Benoit is back, and hopefully his orchestra too
A newly rejuvenated David Benoit is again writing music, conducting and touring by Bondo Wyszpolski It might have seemed David Benoit was down for the count. His kidney had been failing, taking his strength and stamina with it. After each dialysis session, he says, “I’d come out so beat-up… hungry, tired, angry, all of that.” For 10 years he dealt with it, losing energy, losing interest in interesting things. And then, a couple of months ago he received a kidney transplant. “I’ve been given this incredible gift… and I feel like I can almost start over again.” Benoit is our local jazz hero, radio host, recording artist, and music director of the Pacific Vision Youth Orchestra (formerly the Asia America Youth Symphony). He attended Mira Costa High School, and studied music at El Camino College and UCLA. He recorded his first jazz album in 1977, and over 40 more since then. I’d seen a couple of photos of him in prior months and I remember thinking, “Wow, he looks like he’s 90.” So when he opened the door of his home recently I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would he now look 100? But I’ll be honest: he looks better than I’ve seen him in years. More importantly, he’s upbeat instead of…
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