Grammy-nominated jazz pianist and composer David Benoit, performing with the renowned Elmhurst University Jazz Band, will headline Elmhurst University’s 27th Annual June Jazz concert on Saturday, June 18.

The public is invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets, drinks and a picnic to this free outdoor concert, at 6:30 p.m. on the Mall of Elmhurst University’s lovely arboretum campus. Guests are welcome to come early and enjoy this celebration of summer and the arts.

About the performers:

• Three-time Grammy-nominated pianist, composer and arranger David Benoit is known as one the founding fathers of contemporary jazz. When he was coming up, Benoit worked with singers like Patti Austin, Ann-Margret and Lainie Kazan; and more recently, he has collaborated with Faith Hill, David Sanborn, CeCe Winans, Hiroshima and Brian McKnight. His chart-topping recordings include “Freedom at Midnight” (1987), “Waiting for Spring” (1989) and “Shadows” (1991), which all hit the Top 5 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Charts. Other noteworthy recordings include “Letter to Evan” (1992), his tribute to another piano influence, Bill Evans; and “Here’s to You, Charlie Brown: Fifty Great Years” (2000). In 2010, Benoit received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Smooth Jazz Awards.
• The Elmhurst University Jazz Band has performed around the world and has appeared at the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Umbria Jazz Festival and many others. DownBeat magazine, the nation’s leading jazz publication, recently named the Elmhurst University Jazz Band the Student Music Award winner in the Large Jazz Ensemble category for undergraduate institutions.

For more information, visit elmhurst.edu/JuneJazz or call (630) 617-3611. This event is presented by Elmhurst University and PNC Bank.