Jazz pianist David Benoit takes the stage as “Torrance Goes Jazz” takes hold of the James R. Armstrong Theater on Sunday, Feb. 17.
The show is a part of the “Joanna and Friends” series helmed by South Bay musical dynamo Joanna Medawar Nachef, artistic director and conductor of Torrance Pops. She’s also the ringleader of her own collection of singers — and she recently showed off members of her troupe of power performers at the Torrance Performing Arts Consortium Awards.
Benoit — an oft-honored jazz and classical performer and composer — will perform on his own and with a trio at the 7:30 p.m. show at the theater, located at 3330 Civic Center Drive. Tickets — priced at $25 general and $15 students and children — are available at the theater box office, at (310) 781-7171 and at torrancepops.com.
According to his website, Benoit has charted more than 25 albums since 1980. The thrice Grammy nominated entertainer is known best for his jazz stylings, but has also dabbled in showtunes, pop and other genres.
Bakersfield-born, Benoit grew up in Los Angeles. He says after watching the “A Charlie Brown Christmas” special on CBS in 1965 — featuring the now-iconic music of Vince Guaraldi – he was hooked on jazz for good.
“I was already a fan of the comic strip,” he said on his website, “but when I heard that jazz piano trio, that was the defining moment when I decided that I wanted to play like Vince Guaraldi.” Recently, Benoit toured with a Christmas-themed tribute to Guaraldi’s music.
Benoit was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Smooth Jazz Awards. And he’s worked with such musicians as the Rippingtons, Dave Koz, Faith Hill, David Sanborn, CeCe Winans and Brian McKnight.
Benoit’s film scores include “The Stars Fell on Henrietta” in 1995 and “The Christmas Tree” in 1996.
