The Benoit/Freeman Project

The Benoit/Freeman Project, released in 2014 on the GRP label, serves as a collaborative showcase for the long-standing musical partnership between pianist David Benoit and guitarist Russ Freeman. Both artists were pillars of the GRP Records roster during the height of the smooth jazz genre in the 1980s and 1990s, and this project was conceived as a reunion to revisit the sophisticated, melodic fusion sound that defined their earlier collaborative work. It captures a nostalgic yet polished aesthetic that leans heavily into their signature blend of acoustic and electric textures.

The album reflects the production standards synonymous with GRP, emphasizing clean arrangements and seamless interplay between Benoit’s lyrical piano lines and Freeman’s precise, jazz-inflected guitar work. Upon its release, it was received primarily as a welcome return to form for enthusiasts of the late-20th-century contemporary jazz movement. The design and sonic direction were intentionally crafted to appeal to fans who grew up listening to the label’s prominent catalog, focusing on accessible, instrumental melodies that maintain a steady rhythmic drive.