The musician will warm up this month by closing out the Kennedy Center's NSO Pops concert season with a three-night stand. The May 15-17 Washington, DC, performances will see Koz backed by the National Symphony Orchestra with Oscar-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch conducting.

Koz's summer trek officially kicks off June 6 in El Paso, TX, and visits a variety of concert venues and jazz festivals across the country through late September. The musician, who has toured with a "Dave Koz & Friends" lineup over the past several summers, is going it alone this time, marking his first solo jaunt in more than eight years, according to a press release.

"I'm extremely excited; I've been waiting to do this tour for a long time," Koz said in a statement. "We've enlarged the band and are raring to go for the summer. It's a chance for us to really break it down, get super creative and have some serious fun playing for the fans."

Following the summer outing, Koz will do a six-night residency in Tokyo and then embark on the fourth annual "Dave Koz & Friends at Sea" cruise, which leaves from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Nov. 2 and visits several ports of call in the Caribbean.

The saxophonist will then segue into his 11th annual Christmas tour, which will stop by US cities from coast to coast in November and December. Koz has also starting booking dates for 2009. His full North American tour itinerary is listed below and overseas shows can be found at his website.

Koz released two collections of standards last year: "At the Movies," which pays homage to music from classic films, and the holiday-themed "Memories of a Winter's Night."

The Phil Ramone-produced "At the Movies," which features a 40-piece orchestra with guest stars including Barry Manilow, Vanessa Williams, India.Aire, Anita Baker and Donna Summer, scored two Grammy nominations this year: Best Pop Instrumental Album and Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Over the Rainbow." In February, a special edition of the set was released with two bonus tracks and a DVD with footage of Koz and guests making the album.