face extinction, they band together to find a new leader who can save their beloved Smooth World.

Cast: Dave Koz, Kirk Whalum, Norman Brown, Mindi Abair, Vincent Ingala, Cory Wong, Alexander Zonjic, and more.

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1225286270

• Website: http://smoothworldfilm.com
• Mickey on Pablo Torre Finds Out: https://youtu.be/O7doIzSlT70?si=N3NteIeowglYEVgX
• New York Times Reel on the film: https://www.nytimes.com/video/the-athletic/100000011052674/embark-on-a-journey-into-the-secret-world-of-smooth-jazz.html
• Newport Beach Film Festival tickets, World Premiere, Oct 21: https://nbff2026.eventive.org/films/6aa310251699924621fc6f6c

Release date: World Premiere on October 21 at the 2026 Newport Beach Film Festival.

Bios:

Dave Koz, saxophonist. Nine GRAMMY nominations, 11 No. 1 albums on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz chart, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has recorded with Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, Barry Manilow, Rod Stewart, and Luther Vandross, among others. He hosts the nationally syndicated Dave Koz Lounge on SiriusXM, the annual Dave Koz & Friends At Sea cruise, alongside several other tours and cruise events. He received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.

Mickey Duzyj, director. Creator of the Netflix series Losers (multiple Emmy nominations), animator on OJ: Made in America, and director of shorts about a dismissed racehorse, a stadium Jumbotron fan, and competitive birders. The Guardian called his work “genius.” Correspondent on Pablo Torre Finds Out.

Ask us anything! We will both be back at 4:30 PM ET on Tuesday 10/20 to answer questions.

[u/BunyipPouch]

This AMA has been verified and approved by the mods. Dave & Mickey will be back on Tuesday 10/20 at around 4:30 PM ET to answer questions. Please feel free to ask away in the meantime :)

[u/jimmycthatsme]

Mickey, how did this film get off the ground and what was the most surprising part of the production? Any big take-aways? Takk, bror.

[u/Minifig81]

Dave: What are your thoughts about Miles Davis' Kind of Blue and John Coltrane's A Love Supreme?

[u/acekingoffsuit]

For Dave: Your music gets used in a lot of different places. Has there ever been a situation where you heard your own song in the wild and been surprised by it?

[u/Embarrassed_Host501]

Hello Mr. Koz! i was actually just relistening to your album ''summer horns''.

So what is your favourite jazz album of all time?

[u/questesaranno]

Hi from Malaysia! Love your cover of Sheila Majid's Sinaran and Miki Imai's Piece of my Wish❤️ Gonna mention this film to local cinema chains:)

[u/CinemaConqueror]

Hi to both!

For Dave - If you could have a one-hour jam session with any jazz musician who isn't with us anymore, who would you pick and why?

For Mickey - Can you tell us some of your favorite documentaries of all time? And are there any that influenced this film?

[u/RanLearns]

Thanks for all that you do - I love to rock out to some smooth jazz and am looking forward to this film! I’ve been to Dave Koz holiday shows but haven’t made it to a Koz Cruise yet. Can you share any stories about the great Earl Klugh? His “Weekend of Jazz” is an inspiring gathering of likeminded listeners or “smoothies”

[u/Free_Account9372]

Was Stan Getz an inspiration to you?