Asia American Symphony launches season
Jazz singer Sara Gazarek will be featured as the Asia American Symphony Association concert series kicks off its new season March 18 at the Norris Pavilion. Photo courtesy AASA
“My approach to classical music has always had elements of jazz to it, and that’s just because it’s where I come from,” explains pianist and composer David Benoit on his role as music director and conductor of the Asia America Symphony Association.
The history of the Asia America Symphony Association (AASA) dates back to 1961 with conductor Dr. Akira Kikukawa—who directed the orchestra for thirty years. In 1991, AASA became a professional orchestra (renamed the Japan America Symphony Orchestra) under the direction of former Los Angeles Philharmonic violist and assistant conductor Heiichiro Ohyama. In 1995, AASA assumed the more inclusive name of the Asia America Symphony Orchestra.
Benoit accepted the role of music director and conductor in 2001 and established the Asia America Youth Orchestra that same year. The orchestra offers young, talented musicians (18 or younger) a seat in a rigorous training program in the hopes of forging a career as a professional orchestra player.
“We are kind of like a training orchestra because we run our rehearsals very professionally,” explains Benoit. ”The kids are sight reading difficult music and there’s no metronome, so they get a real taste. I think it’s a unique experience for the kids because I don’t come from academia or classical music, so even when I approach the rehearsals, I try to keep them light, but still structured.”
The Asia America Symphony Association’s 2016 concert season will commence with a March 18 concert showcasing jazz crooner Sara Gazarek and her trio: Josh Nelson (piano), Hamilton Price (bass), and Zach Harmon (drums). The night of jazz will conclude with Gazarek performing with members of Asia America Youth Symphony and Benoit.
“Sara is a real pure jazz singer, a local, and a graduate of USC,” says Benoit.
Several years ago AASA shifted its mission and focused solely on the youth orchestra by merging the professional orchestra with the Asia America Youth Symphony. AASA fosters a professional setting in which young musicians rehearse and perform with famed artists at major venues.
“We have two kinds of kids. We have the jazz kids and we have the classical kids. We encourage the classical kids to play jazz and the jazz kids to play classical, and most orchestras are not like that,” says Benoit. “Growing up in Hermosa Beach, I was just trying to learn how to play ‘House of the Rising Sun,’ but these kids today are playing Beethoven’s ‘Fifth Piano Concerto.’”
Benoit, primarily known as a jazz musician, characterizes his role as music director as one that fuses the worlds of eastern and western music.
“I am always surprised how few classical musicians, when they play cadenzas, they don’t improvise like they did years ago. I am surprised how institutionalized classical music has become: everyone feels like they have to play exactly what the composer wrote. It’s kind of an issue I have with classical music—because jazz is the opposite. So I try to walk the line as best I can without offending anyone,” says Benoit laughingly.
Benoit’s history as music director and conductor dates backs to 1976 when he worked for singer Lainie Kazan and later for singers/actresses Ann Margaret and Connie Stevens. He embarked on a jazz career in 1977, a career that spans 25 solo recordings and several Grammy nominations. He has arranged songs and performed with numerous jazz artists like Russ Freeman, Kenny Loggins, Dave Koz, and David Sanborn.
Benoit, who grew up in Hermosa Beach and began playing the piano at 13, boasts in impressive career in two exceedingly technical music genres considering he took only one semester of music theory at El Camino College.
“I started playing in surf bands—a bunch of us would get together and jam,” remembers Benoit. “I lived in Hollywood for about 10 years and I actually discovered classical music through the backdoor.”
In the classical world, Benoit has acted as guest pianist and conductor for numerous world-renowned orchestras (from Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Atlanta Symphony to Dresden Philharmonic, London Symphony, Nuremberg Symphony, and Philippine Philharmonic), and performed at Carnegie Hall (one concert conducted by Leonard Bernstein) and the annual PBS Fourth of July concert at the Capitol Building with the National Symphony Orchestra. Benoit has scored music for film, television, and Broadway.
“As I’ve gotten older, I want to focus more on composing—that’s what I really want to be doing,” adds Benoit. “I still do the occasional nightclub, but I am trying to phase that out of my career, to be honest. I love working with kids, working with orchestras, and composing, so that’s really where I see myself over the next 10 to 20 years.”
As for other 2016 season dates, the Asia America Youth Symphony will perform at the Armstrong Theatre May 15, and the AASA season finale will take place June 25 at the Zipper Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles with concert pianist, Karin Nagano.
The Asia American Symphony Association begins its concert season March 18 at 8 p.m. at the Norris Pavilion, 608 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates Tickets are available online at www.aasymphony.org or call 310.377.8977.