Four Decades of Creating Music with David Benoit

In today's episode, Carl talks to David Benoit, who is a pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, educator, and a radio personality with over 40 years of experience. He has collaborated with a ton of artists, even those who are not contemporary jazz artists but great musicians as well, like Patti Austin, the Rippingtons, and Dave Koz, just to name a few. He started out with a piano in Bakersfield and reflected on how music became his sanctuary.  He discusses teaching the youth orchestra and the differences between approaching music as a solitary creative pursuit and collectively performing in front of large audiences. During his contemplative dialogue, he notes the creative expertise it takes to juggle those tasks and reveals just how far along his musical journey he has gone. David declares that his only focus lately is the sheer joy of countless creative pursuits.  He is delving deeper and further into this part of himself in an attempt to gain gratification and satisfaction. Tune in to find out his secret in making it look so easy despite the countless hours of hard work and devotion.Episode Highlights 06:18 - When I was six years old, a lot of my compositional ideas came up, because I would just try to come up with ideas on the piano much like I do now. 19:23 - It just makes me feel so good that I've touched somebody's life in a good way. Maybe if they're sad, or they cry or they're happy, but that my music has touched someone's life. Let's face it. There's so much negativity  44:51 - I would say follow your passion, work hard, but also be disciplined about it, too. Especially the temptation of getting into jazz, the temptation of doing drugs or alcohol, where it gets you away from the goal that you're seeking. So, just stay away from that, to really follow your dream, but to work hard. The work hard part is important, too. Practicing and really getting your craft as good as you can get it. ContactFresh Coast Jazz FestivalDavid Benoit