A lyrical pianist, composer, and arranger, David Benoit is one of the architects of the contemporary jazz sound. Since his emergence in the fusion era of the late '70s, Benoit has been at the forefront of the crossover jazz movement. Building upon the influence of Dave Brubeck, Bill Evans, and Vince Guaraldi, he broke through with 1987's Grammy-nominated Every Step of the Way, and has scored numerous Top Ten contemporary jazz albums, including 1990's Inner Motion, 2003's Right Here, Right Now, 2010's Earthglow, and 2019's David Benoit and Friends. There have also been equally potent collaborations with Russ Freeman and the Rippingtons, Dave Koz, Marc Antoine, Brian Bromberg, and Jane Monheit, among others. While small group productions are his main focus, he has worked on big-band and orchestral projects, including as a member of the GRP All-Star Big Band. He showcased both sides of his artistry on 2022's A Midnight Rendezvous.