Smooth operators

The holiday season has just begun, and already you can feel your blood pressure rising at the thought of crowded stores, traffic jams and Christmas cards you have to mail. But why start the holidays on a stressful note? Save the trip to the mall for next week and head to Lake Tahoe for a weekend of smooth jazz music. Saxophonist Dave Koz will put audiences in a mellow mood with his annual Christmas concert on Nov. 28. An ensemble comprised of singer-songwriter Bobby Caldwell, guitarist Marc Antoine, trumpet player Chris Botti and keyboardist Brian Culbertson will support the smooth jazz king, whose latest album is Saxophonic. Koz and company perform at 8 p.m. Tickets are $55. The holiday music continues with a concert by veteran jazz guitarist Peter White (pictured) and up-and-coming saxophonist Mindi Abair on Nov. 29. Another big name in the smooth jazz genre, White mixes acoustic, pop, Spanish and R&B elements into his music. The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $44. Both concerts will be at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom, Country Club and Lakeshore drives in Incline Village. Call (775) 832-1234 or visit www.jazzconcerts.com for details.