Friday, September 1, 2017

David Benoit & Marc Antoine - So Nice! (2017)


What do you get when you have two veteran musicians that have their unique individual styles, but who can also come together as they blend perfectly to create something out of the ordinary?

David Benoit & Marc Antoine have a new collaboration. The album is titled, So Nice!  If you like Bossa Nova-inspired creations, then this is for you.

David Benoit has been in the game for 40 years, and he has not slowed down one bit!  In addition to his solo work, Benoit has worked with artists as diverse as the Rippingtons, and Faith Hill to David Sanborn and CeCe Winans.  Benoit wanted to become a jazz artist at an early age, after hearing the music from a Charlie Brown special.   “I was already a fan of the comic strip,” he says, “but when I heard that jazz piano trio, that was the defining moment when I decided that I wanted to play like Vince Guaraldi.”


In case you forgot about that music from way back, here is Linus and Lucy from Benoit:

It also appears in our Smooth Jazz Series.  It is still one of my favorites. In addition to the 40+ albums he has recorded, Benoit has also diversified his talents.  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. He has served as conductor with a wide range of symphonies including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Asia America Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Marc Antoine was born in France, but he also lived in London and Tokyo, as well as the United States.  He has also played with some diverse artists.  They include Basia, Soul II Soul, George Benson and Sting.

With experience like that, you know a collaboration would be So Nice! READ MORE...