
Grammy-nominated jazz pianist David Benoit performs Vince Guaraldi's music from the classic 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' special at the Musical Instrument Museum.
David Benoit brings A Charlie Brown Christmas to the Musical Instrument Museum on Tuesday, December 15 and Wednesday, December 16, with both shows starting at 7 PM. It's a holiday tradition that's hard to mistake: the piano-led jazz of the Peanuts specials, performed live in Phoenix.
Benoit is billed as the heir to Vince Guaraldi, the pianist whose work gave A Charlie Brown Christmas its heart. The connection isn't just a marketing line—Benoit is a Grammy-nominated pianist, composer, and arranger from California, and he's widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of contemporary jazz. The jazz bug bit him in 1965 after he watched a Peanuts special and heard Guaraldi's music, and he eventually succeeded the composer in the Peanuts realm, spending more than a decade writing music for the specials that aired on CBS. He earned three Grammy nominations—in 1989, 1992, and 2000—and a 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Smooth Jazz Awards.
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These two dates are part of the museum's 2026 Holiday Concert Series, sponsored by Sanderson Lincoln. Tickets run from $64.50 to $80.50, and both nights start at 7 PM.
Date
15 December – 16 December
19:00
Location
Musical Instrument MuseumPrice
Paid
Recommended Age
+14 years