David Benoit

Genres:	Holiday & Seasonal • Jazz • Kids & Family • Mystery / Thriller
Descriptive "tags":	smooth jazz • jazz • piano • jazz piano • instrumental • david benoit
Decades Active:	1970s • 1980s • 1990s • 2000s

Biography

Bakersfield, California, USA. Benoit gained an early appreciation of music from his parents, who played guitar and piano. He began piano lessons at the age of 14, by which time he was steeped in the influences of both Ramsey Lewis and Henry Mancini. Following his musical studies at El Camino College, he met with composer Richard Baskin and played piano on the movie soundtrack to Nashville in 1975. He gained valuable experience playing in clubs and bars and became Gloria Lynne’s pianist. He toured with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1976 as Lainie Kazan’s arranger and accompanist.

Benoit’s debut recording was with drummer Alphonse Mouzon and it was during these sessions he met with Dave Grusin, who became an important figure in his future career. He recorded a number of albums on the small AVI label that demonstrated his fluid and skilful playing, although these recordings suffered from an overall blandness that resulted in...

Read the Full Biography of David Benoit