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Sat, March 24
David Benoit & Marc Antoine
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Renaissance man David Benoit has built an enviable career taking chances. Drawing inspiration from jazz, the comics,
symphonies, film, Broadway and beyond, there does not seem to be anything he cannot play. The Los Angeles raised pianist was bitten by the jazz bug in 1965 after watching a Charlie Brown special on television and hearing the music of Vince Guaraldi. He would go on to study music theory, composition, film scoring and conducting at UCLA. A pioneer in contemporary jazz, Benoit who is celebrating four decades as a recording artist continues to build on his legacy. Highlights from the chart-topping pianist’s
catalogue includes the recordings Freedom at Midnight (1987),
Waiting for Spring (1989), Shadows (1991), Letter to Evan (1992, a tribute to Bill Evans), Here’s to You, Charlie Brown: Fifty Great Years (2000). Benoit has also recorded two albums with guitarist Russ Freeman Benoit/Freeman Project (1994) and 2
(2004). His discography also includes the recording American Landscape (1997) and Orchestral Stories (2005), which featured
his first piano concerto and symphonic work. Benoit’s 2012 CD
Conversation garnered three Grammy nominations and 2 In Love
(2015) joined him with vocalist Jane Monheit. Benoit’s film scores include The Stars Fell on Henrietta (1995), produced by Clint Eastwood, and The Christmas Tree, produced by Sally Field, which was voted ‘Best Score of 1996’ by Film Score Monthly. The dynamic artist has served as conductor for numerous symphonies including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Asia America Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. A long-time guest educator with the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, he received that organization’s Excellence in Music Award in 2001. Benoit also currently hosts a morning radio show on KKJZ 88.1 FM in Long Beach, CA.
Revered for his soulful elixir of exotic textures and fluid artistry, guitarist Marc Antoine has been a force of nature on the contemporary jazz scene for over three decades. Classically trained at the International School of Classical Guitar, Antoine was first widely introduced to audiences in the late 80s when he hit the road with Basia. Loved for his unique fusion of classical, jazz, soul and world influences, Antoine quickly became a mainstay on radio and the international touring circuit working with everyone from Sting and Cher to Marion Meadows, Rick Braun, Dave Koz and countless others. Through the years, Antoine has also been first call for the popular Guitars & Saxes All-Star tours and cruises. Some of the standouts in his illustrious recording catalogue are Gypsy (1995), Madrid (1998), Universal Language (2000), Cruisin’ (2001), Mediterraneano (2003), Modern Times (2005), Foreign Exchange with Paul Brown (2008), My Classical Way (2010) and Guitar Destiny (2012) and Laguna Beach (2016). In 2012, Antoine faced health challenges, as he had to undergo major heart surgery and then in 2014, after several misdiagnoses, had surgery to relieve cramping in his hand caused by a condition called “Trigger Finger.” One of his fingers on his left hand kept getting stuck in an odd position, causing unbearable pain when he would play the guitar. Overcoming these challenges, Antoine is back in top form. The consummate artist recently relocated back to Southern California after living in his wife’s hometown of Madrid for over a decade.
Revered for his soulful elixir of exotic textures and fluid artistry, guitarist Marc Antoine has been a force of nature on the contemporary jazz scene for over three decades. Classically trained at the International School of Classical Guitar, Antoine was first widely introduced to audiences in the late 80s when he hit the road with Basia. Loved for his unique fusion of classical, jazz, soul and world influences, Antoine quickly became a mainstay on radio and the international touring circuit working with everyone from Sting and Cher to Marion Meadows, Rick Braun, Dave Koz and countless others. Through the years, Antoine has also been first call for the popular Guitars & Saxes All-Star tours and cruises. Some of the standouts in his illustrious recording catalogue are Gypsy (1995), Madrid (1998), Universal Language (2000), Cruisin’ (2001), Mediterraneano (2003), Modern Times (2005), Foreign Exchange with Paul Brown (2008), My Classical Way (2010) and Guitar Destiny (2012) and Laguna Beach (2016). In 2012, Antoine faced health challenges, as he had to undergo major heart surgery and then in 2014, after several misdiagnoses, had surgery to relieve cramping in his hand caused by a condition called “Trigger Finger.” One of his fingers on his left hand kept getting stuck in an odd position, causing unbearable pain when he would play the guitar. Overcoming these challenges, Antoine is back in top form. The consummate artist recently relocated back to Southern California after living in his wife’s hometown of Madrid for over a decade.